This week on “The Scene,” we’ll look ahead to an innovative artist appearing at the Gist Street Sculpture Studio on January 19 - Brazilian guitarist, vocalist and mouth percussionist Badi Assad

As we thought about what to feature this week on The Scene, the NY Times remembrance of pianist, vocalist, composer Bob Dorough came to our screen. Known very well by his TV exposure through "Multiplication Rock” and “Schoolhouse Rock,” the Times called him “near legendary.”

We’ve always liked Bob Dorough - his ability to turn MATH and Government into cool tunes was not surprising at all. His renditions of Baltimore Oriole and ‘Tis Autumn were charming and hip, his “Blue Christmas” with Miles Davis was a pre-Peanuts expression of holiday angst before Charlie Brown ever met Vince Guaraldi. Bob was an adroit pianist, a witty songwriter and a musical force. We lost him in 2018 at the age of 94.

That got us to thinking of so many others who passed in 2018. In Pittsburgh, influential pianist and technician Duke Spaulding left us but also his legacy at the age of 95. We spoke with Peter Stumpf about some of Duke Spaulding’s unique contributions.

Though he had retired to Florida, Nathan Davis’ mark on Jazz Studies at the University of Pittsburgh and the world resonates, deeply.

Look back and remember (additions and corrections are welcome).:

January

Hugh Masekela, trumpeter, composer, bandleader, activist - 78

Marlene VerPlanck, vocalist - 84

Bill Hughes, trombone - 87

Chris Pangikas, Pittsburgh Pianist - 71

February

Leon Ndugu Chancler, percussionist - 65

George “Duke” Spaulding, pianist, technician - 95

April

Cecil Taylor, pianist, composer - 89

Bob Dorough, pianist, vocalist, composer - 94

May

Nathan Davis, saxophonist, educator - 81

Joseph Kennedy iII, Pittsburgh pianist and educator - 75

June

Lorraine Gordon, owner, Village Vanguard - 95

Matt “Guitar” Murphy - 88

Rebecca Paris, vocalist - 66

July

Henry Butler, pianist, vocalist, composer, photographer - 68

Patrick Williams, bandleader, composer, arranger - 79

Bill Watrous, trombonist - 79

John “Smitty” Smith, Pittsburgh drummer

August

Aretha Franklin, vocalist, pianist, queen of soul - 76

September

Randy Weston, pianist, composer - 92

October

Sonny Fortune, tenor saxophonist - 79

Jerry Gonzalez, trumpet - 69

Hamiet Bluiett, saxophonist - 78

John “Puggy” Thompson, Pittsburgh percussionist

November

Roy Hargrove, trumpeter, composer - 49

John Hughes, Pittsburgh Pianist - 93

December

Nancy Wilson, vocalist - 81

Kellye Gray, vocalist

Urbie Green, trombonist - 92

Tonight at six, Sunday afternoon at five - Looking forward and a remembering look back on WZUM.

Scott Hanley