Déjà Groove

Here are songs which will bring back memories. Memories of the Crafton Canteen dances, from the Fifties and the Sixties, and the Crafton American Legion dances of the Sixties and Seventies. Memories of dances from the Red Rooster, the Lebanon Lodge, the Grove, Wildwood Lodge, the White Elephant, Bethel Arena, Teenland, West View Danceland and even the Sheraden American Legion.

These are not the generic "oldies" that Time-Life tries to sell you. Most were not deemed acceptable to the main-stream radio programmers of their era. Nor were they played on any "Bandstand" type television show. They were played by DJ's on small radio stations and at teenage dances.

Although hardly known by the general public, outside of Pittburgh, the most influential of these DJ's was Porky Chedwick. Music Industry folks, however, ALL know the 'Daddio of the Raddio,' our 'Platter-Pushin' Papa.' He was the FIRST WHITE DJ who played BLACK ARTIST'S records for a WHITE teenaged audience on the East Coast.

It freaked out everyone..., but the teenagers.

These are the songs that changed the way the world listens to music. They're rude, crude and loaded with raw emotion. And we loved them.

They're the sound of a revolution that has lasted over a half-century. And it's still not over.... Read more, here....

Folks, then and now, criticize music that appeals to the youngest generation. Probably always will. But kids recognize crap when they hear it, no matter who is trying to tell them it's "good" for them. Hopefully they always will.

We had Wynonie Harris crafting music that was from the "wrong side of the tracks." Today's kids have Marshall Mathers. Some things never change, hopefully.

Thank goodness.... for Rock 'n' roll. It will never die.

     Rock 'n' roll is a musical style born in the late 40's out of jump blues and incorporating the saxophone based rhythms of that form with as varied influences as the electric guitar of blues, the steady beat of swing, the pounding piano of boogie woogie, the fervor of gospel, the intense romantic longing of pop harmony groups and the looseness of country, with songs focusing on the viewpoints and interests of its primarily young audiences and a constant pushing outwards of the accepted moral boundaries of the times. Whew, that was a lot to say...

     Its primary practitioners were young black artists appealing to the post-war community's need for excitement, dancing and increasing social freedoms. In the mid-50's, fueled by radio and jukeboxes, white teenagers became equally entranced by the style and became some of its most popular artists. The music however is not restricted to any race, gender, or point of origin either by performers or audience, and its inclusiveness is one of its greatest strengths. It's an Equal-Opportunity Art Form.

     Rock 'n' roll is constantly progressing, adapting and experimenting allowing it to remain relevant to each succeeding generation, but it maintains the same urgency and perspective it had when it was founded more than a half-century ago.

Below are what may be defined as "Pittsburgh" Oldies for your listening pleasure. Thanks, eternally, to (Craig) "Porkie" Chedwick, "Mad" Mike (Metrovich), Terry Lee (Trunzo), Bob "Mac" (MacConnell), Bob Livorio, Zeke Jackson and all the other great Pittsburgh D.J.'s, to the present.

Below is the music we discovered, sometimes in "junkpiles;" sometimes in record stores around the country. It's not the music you'll hear on today's oldies shows or at today's oldies dances. Go to the Grove, today, and you'll hear "shag" and "beach" music. Makes ya wanna vomit... Today's wannabe "Oldies DJ's" play crap made popular in the Carolinas; not Pittsburgh. We give you the real stuff; right here. Free.

No Bullshit; just good music.

'Right-click' the file name and 'save target to' your computer. If you want some background Doo-Wop, while you do other things, just rap (mouse-click) on the jukebox like Arthur Fonzarelli. Be aware that your bandwidth will be reduced by the streaming content.

For historical background, visit our Rock 'n' Roll Timeline page.