Bands + Pop Musicians

Rusted Root

The six-piece band formed in Pittsburgh in 1990 with Michael Glabicki (vocals, guitar), Liz Berlin (vocals, percussion), Patrick Norman (bass, vocals), and Jim Donovan (drums, percussion) as the initial lineup, though John Buynak (percussion, winds) and Jim DiSpirito (percussion) joined later that year. Their breakthrough album, When I Woke, appeared in 1994 and became successful in alternative circles during 1995-1996, especially with singles such as "Send Me On My Way" and "Ecstasy." In mid-1996, released the Evil Ways EP, a compilation of live tracks with the band's contributions to the movies Twister and Home for the Holidays. Their second album, Remember, reached the Top 40 in its first week of release.

The Vogues

Harmony-pop vocal group formed in 1960 by lead baritone Bill Burkette, baritone Don Miller, first tenor Hugh Geyer, and second tenor Chuck Blasko, who were all high school friends from Turtle Creek. Originally dubbed the Val-Aires, the foursome eventually reached the number four spot in the autumn of 1965 with "You're the One." Most memorable hit, the classic "Five O'Clock World," cracked the Top Five. Two more Top 40 entries, "Magic Town" and "The Land of Milk and Honey," followed in 1966. Resurfaced in 1968 with the Top Ten smash "Turn Around, Look at Me." The single, the Vogues' lone million-seller, anticipated the lighter, more sophisticated approach of subsequent hits like "My Special Angel," "Till," and "No, Not Much." Various Vogues lineups continue touring oldies circuits.

Christina Aguilera

Throughout her youth in Pittsburgh, Aguilera sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" before Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, Pittsburgh Steelers football and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games. Her first major role in entertainment came in 1993 when she joined the Disney Channel's variety show The New Mickey Mouse Club. with co-stars Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Rhona Bennett, Ryan Gosling, Britney Spears, and Keri Russell. According to the documentary Driven, Aguilera's Mickey Mouse Club co-stars called her "the Diva". One of her most notable performances was of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing". When the show was canceled 1994, Aguilera began recording demos in an attempt to get signed to a record label. She was signed to RCA Records after recording "Reflection" for the film Mulan. She came to prominence following her debut album Christina Aguilera in 1999, which was a critical and commercial success.

The Skyliners

Pittsburgh vocal group made it big with a magnificent heartache ballad in 1959, "Since I Don't Have You," among R&B's greatest hits. Led by vocalist Jimmy Beaumont, with Janet Vogel, Wally Lester, Joe VerScharen, and Jackie Taylor. Legend has it that Janet ad libbed the song's memorable ending in high C (after repeating thirteen "you's") as a joke during rehersals. The group liked it so much they made it a permanent part of their arrangement. More than a dozen labels rejected the song before it was released by a local Pittsburgh label, Calico Records. Their follow-up, "This I Swear," peaked at number 20 on the R&B charts.

In recent years, The Skyliners created not one, but two Christmas standards. The group's version of the Beaumont/Rock compositions "You're My Christmas Present" and "Another Lonely New Year's Eve" are not only heard across America each holiday season, but have been included on a number of holiday compact disc collections. The ensemble was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.

Lou Christie

His shrieking falsetto was among the most distinctive voices in all of pop music. Was also one of the first solo performers of the rock era to compose his own material. Born Luigee Alfredo Giovanni Sacco, attended Moon Township High School, studied music and vocal technique. Between 1959 and 1962, in collaboration with a variety of Pittsburgh-area bands, cut a series of records for small local labels. Met Twyla Herbert, a classically trained musician, and became songwriting partners. In 1962 penned "The Gypsy Cried," recorded on two-track in Christie's garage. The single became a local phenomenon, and was released nationally, peaking at number 24 on the pop charts in 1963.

After relocating to New York and working as a backup vocalist, wrote and recorded "Two Faces Have I," landing in the Top Ten. Shortly after its release, began a two-year stint in the Army and in 1966 returned and picked up right where he left off with his biggest hit yet, "Lightnin' Strikes." His next smash, 1966's "Rhapsody in the Rain," was notorious for being among the more sexually explicit efforts of the period. Scored one last Top Ten hit in 1969 with "I'm Gonna Make You Mine." Drug problems plagued Christie during the early 1970s, and after getting clean at a London rehab clinic, he dropped out of music, working variously as a ranch hand, offshore oil driller and carnival barker. By the 1980s, he was appearing on oldies tours, and in 1997 issued Pledging My Love, his first new material in over a quarter-century.

Bobby Vinton

Born Stanley Robert Vintula, Jr., in Canonsburg. His song "There I've Said It Again," was the last to hit Number One in the USA before the British Invasion. Credits his mother Dorothy for the inspiration in writing his hit song "My Melody of Love" with Polish words in it. This hit record led the way for The Bobby Vinton Show and for invitations to the White House. Was named as an Ambassador to Poland and traveled to Poland to perform.

The Lettermen

Founding member Tony Butala began singing professionally as a boy in Sharon and by the age of eight appeared on Pittsburgh's KDKA Radio. Moved to Hollywood to become a member of the famous Mitchell Boys Choir, appearing in motion pictures, television and radio and concert tours. In the mid-fifties, while still in high school in Hollywood, Butala formed The Fourmost, a vocal group of three ex-Mitchell Boy Choir friends and a female classmate, Concetta Ingolia. After moderate local success, Ingolia exited the group to be cast in a new TV series, "Hawaiian Eye," and chose the stage name Connie Stevens. By 1960, The Lettermen—now Butala, Jim Pike and Bob Engemann—were signed to Warner Brothers Records and released their first single: "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring."

In 1961, Capitol Records signed them to what turned out to be an over twenty-five year contract. The Lettermen first hit the music charts in 1961 with "The Way You Look Tonight." Following that first hit with another chart topper, "When I Fall In Love." Made "Theme From A Summer Place," "Smile," "Our Winter Love," "Come Back Silly Girl" and "Graduation Day." Late 1967 made perhaps their most loved and requested hit: the medley of "Goin' Out Of My Head / Can't Take My Eyes Off You." In 1967, Engemann left the group and was replaced by Jim's younger brother, Gary Pike. Hits continued with "Up, Up And Away," "Hurt So Bad," "Shangri-La," "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" and "Love." In 1973, when Jim left the group, the youngest Pike brother Donny took over and hits like: "Cherish / Precious and Few," "World Without Love," "If You Feel The Way I Do," "Feelings," "What I Did For Love," and Donny's own "Thank You Girl."

Throughout the 70s, 80s and 90s, The Lettermen continued to release albums and travel the world, performing hundreds of concerts each year. The current Lettermen consist of Tony Butala (the group's only original member), Donovan Scott Tea (an accomplished singer and songwriter who joined the group in 1984) and Darren Dowler (a young actor, singer, impressionist who came aboard in 1995). The year 2000 marked the group's 40th Anniversary. Butala created the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in Sharon, dedicated to honor the greatest vocal groups in the world.