Smokey Robinson; Jeff Beck and Ann Wilson; Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper; and Charlie Daniels in Area Concerts (Sat., 8/11/18)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaMX0Cs5Bc4

1) The one and only Smokey Robinson—the R&B star behind hits like “Cruisin’,” “Being With You” and “Just to See Her”—visits the Palace Theatre for a performance. Robinson’s legacy is a big one. Not only was he a founding member of the vocal group The Miracles in the 1950s, and not only did he splinter out on his own for a prolific and significant solo career in the ‘70s, but he also played an integral role in the formation of Motown Records. His Miracles were among the first artists signed to the label. In fact, as the story goes, Robinson helped convince Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr. to start the highly influential record company. For his many accomplishments, Robinson was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. Today the soulful 78-year-old still tours internationally. 7:30 p.m. 21 W. Otterman St., Greensburg.

2) What a great pairing: Jeff Beck with Ann Wilson at Heinz Hall. Both are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Beck was inducted twice: once with the British blues-rock band The Yardbirds and again as a solo artist. You can hear Beck’s guitar on The Yardbirds’ “Heart Full of Soul,” their first single after Eric Clapton departed. He later formed the Jeff Beck Group and then the supergroup Beck, Bogert & Appice. He’s collaborated with everyone from Morrissey to Stevie Wonder and is often hailed as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His latest solo album is 2016’s Loud Hailer. Ann Wilson with her sister, Nancy, form the core of Heart. They achieved mega-success in the 1970s and ’80s with songs “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” and “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You.” Ann Wilson has also collaborated with Alice in Chains. She is scheduled to release an album, Immortal, this September. The album will cover songs by artists, such as Chris Cornell and David Bowie, who have recently passed to that great concert in the sky. 8 p.m. 600 Penn Ave., Cultural District. (HM, CM)

3) Recording artists sometimes have several phases of their career and such is the case with Rod Stewart as well. He enjoyed early success as a vocalist and songwriter with the Jeff Beck Group before leaving to join the Faces and start his highly successful solo career. While with the Faces he sang the iconic “Maggie May.” Stewart is actually one of the top-selling recording artists of all time. He has had 16 top ten hits in the U.S. with four of reaching no. 1. on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and has sold over 100 million records. Major hits for Stewart were  “Tonight’s the Night,” “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?,” “Forever Young,” and “Some Guys Have All The Luck.”  In 2002 Stewart released the first of his Great American Songbook recordings which continued his successful  run. He’s even released a Soulbook recording of Motown and other soul songs. Look for a sweet mix of older and more recent hits in his concert. Cyndi Lauper who scored mega hits in the ’80s with “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and “Time After Time” opens. 7 p.m. PPG Paints Arena, 1001 Fifth Ave., Uptown.

4) Country/rock superstar Charlie Daniels and his Charlie Daniels Band play Jergel’s Rhythm Grille. There’s always been a special affinity between Daniels and Pittsburgh; he’s been a frequent visitor and has even sung the national anthem before several Steelers games. One of his songs, “In America,” includes a reference to the team’s fans: “Just go and lay your hand on a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and I think you’re going to finally understand.” Tragically, in 2011, longtime keyboardist Taz DiGregorio was killed in a one-car accident in Tennessee while driving to the tour bus to embark on a trip. The band’s many hits include “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” “Long Haired Country Boy,” and “Redneck Fiddlin’ Man.” Daniels’ earlier albums including Saddle Tramp, High Lonesome, and Midnight Wind feature many fantastic southern rock songs. His latest album is 2016’s Night Hawk, and he also has published a memoir titled Never Look at the Empty Seats which was released in 2017. Frank Vieira opens. 8 p.m. 285 Northgate Dr., Warrendale.

Charlie Daniels is highly skilled at both the fiddle and guitar. photo: Wikipedia Commons.

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