In Memoriam
Blues artists from the region
who contributed to the BSWPA mission
Kip London
Pittsburgh native Kip London performed folk, rhythm, and jump blues since the age of 17. He performed solo, as a sideman, and headed up a 6-piece Jump blues band. While living in Boston, he performed as a lead lead vocalist for a 15-piece swing orchestra. Early influences such as Bob Dylan and Tom Waits instilled the song writing bug early on.
Accompanying himself on acoustic and National Resonator guitars, his singing was raw and powerful. His songs are authentic, gritty and thought provoking. A review in The Boston Globe called Kip’s music “straight ahead cool”.
Kip’s first CD release was listed in the top ten of new releases from Blues Review Magazine. Pittsburgh Rock & Roll Legend Norm Nardini described Kip as “Old school song writing sensibilities, cool voice and some fine guitar picking” and “The real deal.”
Kip opened for Tommy Castro and was a showcase performer at the Pittsburgh Blues and Roots Festival. Kip also won the BSWPA Blues Challenge in 2021, representing our region at the 2022 International Blues Challenge.
Jill West
Fondly referred to as the Queen of Blues in Pittsburgh, Jill West was known for her smoking Blues and her generosity at events and mentoring players. Jill West & Blues Attack went to the International Blues Challenge four times. Jill West & Blues Attack won (in a field of 200 plus bands from around the world) 3rd place at International Blues Challenge representing the Blues Society of Western PA. Ms. West has four albums to date with the Blues Attack Band. Her story and her music were featured in the Blues Chronicles from the Burgh, a joint project with the BSWPA and Robert Morris University. Ms. West has also shared stages with Kenny Neal and legendary Taj Mahal.
Bill Weiner
Bill fell in love with the early blues a.k.a. “country blues” in high school in the late 1950s. In early blues, the women sang in front of a band but with the men, the guitar was your best friend. Bill had his own style; has learned a couple hundred tunes and has written many blues songs in the early style.
Bill came from a musical family. His grandfather played classical piano and as a young man played in the orchestra pit during the era of silent movies. Bill loved listening to his grandpa play when he was young. Bill began to play the guitar in high school, during the heyday of rock n' roll, folk music singing groups, rhythm and blues, bebop jazz, and folk blues. In the early 1960s, he became interested in blues recordings made in the South, and through these recordings learned to play country blues and perfected his style.
A member of several folk bands, Bill started his own blues and jug band, The Monongahela Sheiks, a Pittsburgh fixture from 1998-2008. In 2006, he recorded a well-received CD, "Juicin' The Blues." When asked what he most enjoyed about his music, Bill said that he enjoyed meeting and talking to people who shared his love of the blues. When asked what inspired him, Bill said that moving people with his music and inspiring them as he was inspired was his greatest satisfaction.
Bill won the BSWPA Blues Challenge in 2015 as a duo with Al Taylor, representing the region at the International Blues Challenge in 2016. His story and music were featured in the Blues Chronicles from the Burgh, a joint project with the BSWPA and Robert Morris University.
Jim Weber
Jim Weber, past president of BSWPA, was a simple man who had a passion for the Blues. Armed with a great smile and a warm chuckle, he worked hard to breathe life into the Blues scene in Western PA. He always had time to speak and work with the Blues fans and the Blues musicians. He was definitely a warrior for the Blues.
Harry Bottoms
Harry Bottoms, real name Edwin Lee Brown, grew up in small town in northwest PA, Clearfield. Started playin’ in bands at age 14. Moved to Pittsburgh with friend Glen Ianaro, after high school. In 1968, Harry was workin’ at a studio in NYC, Jimi Hendrix walked up to him n’ said, “hey man, you got change for a hundred." Always found work as a bass player, or guitar player, sang real well. Had natural skills. Played in popular local band Dark Horse in the 70’s. Started playin’ bass with Norman Nardini in the late 80’s and was still with Norman thru 2024. Countless gigs. Countless good times. Harry lived his life exactly as he chose. ~Norm Nardini
Gil Snyder
Like No Other - The Pittsburgh area lost the absolutely brilliant and fantastically talented keyboardist, Gil Snyder, who passed away in October 2025. There will never be another like him. Possessing an infectious smile, great laugh, and musical talent that absolutely wowed crowds for decades Gil was like no other. He was a member of the Iron City Houserockers, whom Rolling Stone magazine once called “America’s Best Bar Band” and wrote or co-wrote many of their songs. But Gil’s true love was blues music, and through decades of live performances and many incarnations featuring some of the area’s top blues musicians, his band Mystic Knights were as good as it gets! Gil, himself, had a flair, a pizazz, reflected in his always superb stage clothing and his antics behind the keyboards. He took such joy in performing, and his skills were unmatched. In 2015 there was even a stage play that was inspired by Gil Snyder’s music, Hearts of Steel, the was performed in several local theaters and honored the legacy of great music written by him that he now leaves behind for us all to remember and enjoy. I personally will always remember Gil as one of the first people who really took me under his wing when I began singing. I attended many of his open stages with Mystic Knights and he always gave me great pointers, advice, and made me feel welcome. Growing up an Iron City Houserockers fan, it was an honor to have spent many hours chatting with Gil about the music he helped create in those days and the artists and songs that still continued to inspire him to create. It’s a music experience that money can’t buy. I will always treasure it. I thank you, Gil Snyder, for that and you will always hold a special place in the hearts of Pittsburgh blues fans! ~Jim Franciscus