Pittsburg artists to be honored Oct. 6

The all-volunteer nonprofit Pittsburg Entertainment & Arts Hall of Fame will honor 18 local artists at its first induction ceremony Sunday, Oct. 6, at 2 p.m. in the Creative Arts Building.

Among the honorees are eight graduates of Pittsburg High School and three Pittsburg Unified School District teachers.

Honorees were nominated by a blue-ribbon panel of Pittsburg artists and were voted on by dues-paying PEAHOF members.

The honorees are blues man and mentor Norman Abercrombie Sr., Pittsburg Community Theatre founder Betty Brown, gospel pioneers Rev. Isaiah and Geneva Brown, jazz pianist Joe Castro, Pittsburg Municipal Band director Emilio Civita, PHS band director Orrin Cross, percussionist Pete Escovedo, founder of the PHS band Clarence Fornwald, popular entertainer Gerald Glasper, musician and mentor Papa John Guerrero, Pittsburg’s first lady of song Leola Jiles, blues man and mentor Louis Jones, eight-decade musician Chooch Lombardo, jazz man Ollie McClay, artist Dr. Ronald McDowell, blues singer Tommy Nunnelly, recording star and mentor Alice Jean Wilton.

Tickets are available on line with no service charge at www.pittsburgentertainmentandarts.org and at Railroad Book Depot and Pittsburg Historical Society Museum.

The Pittsburg Entertainment & Arts Hall of Fame seeks to recognize local musicians, performers, artists and writers, commemorating their achievements and impact upon the cultural life of Pittsburg in hopes of educating and inspiring the youth of Pittsburg to use and expand their creative abilities to enrich the community.