Best Musical Artist/Group Ever from Pittsburgh (New Castle, Aliquippa: high school, live)

[jay5835]

The Vogues, from Turtle Creek: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vogues


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfFvATjb0Dc

[Bazzwell]

You have to break things up just a bit. What era? National, regional or local success? What musical style? It's impossible to narrow it down to a single "best" artist.

The sixties for instance. On a very local level you had the Volcanics out of the Mon Valley. Kings of one or two school districts and a 45 release on a national label. You have Sonny DiNunzio with the Fenways/ Racket Squad with excellent regional success and many local and national releases but not remembered outside of the area. Then you have the Vogues (who were greatly helped by the Fenways by the way) who went on to become national stars. Lou Christie rode through the sixties on top of the heap. All were great performers in their time.

If I was tied to a bedpost and wouldn't be released until I picked one....my choice would be Joe Grushecky. From the college days of power trio Shooo at Cal U to his current material, I'd say the man's more than earned my respect and admiration.

But there have been so many.......

[wpipkins2]

Phyllis Hyman - one of the greatest singers of all time
George Benson
Billy Strayhorn
Billy Eckstine

[woxyroxme]

Black Moth Super Rainbow

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by zalewskimm

...

...Even the great Henry Mancini on the top of Mt Washington. .

Henry Mancini created not one or two but a number of memorable melodies, some people might have heard but not put a name to. I would say he is definitely worthy of accolades. I did not know he was from Pittsburgh.

Can there BE a "best"? It's all subjective.

I never took to the better known, iconic Pittsburgh rock bands, though. Just never liked their music.

[gg]

Rusted Root is probably the most successful band from Pittsburgh. Sadly, The Buzz Poets won the battle of the bands and also won in CA, but oddly didn't get anyone to sign them. I think they could of been pretty great, but people like the "norm". I miss that band!

[Herodotus]

Mary Lou Williams
Ahmad Jamal
Stanley Turrentine
Art Blakey
Maxine Sullivan
Dakota Staton

[Tallysmom]

Oscar Levant.

[Craziaskowboi]

Focusing on mainstream music, Wiz Khalifa and Christina Aguilera have carried the flag for Pittsburgh this century, though I'm not sure that Christina Aguilera does voluntarily, considering she did not enjoy her experience at North Allegheny High School. More recently, Daya has put her name on the map. She's best known for a collaboration with The Chainsmokers in 2016.

In the 1980s and 1990s, George Benson, Donnie Iris, Shanice and Rusted Root were the Pittsburgh musicians that were known nationwide.

[prnlvsxy]

Also, this is kind of silly.....define "Best" .... if it's $, then it's clearly Agulara....if it's music, then that's subjective and there's really no such thing as "best"