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Billy Kuhn

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

United States

Profile Information:

Pittsburgh Connection: I've lived, studied, taught and performed in Pittsburgh all my life. I began playing professionally in 1968.
Favorite Pittsburgh musicians/performers: There are too many to mention, and if I forgot someone, I'd feel bad that I left them out! If you know the history of Pittsburgh jazz, you know this is true.
Favorite Jazz Radio or media station: WHAM from Rochester, NY, with Harry Abrams, long since gone. I recall late late nights, driving to Mt. Washington just to pick up that AM signal!
Favorite Pittsburgh Jazz Venue: My favorite was a venue that's long since gone - The Tender Trap on the border of Shadyside and East Liberty. It had the look, the vibe, the scene...I was sorry to see that go. Can't forget the original Crawford Grill; I caught the tail end of that. Sonny Day's Stage Door in Oakland, where Spider provided the place for alot of us young guys to grow. And the Humphrie Bros. Manteca in Manchester.
About Me:: I had the great fortune to come up at a time when there still were alot of places to play and sit in. Ther are very few jazz musicians I haven't shared a stage with here in Pittsburgh, and I'm sorry to say some of them have passed on without the recognition they deserve.

For off the cuff bios, you can look up some CD's I perform on: 'Sly On Life' with Duquesne University's Catch 22; 'At Last' with Bobby Negri; 'Ventana' with Ken Karsh; 'on Fire' with Amanda Ford. I'm also a clinician and drummer for Duquesne's annual Guitar and Bass Workshop - every July, I'm blessed to perform with the world's greatest guitarists - come check it out...it's a great annual Pittsburgh music event that, to my continued amazement, gets absolutely no media coverage! It's more than jazz now...the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award went to Motown's Funk Brothers bassist Bob Babbitt, who left Pittsburgh in his late teens and soon ended up recording "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" with Stevie Wonder.

Cool and 'Tasty' are nice, but I always had some fire and The Funk, too. It is also a blessing, this many years into my passion for music, that music is so emotionally, spiritually, and sometimes physically overwheling as to lift me above and beyond the mundane - to find deeper ways and means of subconscious emotional expression...the fine art of Spontaneous Musical Composition...Improvisation!
Artist or Fan: artist

Comment Wall:

Dr. Nelson Harrison

Welcome Billy. Thank you for your contribution to the network and your contributions to Pittsburgh jazz. You are one of the best and everyone should be able to know that.

Mar 3, 2008
Harold Walker

Can I get Fries with those Cymbals ?

Mar 8, 2008
Janelle Burdell

Mr. Kuhn, Been too long. We should catch up. Glad to see you here. Stay warm ~ janelle

Mar 8, 2008
Frank B. Greenlee

It is good to know that we are all still around. Good to hear from you!

Mar 9, 2008
Dr. Nelson Harrison

Thanks Billy,

It's like having a window on the worldwide Burgh of music. Since we don't have much of a physical community anymore, this is quite fun.

Mar 9, 2008
stephen boyd

stephen boyd said…
Hey Billy, Great to get reconnected with you. It's good to know that your doing well! I remember the Tender Trap too! It was a great hang. What's there now? Might be fun to re-open that room. Hit me back. TAKE CARE!!

Mar 10, 2008
Devorah Segall

Hey Billy
Time change- 3 hours earlier here in California
Been here a long time doing some music- mostly helping my mom through some big health challenges send me your email -arisingmusic@aol.com

Mar 16, 2008
Virgil Walters

Hey,
Just heard about Jim, so sorry--sorry to be out of touch---hope your well--doing Spiders Jam at Martini's this Saturday--it would be good to see you.
Virgil

May 7, 2008
Devorah Segall

Billy- saw the comment about Jim- almost afraid to ask- ?
Sending prayers for all of you - also Bobby Negri
Get well soon
D.

May 15, 2008
SANDY STALEY

I ADDED A THOUGHT ON BOBBY. DID YOU SEE IT?
DEVORAH RESPONDED TO IT. WOULD DONNA BE ABLE
TO READ IT? I AM NOT COMPUTER=SAVVY!!!!!!!
HOW ABOUT AN UPDATE ON BOBBY... HATE TO BOTHER
DONNA...

May 15, 2008
George C Jones

Brother Bill,
thanks for the kind words. For a minute there i thought you had the wrong person, then i saw my name. I could say the same things about you. We always had big fun but the music always came first. Hope to have many more great gigs in the future i'll be posting photos from the past, i think you'll find some of them very interesting.
Take care bro,
George

Jun 10, 2008
Troy W Campbell

Hey Billy two things how is Bobby doing I cant seem to find out from other people? I wanted to tell you I think that the piece you wrote for Jimmy Blakemore's memorial was Brilliant I would have never been able to put it any better. You can tell just how much you will miss him and I feel the same way. We started out together in a little group here in town with Ronnie Leibfreid on piano.
We also worked on Billy Butterfields band for a few college dates. May God Rest his soul. Troy Campbell

Aug 31, 2008
Luther DeJarunett

Hi Billy! I heard about your recent illness, and I want to wish you a very speedy recovery!

Sep 1, 2008
Barry Levenson

Billy, your comment about me blew me away!!! You've always been so supportive...i love you a ton1 Send me some ph#s so we can catch up.
Barry

Nov 16, 2008
Michael A. Constable

Wow, everyone has made me feel even more proud of Dad , I am blown away by the comments by all. Thank you VERY much.

My mom is coming out to Vegas to visit me next week (it will be the first time I've seen her since Dad's passing). We are going to catch up on a lot!
I will show her this page and she will really appreciate all the wonderful things everyone has to say. I will certainly let her know you said "Hi". Thanks again and take care.

Feb 25, 2009