In the early 1970s, young aspiring Black musicians were scattered throughout Beaver County, western Pennsylvania and, of course, the entire greater Pittsburgh region.
This was an era when they targeted their passions and concentrated on becoming the area’s premier musicians. Unlike today s counterparts, yesterday’s young were not fixed on becoming top videogame rompers. Instead, good musicianship provided a viable alternative to youngsters who may have failed on the hoop court, gridiron or simply lacked athletic prowess.
In Beaver County, the probability of becoming a professional musician was a devout reality, whereas so was becoming a professional athlete considering the acclaim of Hopewell Township’s Anthony “Hawk” Dorsett, Aliquippa’s Mike Ditka and Beaver Falls’ Joe Willie Namath. In music, Beaver Valley Musician Union Hall of Famers Henry Mancini and the Steals brothers, Melvin and Mervin, also come to mind.