On June 18, 2024, the City of Duquesne was proud to unveil a new Pennsylvania Historical Marker at the home of the father of modern Jazz Piano, Earl “Fatha” Hines, 11am at 600 Priscilla Avenue, Duquesne, PA 15110. WZUM was delighted to be there, and we celebrate it on the radio - and you can see the event online, too!

WZUM has produced special programing celebrating HInes’ career and Pittsburgh roots which can be found at this link.

Earl “Fatha” Hines” was a major jazz figure from Duquesne who influenced the musical world. Called “Fatha” because he was, from early in his career, considered the father of what became jazz piano.

His work in light classical and popular music with Lois Deppe’s Serenaders was notable in Pittsburgh - The Serenaders are considered the first “swing band” in the history of Pittsburgh - cited as performing at Pittsburgh's Paramount Inn as early as 1919, leading to recordings in the early 1920’s.

There are more than a few reports of Earl Hines and Lois Deppe being the first two African Americans to perform on the radio - on KDKA in 1921

A few years later, around 1925, at the strong encouragement of composer and pianist Eubie Blake, Earl Hines left for Chicago - and collaborations over the next few years led him to make seminal recordings with Louis Armstrong - tunes like Weather Bird and the West End Blues - around 1928.

Earl Hines went on to be a star performer and bandleader on his own - and an influence on Art Tatum, Erroll Garner, Nat “King” Cole and legions more.

His big band featured as many as 28 players - and included the likes of Pittsburgh’s own Billy Eckstine and Art Blakey, plus Budd Johnson, Ray Nance, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Gene Ammons, Trummy Young and Sarah Vaughan. His other performances an collaborations went on for decades more - including a headlining feature for the All-Star Tribute to Duke Ellington at the White House in 1969 - and touring with his own band that featured Pittsburgh area native Marva Jose for the last 16 years of his performing career.

There are many other noteworthy things in June in Jazz in Pittsburgh:

Con Alma celebrates its 5th anniversary this week with Benny Benack II, and really keeps celebrating every day with their 7 day live music policy. The story of a new jazz club in a legendary jazz city has been one of hope, evolution, a pandemic and now, live music most every day. We’ve done features at the launch, the 3rd anniversary, the building of the new Con Alma Downtown location and more.

Also, a homecoming for saxophonist and composer Stephen Phillip Harvey at Alphabet City, June 27; the Django Festival Allstars at the South Park Amphitheater, June 21; The Steeltown Horns with Big Jus at the Thunderbird Cafe June 29; the Roger Humphries Jazz on the River Boat Ride June 30 and much much more!

The Scene - Thursday at 6pm, Friday and Saturday at noon, Sunday afternoon at 5.