Scott Tady: Aliquippa songwriting aces back in action; Lincoln Park grad books U.K. tour

Beaver County's most successful songwriting duo is back in action.

The Grammy Award-winning Steals twins − Melvin and Mervin − wrote and produced three songs on the upcoming album by Russell Thompkins Jr., original lead singer for Philly soul/R&B greats The Stylistics.

Thompkins' "Going Solo" arrives digitally Feb. 2, and includes the Steals' songs "Words Left Unsaid," "Magic of Our Love" and a remake of the Aliquippa siblings' platinum smash "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love," which The Spinners rode to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1972.

Esteemed Motown songwriter, arranger and trombonist McKinley Jackson, who Melvin describes as "our brother by another mother," co-produced the three Steals contributions to "Going Solo," each of which enables Thompkins' smooth, high-soaring voice to shine.

If you enjoyed his vocal stylings on 1970s Stylistics hits like "You Make Me Feel Brand New" and "You Are Everything," you'll dig these new tracks.

The "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" album cut begins with Thompkins giving a grateful shout-out to the Steals' and Jackson. Then comes a lushly orchestrated new intro, gliding into the familiar melody, with fresh instrumental garnishes backing Thompkins' heart-tugging voice crooning timeless lines like "and honey, you'll always be/The only one for me/Meeting you was my destiny."

I'm sure it will sound fantastic live. Melvin Steals, a retired Aliquippa Middle School principal, arranged for Thompkins and The New Stylistics to headline a May 4 show at Moon High School's auditorium.

"We're celebrating 'Could It Be I'm Falling in Love's" 50-plus years of popularity," Steals said.

Ticket details will be announced soon for the fundraising concert, which will help bring a Boys & Girls Club to the Steals' native Aliquippa. The Moon concert also will feature venerable oldies band Johnny Angel and The Halos along with Jimmie Ross of Beaver County's chart-topping The Jaggerz.

The Jaggerz' 1969 debut album featured two Steals siblings-penned songs, "Gotta Find My Way Back Home" and "Forever Together − Together Forever."

Lincoln Park grad sets U.K. tour

Indie-pop artist Gabriella Salvucci announced a five-date club tour of the U.K. beginning next month.

A 2023 graduate of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, Salvucci writes all original music, including her 2022 full-length album, "Peace Offering."

"I’m going to be playing songs from 'Peace Offering,' as well as brand new songs on piano and guitar," Salvucci said. "I’m excited to be playing at such wonderful, intimate venues, as I’m looking forward to telling stories about my songs.

"My mom is from England originally, so we’ve been planning this trip for practically my whole life. I’m so happy to be visiting family there, including some I’ve never met in person before. It’s going to be so special to get to share my music with them, and with the audiences at my shows."

Earning regular airplay on 91.3-WYEP's Monday night local music show, Salvucci recognizes these England dates are a wonderful opportunity.

"I’m really looking forward to connecting with other touring musicians who will be sharing the stage with me throughout the tour," she said. "It’s also going to be amazing to be in places with so much music history. I’m planning on taking a photo in the telephone booth where David Bowie shot the back cover of 'Ziggy Stardust' in Soho and seeing the Amy Winehouse statue in Camden. And of course, we’ll be visiting Abbey Road Studios. I know I’ll be inspired by all of the places I see and people I meet and hope to turn parts of this trip into new songs."

'Burgh band hires Orianthi

Pittsburgh blues-rockers Ghost Hounds added guitar sorceress Orianthi as a special guest for the band's Feb. 16 show at the Roxian Theatre in McKees Rocks.

Orianthi, who gained acclaim as lead guitarist for Michael Jackson and Alice Cooper, is a riveting live performer. She stole the show a few years ago at the Women Who Rock concert at Stage AE.

More: Work progresses on 2 Beaver stages that will host outdoor concerts & events

Tickets are available for the Ghost Hounds-Orianthi show, which will be the local band's first headlining performance since the July release of "First Last Time," an album earning praise from SPIN, American Songwriter, Guitar World, and the Beaver County Times.

Ghost Hounds, including Beaver County's Joe Munroe on keyboards, opened a string of 2023 arena shows for Guns N' Roses.

Thee Three Kings

Top-flight Beaver County and Pittsburgh musicians will entertain in "An Evening with the Three Kings," a tribute to blues greats Albert King, B.B. King and Freddie King, Feb. 9, at The Original Pittsburgh Winery.

Aliquippa soul-blues artist Dan Bubien and vocalist Clinton Clegg of Pittsburgh's nationally known soul-rockers The Commonheart spearhead the event, sharing the stage with Mike Minda, Zack Wiesinger and John Pergal, backed by a stellar house band including Shawn McGregor on drums, Chippewa Township's Nate Catanzarite from Charles Wesley Godwin's The Allegheny High on bass, Lucas Bowman on keyboards and Abby Gross from The Commonheart on saxophone.

McGregor conceived and curated the show, Bubien said.

"Shawn has been a staple in the Pittsburgh music community for some time now, from legendary Pittsburgh soul-funk band The Boogie Hustlers, to Allman Brothers tribute band Butler Street Revival, to his own project and Meters tribute band, Funky Miracle, and also being founding member and drummer of The Commonheart, Shawn also has been the primary drummer for my band the Delta Struts for some time now.

"Shawn, by channeling all of his life-long connections, not only has cultivated a night of music celebrating arguably three of the most influential artists in the history of the blues − Albert King, Freddie King and B.B. King at the amazing and new-and-improved original location of the Pittsburgh Winery − but also curated a show 'Celebrating the Music of Motown' on March 24 at The Thunderbird in Lawrenceville," Bubien said.

"When asked to be a part of it and play, I jumped at the opportunity to try and honor the Three Kings of the Blues and to get a chance to play with such a myriad of talent," Bubien said. "I mean, who wouldn’t want to come see The Commonheart play the blues?"

Advance tickets cost $15. It's $20 at the Strip District winery's door, with showtime at 8 p.m.

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at The Times and easy to reach at stady@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Tady: Aliquippa songwriters Melvin & Mervin Steals back in action