PITTSBURGH'S ROCKIN' REUNION Set for the Benedum Center Tonight

Six Pittsburgh Hit Makers will band together for one night only, to perform a historic event at the Benedum Center tonight, April 4, 2015 at 4:00 and 8:00 pm. The PITTSBURGH ROCKIN' REUNION will celebrate the hits that launched Pittsburgh onto the national music scene.

PITTSBURGH'S ROCKIN' REUNION will feature Hit-Maker's Lou Christie, Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners, Donnie Iris, Chuck Blasko's Vogues, The Marcels, and Jimmie Ross and the Jaggerz. Even though all of the artists are friends who have performed together on the road from time to time, they have never performed all together on one stage -- until now.

"When I first started to explore this project a few years ago, I had doubts that it could even be done," shared Charlie Pappas of Spotlight Productions, producer of PITTSBURGH'S ROCKIN REUNION. "The logistics of getting all of the Acts to agree to the project, finding a date that worked for every group involved, and a venue of choice was a real challenge -- but the stars aligned and the REUNION is set for April 4, 2015 at the Benedum Center in downtown Pittsburgh."

The concept of the PITTSBURGH ROCKIN' REUNION is to bring together the Pittsburgh greats performing all of the hits that made them known as the Pittsburgh Hit- Makers. This show, a once in a lifetime event, will never be done again and promises to make Pittsburgh proud.

Tickets for the PITTSBURGH ROCKIN' REUNION will go on sale, Friday, January 9, 2105 at 9:00 a.m. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Theatre Square Box Office, 665 Penn avenue, online at www.TrustArts.org or by calling 412-471-6930. Group tickets for 10+ are available.

Artist Biographies:

Lou Christie
Lou Christie's chart topping, multi-million selling career as a singer, songwriter, recording artist and performer started in a two week track studio in Glenwillard Pennsylvania, his rural hometown near Pittsburgh. Lou's first million selling song, "The Gypsy Cried," transformed a local choir boy into a national teen idol. Over the decade of the sixties, Lou followed success with greater success. "Two Faces Have I," was his next big hit featuring his stratospheric falsetto. His #1 multi-million selling song, "Lightnin' Strikes," forever embedded hi unique voice into America's consciousness. Lou's chart topping success continued with two additional million-selling hits, "Rhapsody in the Rain" and "I'm Gonna Make You Mine."

Jimmy Beaumont and the Skyliners
Back in 1958, a young Pittsburgh singer by the name of Jimmy Beaumont began singing with a group called the Crescents that soon combined with a South Hills group by the name of The Elrios. Under the management of the young Pittsburgh native promoter, Joe Rock, they became The Skyliners. Joe Rock and Skyliner's lead singer Jimmy Beaumont soon began to write songs. Their first song, "Since I Don't Have You" went to the top of the chart and is known today as the quintessential fifties ballad. The song has been covered by scores of artists including Ronnie Millsap, Art Garfunkel, Trini Lopez, Chuck Jackson, Don McClean and Guns n' Roses. Other top 40 hits and classics by the group include "This I Swear," "Pennies from Heaven," "It Happened Today," "Close Your Eyes," "Comes Love," "The Loser" and "Where Have They Gone."

Donnie Iris
Don Iris is an American rock musician known for his work with the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s, and for his solo career beginning in the 1980s with his band, the Cruisers. He wrote the #2 Billboard hit "The Rapper," with Jaggerz in 1970 and was a member of WILD Cherry after the group had a #1 hit with "Play That Funky Music." Iris also achieved fame as a solo artist in the early 1980s with the #29 hit "Ah! Leah!" and "Love is Like a Rock."

Chuck Blasko's Vogues
The Vogues began as a four man vocal group in Turtle Creek originally known as The Val-Aires, while at Turtle Creek High School. In the late fifties, they quickly gained popularity and soon landed a contract with the local Co and Ce Record Label. The Val-Aires changed their name to the Vogues and became a national sensation in September of 1965 with a #4 hit, "You Are the One." Nine weeks later, the group followed up with another hit, "Five O'clock World" followed by "Magic Town," "Land of Milk and Honey," "Turn Around Look at Me" and "My Special Angel." The Vogues made several appearances on television programs including the The Tonight Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, Shindig, American Bandstand, Hullabaloo and the Mike Douglas Show.

The Marcels
In 1959, five racially mixed guys from Oliver Allegheny High School began singing on the North Side. They soon took the name of a popular wavy hair style and The Marcels were born. After a year's worth of practicing, they found themselves at Copix Records, a record subsidy of Columbia Pictures in New York. At their first recording session, they recorded a remake of an old Rogers and Hart song, "Blue Moon." The song went straight to #1 on the Billboard charts and remained there for three weeks, selling a million copies and earning them a gold record. Later that Fall, they scored again with "Heartaches," which reached #7. The group appeared with Chubby Checker in the film Twist Around the Clock and their rendition of "Blue Moon" has been used in four major motion picture and various television shows. Today, The Marcels include Jules Hopson, Richard Harris, Ted (Reno) Smith and Kenny Mitchell.

Jimmie Ross and the Jaggerz
Around 1964, six talented guys from Beaver Valley joined together and began playing local night clubs and regional venues as far as the Sunken Bar at Geneva on the Lake, Ohio. Managed by the Skyliner's manager, Joe Rock, the Jaggerz signed with Gable Records, where the legendary Philadelphia Soul music team of Gamble and Huff produced their first album. The album included "(That's Why) Baby I Love You," "Together" and "Gotta Find My Way Back Home." In 1970, the Jaggerz switched labels and their second album produced the groups' chart-topping hit "The Rapper," which hit #2 on the Billboard hot 100 and remained there for 13 weeks. The record was certified gold by the RIAA, selling over 2.5 million copies. Original members, Jimmie Ross and Benny Faiella, along with current members Hermie Granati, Dennis McAbee, Paul Martello and Chris Patarni continue to perform the soulful sounds of the Jaggerz.

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