THE GROOVE SPECTACULAR AT PITTSBURGH'S SYRIA MOSQUE ON NOVEMBER 22, 1961--A LANDMARK IN PITTSBURGH'S EVOLUTION OF ROCK 'N ROLL

The GROOVE SPECTACULAR took place at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, PA on November 22, 1961. "The Burgh"--already known as the Doo-Wop Capitol of the world put on a great show that night!

First up was Jackie Wilson: With his three-year-old MONSTER "Lonely Teardrops" he had no less than ten more charted hits at the time, the least of which not being "Please Tell Me Why"




Next up, The "Peppermint Twist" cat. Joey Dee and his Starlighters...





Chris Kenner was on that show, doing his monster "Land of 100 Dances" and Pittsburgh's favorite "That's My Girl" for sure and even his BIG hit "I Like It Like That"--But still pushin' the one that got away (when his buddy Fats Dominoe had a monster hit with it). This is Chris Kenner's tune, though, and this is him doing it!!!




Next up, The Ice Man himself, Jerry Butler doing one of Burt Bacharach's earliest compositions, a major hit for Jerry and already a  Pittsburgh favorite...



The Five Satins did their two MONSTER tunes...







Huey "Piano" Smith tore the place UP, with his set...







THE (FABULOUS) SKYLINERS layed down the Pittsburgh Sound in their set with their incredible Pittsburgh Doo-Wop classics...






And these were just the headliners!!! Not a lot of groups originated in The Burgh, but Pittsburgh made a lot of folks famous!~Even though that really wasn't the plan--The "plan" was just to have a good time bein' a part of the EVOLUTION OF ROCK 'N ROLL!!!

Learn more about Pittsburgh's place in the evolution of Rock 'n Roll... http://tropicaljon.blogspot.com/2011/03/pittsburghs-daddio-of-raddio-and-his.html

http://tropicaljon.blogspot.com/2011/07/terry-lee-legendary-pittsburgh-dj-hes.html

http://tropicaljon.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-introduction-to-up-front-and.html