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Comment by Shawn Cohen on September 14, 2015 at 6:09pm

Harold Betters always played in the Shadyside Encore while I was there and then he left for a while. I remember his brother Jerry getting up and singing too and that was always something to witness. The crowd loved Harold and his band and Jerry Betters too. Kenny Karsh is such a talented young man and he was still underage when he came to play at the Encore. In fact, his mother (I was best friends with his older sister Roberta) asked me to look out for Kenny because, well, the Encore in Shadyside was no place for a young impressionable teen! I did and he was excellent and the crowd also loved Kenny! All part of my memories of the Encore. Harold always played Satin Doll when the end of the evening came and I knew then to call, "Last Call for Alcohol" for my tables then...that song will always remind me of Harold and the Encore because of that! Harold is still going strong and his daughter and her son are also my friends now. They are a lovely family with very talented generations. 

Comment by Shawn Cohen on September 14, 2015 at 6:00pm

Hi Dr. Nelson,  would be delighted to share those memories here. I was referencing Michele and I connecting on FB just yesterday. If I think back, there was always a line out the door when big acts came to the Encore downtown. I am speaking of people like Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespe. It was my job as a waitress to make sure all the tables were served well, keep their libations flowing and not have Art or Bobby give me a talking to because I missed someone or the food in the kitchen was waiting for me! I wore high heels as this was all part of the penguin suit back then and I have walked a million waitress miles in them with the feet today to show for it! But the money was good when the getting was good! Art was particularly over protective of his staff and me as I was the youngest and he would make sure that any male customer who thought I was "dessert" would be swiftly and gladly upthrown from his bar seat or table and wisked out the front door by the scruff of his shirt collar with Art's big ex boxer hand and in his notorious put on "gruff" voice say, "Hit the road Jack and don't ya come back no more!"  LOL To which he would turn back to the crowd and say, "Ok, show's over...!" And back the band would play and me and the other penguins (white shirts, black pants or skirts) would go back to work!  Just another day/night at the Encore!

Comment by Dr. Nelson Harrison on September 14, 2015 at 5:46pm

It would be appreciated if you would share them here. That's primarily what this network is for. ok?

Comment by Shawn Cohen on September 14, 2015 at 5:16pm

Thank you Michele Bensen. :-) I am the one who recently connected with you on FB. It would be fun to share some Encore memories. All the best, Shawn Cohen 

Comment by Anthony (Tony) Janflone on September 13, 2015 at 4:19am

Even though I haven't seen Jerry in quite a while I'll never forget the gigs we had and the friendship. Rest in peace my friend in the Arms of our Lord. Love you Jerry.

Comment by Richy Muckle on September 13, 2015 at 4:00am

Sorry to hear of Jerry Melega's passing. Great, great memories, both musically, and personally. I will miss him, as he passes on....Thanks, my brother.

Comment by Michele Bensen on September 12, 2015 at 11:04pm

I have just learned of the passing of pianist Jerry Melega, from Brownsville, PA who worked throughout the Pittsburgh tri-state area with many local musicians. Funeral / Memorial services and arrangements will be forthcoming. Will will miss Jerry who was in his late 70's.

Comment by Shawn Cohen on August 27, 2015 at 12:19am

I know Art told me he met "Little Georgie Benson" when he was just a boy coming into the Encore and playing his guitar! They knew he would be a star one day because he was a child prodigy! Now look at him, not so little and in fact he recently played The Royal Albert Hall, here in London! That is stardom! lol but he played the Encore too, plenty and I remember him coming in to play while I was on shift there one night...he had just released, "Breezin'" and it was rising in the charts and he came in and played his main song, "Breezin'" which the house went crazy over. Very nice guy. I also remember Jimmy McGriff's band playing at the Encore Downtown and Kenny Karsh went out on tour with him later on.  There are so many...if I can recall anymore, will let you know but if you go to the Pgh Press or Pgh Post Gazette archived newspapers, you will find plenty of articles about the Encore and who is playing there. Lenny Litman wrote plenty of reviews too so look for his articles. I remember when Lenny would come in, Art would go crazy, to make sure he was well seen to and that Lenny would write a great review! Haha he always did anyway! But Art wanted to make sure! Ok, that is all for now. Nice chatting with you both , Michele and Dr. Harrison. :-) Let's keep Jazz alive and well in Pgh!  And all over the world! 

Comment by Shawn Cohen on August 27, 2015 at 12:10am

Art managed the Encore for well over 20 years. Bobby probably the same downtown or near enough and Harold, well they called The Encore, "The House that Betters Built" because he was their nightly act! Harold made the Encore. And he left and came back and so on. The place was always packed when the bands or singers were in. And absolutely everyone who was anyone came to see them! It was THE Place to be...and then after they closed at 2:00am, there was the Gaslight around the corner on Copeland and The Hollywood Social Club or go and get an early breakfast or something at Ritter's Diner! lol we all had fun, the musicians, the staff and the customers! :-) 

Comment by Shawn Cohen on August 27, 2015 at 12:03am

 This is Art Swiden from a newspaper article when he was managing the Encore. He started about 1960 ish and went on to manage it until he moved to the Encore in Florida which only lasted 2 more years. The one on Liberty Ave. known as The Encore II, which Bobby Davis usually managed but Art and he would switch once in a while so you could see either at one or the other.  I was only 20 years old in 1976 when I began working there and I was underage because really it was a bar and so you had to be 21 to work there but....I did anyway! So I know the history from being there for those 3 years and then working in Shadyside too at the Balcony after that. It was a wonderful time for music of all kinds but yes, when I was working downtown, they lined up to get into to see Sonny Stit and  Buddy Rich and so many! It was an amazing and rough place to be because there could be fights breaking out but Art being the strong hold there always made sure we were ok, his staff and the musicians! Thanks Michele Bensen. I know you sang on Harold's album. I have it. I have been in touch with his family and Harold's grandson came to stay with me and my daughter here in London. They are a great family and Harold is a true icon of Jazz! I also grew up with Kenny Karsh, his sister was my best friend so now you know and my Aunt Betty who ran the coffee houses in New York during the 1960's (The Bitter End and the Gaslight) was also shipping talent down to the Encore downtown from New York. I was surrounded! lol Jazz is so important for so many reasons.  I could talk all day about my memories but I am working on a book about it all.  One day we can hope Pittsburgh gets the true recognition and clubs like The Encore, I and II and the Balcony and what about Walt Harper's downtown and of course, the Crowford Grill all get their recognition. I think we should start that blue plaque sign like they do in England. They have a little ceremony and dedicate the plaque to those who lived there or whatever. In fact, I was in Carnaby Street not long ago and happened to look up and there on the building was a blue round plaque that read: "Here the Beatle's manager Brian Epstein lived from .... and it gave the dates. " Pretty cool! So Dr. Harrison, why don't we start doing this to mark Pittsburgh Cool Jazz History!? :-) 

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