Fred Adams

Fred Adams is a “lifetime guitarist” who, since the early 1960s, has entertained audiences throughout the tri-state area. He has played with rock groups, folk groups, big bands, jazz combos, country bands, polka bands, heavy metal groups, cabaret and theater orchestras, rhythm and blues bands, and classical ensembles. An alternative to a cocktail pianist, Adams plays all styles of music, and can play those special songs that you want to be part of your evening’s entertainment.

Working solo since 1984, he has played long-term engagements at such venues as Nemacolin Woodlands, The Mount Summit Inn, The Stone House, The Christian Klay Winery, The Lord Ligonier Inn and many others, plus hundreds of banquets, receptions, ceremonies and events for individuals and organizations.

The Atlanta Drumline

The Atlanta Drumline is an exceptional drum corps comprised of more than 20 seasoned professional percussionists whose technical precision, rhythmic intensity, electrifying exuberance and innovative choreography make for a thrilling performance. The drum corps is a group of disciplined, energetic and creative musicians who’ve entertained crowds of enthusiastic fans.

Under the dynamic and innovative musical direction of Cedric V. Young, The Atlanta Drumline is known throughout the nation for its strong commitment to excellence in all areas of performance. The Atlanta Drumline has performed at various professional sporting events, academic functions, corporate meetings and conventions – each time igniting audiences with its signature cadences and lively dance routines. Members of The Atlanta Drumline appeared in the gospel video, Highly Recommended, produced and directed by Darryl Lassiter, and the movie, Pay the Price. In addition, members of The Atlanta Drumline collaborated with music mogul Dallas Austin, and were featured in the 20th Century Fox movie Drumline. Both Drumline and Pay the Price were shot on the historic campuses of Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College and at the Georgia Dome.

Several percussionists in The Atlanta Drumline were members of renown marching bands at Historically Black Colleges and Universities including Clark Atlanta University, Morris Brown College, Albany State College, South Carolina State University, Fort Valley State College, Alabama State University and Oakwood College.

Instrumentation for the drum corps consists of cymbals, tenor drums, snare drums, quads/quints and bass drums.

Clients of The Atlanta Drumline include the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Silverbacks, Bruster’s Ice Cream, Home Depot, Melaleuca, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company and Winthrop University. more

Augsburg German Band

The 'Augsburg German Band' planted its roots several years ago when Chris Decker was stationed in Augsburg, Germany (the ancient capital of Bavaria) with the United States Army. While there, Chris embraced his German ancestry, especially the food, drink, and music. Upon returning to the States, he began playing the tuba in the National Veterans of Foreign Wars Band of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. During the VFW conventions and other VFW affairs, Chris would pull out his old German music which he enjoyed so much. Some band members would just "hang-out" and play this music only for their own pleasure, occasionally passing the hat for "beer money". These impromptu "jam sessions" became quite a hit, and soon people were asking when and where the band was playing next....That's how the AUGSBURG GERMAN BAND formed.

Over the years, some of the faces have changed, but the current band and its members have been playing together for about 15 years, providing fun, entertainment and GEMUETLICHKEIT for all who care to listen.

The 'AUGSBURG GERMAN BAND' plays it's Bavarian style music throughout the year at Oktoberfests, clubs, and festivals in the Western Pennsylvania/Tri-State area. more

EIN PROSIT!

Harold Betters

Known to jazz aficionados from coast to coast and Canada as “Mr. Trombone,” Harold Betters can boast of a long list of professional credits. During the early years of his career, he played with a number of New York bands. He and his quartet toured with the Ray Charles Ensemble and appeared with comedian Dick Gregory at New York’s legendary Apollo Theater—a theater which helped to catapult such jazz artists as Ella Fitzgerald to stardom. He has also enjoyed performing with Louis Armstrong, Al Hirt, Slide Hampton, Ramsey Lewis and Urbie Green.

Betters and his quartet have been playing at many posh nightspots in major cities. For 15 years, the jazz trombonist was the featured performer at the well-known Pittsburgh nightclub, the Encore, making it the “in spot” for jazz lovers. He has performed, as well, at other such exclusive clubs as Pittsburgh’s Holiday House, Shaker Heights’ Virginian, Cleveland’s Theatrical Grill, and The Cabana Club’s Nero’s Nook, Palo Alto, California.

A favorite of sports fans, Betters has entertained at Pirate and Penguin home games. Currently, he has a long-term contract playing at Pittsburgh Steeler games.

Helping to bridge the generation gap with his music, the performer has thrilled college audiences in several states. Among the institutions of higher learning at which he has appeared are Penn State, West Virginia and Indiana Universities. Betters has participated in numerous jazz festivals—including the prestigious Kool Jazz Festival—performed in a variety of concerts, and given special performances for the late Hubert Humphrey and Carl Stokes. more

Chuck Cantalamessa

Chosen from over 20,000 applicants, Chuck Cantalamessa and his group Wind Star, appeared on Star Search, hosted by Ed McMahon and were reigning champions for a season. These network TV appearances brought Chuck national recognition. His music is a special blend of mellow folk rock ... a mixture of country and festive upbeat sounds of the islands. In live solo appearances, Chuck plays a 12-string acoustical guitar, which provides a percussive sound with rich harmonic overtones.

A talented performer and song writer, the introspective Chuck Cantalamessa is a native of Uniontown, Pennsylvania. He performed with local bands during his high school days, but initially chose a business career over music. A graduate of Ohio University with a degree in Business Management and English, Chuck's overriding love of music eventually brought him back to performing and composing. After college, Chuck relocated to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and began to compose the insightful material that brought him to the attention of Ron and Howard Albert (producers of Crosby, Stills and Nash; Eric Clapton; Firefall; and Harry Chapin) and Jack Richardson (producer of Bob Seger, Poco and The Guess Who). Several of Chuck's original compositions were chosen for inclusion in Florida-based compilation theme albums. He also opened shows for Fleetwood Mac, The Outlaws, Stephen Stills, Tom Rush, Dave Mason and Firefall. Featured at premier clubs in South Florida and Pennsylvania, he has also toured extensively throughout the United States and internationally in the Caribbean and Costa Rica.

In 1989, Chuck returned to his Southwest Pennsylvania roots. Today he enjoys the country lifestyle and draws musical inspiration from the natural setting surrounding his mountain top home nestled in the Laurel Highlands. Chuck performs regularly at Western Pennsylvania's finest resorts and clubs, and is reaching a new generation of listeners with his poignant lyrics and dynamic vocal delivery.

Most recently Chuck opened for Huey Lewis and The News in concert at Seven Springs in Champion, PA. more

Ferla-Marcinizyn Guitar Duo

The Ferla-Marcinizyn Guitar Duo perform frequently for audiences of all ages at schools, museums, historical societies, clubs, festivals, and on community and church concert series. Their repertoire spans five centuries and includes music by traditional and contemporary composers as well as folk, jazz, and popular arrangements.

As soloists and ensemble players, Marcinizyn and Ferla have performed throughout the United States, including programs at the Smithsonian, the University of Akron, Arizona State, the Chatauqua Institution, Oberlin College, Florida State University, New York University, and Notre Dame. They have been heard on NPR, Voice of America, USIA, Chukyo TV-Nagayo, Japan, and in Pittsburgh, on WQED-FM.

Pittsburgh Concert Society winners, the Ferla-Marcinizyn Guitar Duo have been heard frequently in Pittsburgh on concert series presented by Carnegie Mellon University, the International Poetry Forum, and the Dear Friends Ensemble.

Lisa Yvonne Ferraro

Lisa Yvonne Ferraro began singing as a young child; often the backyard was her stage. “My earliest memories are of gathering music in from the sky,” she recounts. “I felt like it was coming from a source as big as the sky, and I was trying to offer it back as big as the sky, too.” Today, her venue has broadened. Ferraro has performed with Marvin Hamlisch and the Pittsburgh Pops Symphony, and regularly shares the stage with a myriad of other major talent throughout Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta, as well as in her hometown, Pittsburgh. Her Jazz and New Thought performances keep her busy and her audiences captivated.

Along with a distinct vocal style and presence that is truly “Lisa’s and Lisa’s alone,” Ferraro has also gained notoriety as a prolific songwriter/writer. She has composed lyrics for recording artists, commercial jingles and special events. Commissioned by the Major League Baseball association, Ferraro wrote and sang at the dedication to the legendary Roberto Clemente. She has also been solicited to compose music for films.

Currently, Lisa has recorded and released five CDs featuring original songs and standards. Her CDs include some songs with jazz legends Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin and Joe “Handyman” Negri, and other selections featuring extraordinary musicians Max Leake, Paul Thompson, Dale Cinski, Greg Humphries, Kenny Blake, Brian Stahurski, John D'Amico, Hollis Greathouse, and Andy Reamer.

FiddleKicks

Over a decade ago, FiddleKicks was formed when cloggers who had recently moved to Philadelphia from Boston and a group of Philadelphia folk dancers met at a clogging workshop at the 1996 Heritage Dance Festival in Plymouth-Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania. They began meeting regularly in Mt. Airy to practice Appalachian clogging steps and routines to bluegrass and old-time music. As word of these sessions spread, other cloggers joined the group, and soon FiddleKicks expanded in size and scope. By April of 1997, the group received an invitation to perform. more

MCG Jazz Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy Project

Pittsburgh has been home to a long line of great jazz artists including Erroll Garner, Roy Eldridge, Billy Eckstine and Art Blakey who were not only were great performers but leaders, arrangers, composers and mentors to future generations. Their influence is heard throughout the jazz world and continues to color the future of this art form.

The MCG Jazz Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy Band features some of Pittsburgh’s finest jazz musicians and educators in a salute to Pittsburgh’s rich jazz tradition. With insightful narration, this program spotlights world-renowned musicians, composers, and arrangers from the Pittsburgh region who have changed the face of jazz. Hosted by MCG Jazz Executive Producer, Marty Ashby, the project includes Pittsburgh’s contemporary jazz musicians: Roger Humphries, Dr. John Wilson, and “Handyman” Joe Negri.

Selections include “Take The A Train” by Billy Strayhorn, “Sugar” by Stanley Turrentine, “One O’Clock Jump” (Count Basie’s Theme Song), “Skylark” (as sung by Billy Eckstine), “Come Fly With Me” (as arranged by Billy May for Frank Sinatra) and other pieces written or made famous by Ray Brown, Ahmad Jamal, and Art Blakey, all with new arrangements written especially for this group.

The MCG Jazz Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy Band has performed at a variety of public functions and serves as an educational overview of jazz for all ages. more

Musicians include:

Maureen Budway Vocals

Roger Humphries, Drums

Mike Tomaro, Saxophone

Jim Guerra, Saxophone

Jamie Moore, Trumpet

John Wilson, Trumpet

Jay Ashby, Trombone

Max Leake, Piano

Dwayne Dolphin, Bass

Marty Ashby, Conductor/Guitar

NewLanders

The NewLanders are a group of Pittsburgh-area musicians and songwriters who have researched and rediscovered songs written by, and about, the people of southwestern Pennsylvania. By forging these old tunes in their own style, the NewLanders have created a new sound, while honoring and preserving the spirit of southwestern Pennsylvania’s rich past. The NewLanders live performances include engaging narrations and stories, along with haunting melodies and richly layered harmonies. The NewLanders’ sound interweaves traditional instruments, including the Appalachian lap dulcimer, fiddle, mandolin, jaw’s harp—with electric guitar and bass, and an array of percussion instruments. more

Ray Ryan New Orleans Riverside Band

Ray Ryan New Orleans Riverside Band is Pittsburgh's most entertaining New Orleans Band. This traditional Jazz Band is sprinkled with the steaming sounds of Cajun and Zulu music. more

River City Brass Band

In 1981, something special happened—a musical renaissance took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Under the baton of conductor Robert Bernat, the River City Brass Band took to the Carnegie Music Hall stage for its inaugural concert on November 21. It was an evening of musical excellence and determination—determination to bring about the revival of the grass-roots tradition of the American brass band.

That determination has paid off. Today, the River City Brass Band performs a 49-concert series in seven different venues here in Western Pennsylvania. In addition, the 28-piece ensemble tours extensively throughout the United States with more than 60 performances each year as part of community concert series, major symphony pops series, and arts festivals. Building upon the long-standing tradition of brass bands popularized in Great Britain and the United States, RCBB features 25 brass players and 3 percussionists. This configuration allows the Band to present a sweeping repertoire: American tunes, Big Band swing and jazz, music from Broadway and Hollywood, classical and contemporary masterworks, and traditional marches. more

Simple Gifts

Two women plus 12 instruments equal one good time when Simple Gifts takes the stage. Drawing on an impressive variety of ethnic folk styles, this award-winning duo plays everything from lively Irish jigs and down-home American reels to hard-driving Klezmer frailachs and haunting Gypsy melodies, spicing the mix with the distinctive rhythms of Balkan dance music, the lush sounds of Scandinavian twin fiddling, and original compositions written in a traditional style.

Combining tradition with innovation, Simple Gifts creates some of the finest arrangements in folk music today: swing fiddle creeps into a Romanian dance, spoons show up in an Irish reel, and the concertina ventures far beyond styles considered traditional for that instrument. Based in the hills of central Pennsylvania, these women play an amazing array of instruments. Linda Littleton, and Karen Hirshon switch with ease among two violins, concertina, mandolin, banjolin, recorders, bowed psaltery, hammered dulcimer, baritone fiddle, guitar, piano and percussion. more

Sweet Birdie String Band

Sweet Birdie String Band is an eclectic mix of Old Timey Music, American Rural Music, Early Jazz, Folk Music, Original Songs, multicultural songs, storytelling and whimsical stage show. Ruthanne E. Ankney is Sweet Birdie.

She is an actress, storyteller & musician & a traveling suitcase of entertaining whimsies. She has performed throughout out the country at many theaters, festivals and events. She is also the founder of Blue Rose Moon Theater, and The Sweet Birdie Song Circle for young children. Thus, known as Sweet Birdie teller of tales and songtress of sweet tunes. She teaches theater and folk arts, folk dance, writes, directs and performs many children's theater works. Along with her very special Sweet Birdie String Band friends (Kevin O'Brien & Carl Baron) the group delights big kids and little kids with their unique performance style, talented musicianship, vocals, spellbinding folk tales, stories and sweet reminiscing of simpler times. The style is lively, engaging, folksy, fantastical, lots of fun and cleverly interactive. Wonderful vintage children's songs, old time music, traditional songs, fiddle tunes and folk lore are dusted off and come to life with a menagerie of whimsical surprises. Carol Baron adds rainbows to the group with his talents on fiddle, banjo, many woodwinds, jug and vocals. Carl is also the founder of Hobo Pie and a original member of the Juggernaut String Band. He also performs with the Eastern European band Zima. Kevin O'Brien adds moonbeams with his fiddle skills, love for a variety of ukuleles and vocals to the whimsical charm of this talented group. Carl and Kevin have won a slew of banjo and fiddle contests up and down the East Coast. Carl is a walking encyclopedia of Old Time Music Tunes. Ruthanne delivers sunbeams with vocals, guitar, ukulele, tin whistle and a carpet bag of enchanting whimsies. Ruthanne shares memories & lore of her Grandparents and father growing up in Western Pennsylvania Patch communities.

The Fabulous Softwinds

The original Softwinds were formed in 1960. The group performed periodically in the Pittsburgh and surrounding areas. They recorded two songs on the HAC Label based in the Pittsburgh area entitled “Cross My Heart” and “Oh Baby.” The original group members disbanded and later reformed in 1998 with several new members forming a very tight harmonic, ever evolving new sound.

In addition to numerous festivals, private parties, and business meetings, The Fabulous Softwinds have performed at a number of locations including, Seven Springs Ski Resort, Wheeling Island, Heinz Field, PNC Park, and Kennywood Amusement Park.

The Sammy Bill Orchestra

Sammy Bill has been playing in the Pittsburgh area for 47 years, and has played in practically every entertainment in the tri-state area. Led by Sammy Bill, the Sammy Bill Orchestra features all styles of music for any age group. Some of the dance music includes: Fox Trots, Latins, Polkas, Hully Gully, Electric Slide and the Macarena.