Paula Abdul, New Kids, and Boyz II Men at PPG; Roger Humphries in Tribute to Ray Charles (Sat., 7/1/17)

PPG Paints Arena is hosting a 1990s blowout with Paula Abdul, New Kids on the Block, and Boyz II Men. Abdul, who started out her career as a Los Angeles Lakers cheerleader and was once married to actor Emilio Estevez, is best known as a judge for the hit TV talent shows “American Idol” and “The X Factor.” In the late ’80s and early ’90s, she was an extremely popular singer with six songs reaching no. 1 on the Billboard 100 chart. This feat ties her with Diana Ross for seventh place for females who have topped the chart. Abdul’s debut 1988 album, Forever Your Girl, garnered no. 1 status on the Billboard 200 album chart 64 weeks after it was released. On one of the songs, “Knocked Out,” she had assistance from two top writing and producing talents, L.A. Reid and Babyface. Her video for “Opposites Attract” won a Grammy for Best Music Video-Short Form in 1991. Abdul is also recognized as a top choreographer. This is Abdul’s first tour in 25 years.

New Kids on the Block is a boy band (now a man band) that rose out of the rough streets of Boston and was built around a young rapper named Donnie Wahlberg. The rest of the group was filled in with talented friends, and for a short while, his brother Mark was in the band. The group disbanded in 1994 and reunited in 2007. Top songs include “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” and “Step by Step.” Brothers Donnie and Mark have a growing quick-serve restaurant chain called Wahlburgers, which will open in two locations in Pittsburgh within a year. Also on the bill are Boyz II Men, originally from Philadelphia and best known for beautiful vocal harmonies in their love ballads. They hit the charts with “I’ll Make Love to You” and “End of the Road.” 7:30 p.m. 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown. (RH)

If you’ve heard Horace Silver’s immortal bossa nova standard, “Song for My Father,” then you’ve heard Roger Humphries. The brilliant percussionist has played virtually every major venue in the United States with such renowned performers  as Dizzy Gillespie and  Ray Charles to Pittsburgh natives Nathan Davis and Pete Henderson. An accomplished solo artist in his own right and the leader of RH Factor and Roger Humphries’ Big Band, Humphries has also left a lasting legacy in Pittsburgh as an educator. He’s  taught at the University of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, and elsewhere. Catch the legendary drummer and the RH Factor Big Band performing a night of Ray Charles. It is billed as “One legend pays tribute to another.” 8 p.m. James Street Gastropub & Speakeasy, 422 Foreland St., North Side. (EC, RH)

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