Pittsburgh's Own Regional Notables of Jazz
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PITTSBURGH JAZZ
From Blakey to Brown, Como to Costa, Eckstine to Eldridge, Galbraith to Garner, Harris to Hines, Horne to Hyman, Jamal to Jefferson, Kelly to Klook; Mancini to Marmarosa, May to Mitchell, Negri to Nestico, Parlan to Ponder, Reed to Ruther, Strayhorn to Sullivan, Turk to Turrentine, Wade to Williams… the forthcoming publication Treasury of Pittsburgh Jazz Connections by Dr. Nelson Harrison and Dr. Ralph Proctor, Jr. will document the legacy of one of the world’s greatest jazz capitals.
Do you want to know who Dizzy Gillespie idolized? Did you ever wonder who inspired Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey? Who was the pianist that mentored Monk, Bud Powell, Tad Dameron, Elmo Hope, Sarah Vaughan and Mel Torme? Who was Art Tatum’s idol and Nat Cole’s mentor? What musical quartet pioneered the concept adopted later by the Modern Jazz Quartet? Were you ever curious to know who taught saxophone to Stanley Turrentine or who taught piano to Ahmad Jamal? What community music school trained Robert McFerrin, Sr. for his history-making debut with the Metropolitan Opera? What virtually unknown pianist was a significant influence on young John Coltrane, Shirley Scott, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Timmons and Ray Bryant when he moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh in the 1940s? Would you be surprised to know that Erroll Garner attended classes at the Julliard School of Music in New York and was at the top of his class in writing and arranging proficiency?
Some answers can be gleaned from the postings on the Pittsburgh Jazz Network.
For almost 100 years the Pittsburgh region has been a metacenter of jazz originality that is second to no other in the history of jazz. One of the best kept secrets in jazz folklore, the Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy has heretofore remained mythical. We have dubbed it “the greatest story never told” since it has not been represented in writing before now in such a way as to be accessible to anyone seeking to know more about it. When it was happening, little did we know how priceless the memories would become when the times were gone.
Today jazz is still king in Pittsburgh, with events, performances and activities happening all the time. The Pittsburgh Jazz Network is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the places, artists and fans that carry on the legacy of Pittsburgh's jazz heritage.
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Duke Ellington is first African-American and the first musician to solo on U.S. circulating coin
MARY LOU WILLIAMS
INTERVIEW
William "Speigal" Gay
1980 article about The Parker Brothers : http://tinyurl.com/d5uzyq
here's the obit : http://www.legacy.com/PostGazette/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&...
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Carlos Peña on
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Very sorry to hear this. I didn't know him but I greatly enjoy his playing on records by Larry McGee and Bobby Fulton. may he rest in peace.
Thanks for sharing this news and that interesting old article, Dan.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Lashway on
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I was so shocked when I heard. I played with him many years ago in the Rhythm Kings. Always a great drummer and, even more, a great person.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Koch on
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Dan,
Thanks for posting this about Speigal, he was great player and a good friend. All of us in the Parker Bros had such a great time playing together.
Mark Koch
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Permalink Reply by Phil The Knight on
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Speigle was my dearest of lost old friends, lost to time and our own changing lives. We played together, lived together, saw hard times and good times, and believed in each other's friendship. I spoke with him last about 4 or 5 years ago. I didn't know about this until I stumbled on this post. I regret deeply not knowing of his passing.
Speigle was slick. His style had the smoothness of satin and the impact of dynomite. He always played with his emotions on his sleeve. He created his own sound by how he made up his kit. He loved to sing. He got the Parker Bros. to put my song Walking Alone at Night on their album. The Parker Bros. even did another one of my songs live. Such great times. There are enough memories of Speigle to last me the rest of my life. My prayer is that he is in the arms of an angel.
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