MCG JAZZ ANNOUNCES 2026 CLASS OF PITTSBURGH JAZZ LEGENDS DURING 

40th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

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Tubby Daniels, Eric DeFade, Curtis Johnson, Pamela Johnson, and Tim Stevens, to be Honored for Their Lasting Contributions to Pittsburgh's Jazz Legacy

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PITTSBURGH – As MCG Jazz celebrates its 40th Anniversary, the organization is proud to announce the newest class of MCG Jazz Pittsburgh Jazz Legends, honoring five extraordinary artists whose talent, dedication, and service have helped shape Pittsburgh's rich jazz tradition for decades.

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The MCG Jazz Pittsburgh Jazz Legends Class of 2026 includes Tubby Daniels, Eric DeFade, Curtis Johnson, Pamela Johnson, and Tim Stevens. They join an esteemed roster of musicians recognized since 2008 for their artistic excellence, commitment to education, mentorship of younger generations, and enduring impact on the region's cultural life.

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"The story of jazz in Pittsburgh has always been about more than great musicians," said Marty Ashby, Executive Producer of MCG Jazz. "It's about artists who stay connected to their communities, pass their knowledge forward, and help ensure that jazz continues to thrive. This year's inductees represent the very best of that tradition."

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For nearly two decades, the Pittsburgh Jazz Legends program has celebrated artists who have dedicated their careers to preserving and advancing jazz in Western Pennsylvania. Together, they represent hundreds of years of combined performance, education, mentorship, and community leadership.

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The 2026 inductees exemplify the values that have defined Pittsburgh jazz for generations: artistry, mentorship, perseverance, and community engagement. Their collective contributions have enriched concert halls, classrooms, neighborhood venues, houses of worship, and stages across the world while strengthening the cultural fabric of Pittsburgh.  As MCG Jazz marks its 40th year of preserving, presenting, and promoting jazz, this year's ceremony serves as both a celebration of the organization's legacy and a tribute to the artists who have made Pittsburgh one of the great jazz cities of the world.

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The 2026 MCG Jazz Pittsburgh Jazz Legends Honorees

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Vibraphonist Tubby Daniels is one of Pittsburgh's most recognizable and beloved jazz performers. A student of the Afro American Music Institute (AAMI), Daniels found his artistic voice on vibraphone and has spent more than three decades sharing his craft with audiences throughout the region. Known for his warm stage presence and eclectic repertoire that spans straight-ahead jazz, rhythm and blues, and popular favorites, Daniels has become a staple of Pittsburgh's live music scene and a tireless ambassador for the art form. 

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Saxophonist, composer, and educator Eric DeFade is one of Pittsburgh's most accomplished contemporary jazz artists. Over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades, he has performed with legends including Ahmad Jamal, Benny Golson, Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson, Gary Burton, John Scofield, and the New York Voices. A two-time GRAMMY®-winning recording artist and respected educator, DeFade has devoted much of his career to mentoring young musicians through Carnegie Mellon University, Lincoln Park Performing Arts School and numerous regional music programs. He currently performs with a multitude of ensembles and remains one of the city's foremost jazz ambassadors. 

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Saxophonist, educator, and Yamaha Artist Curtis Johnson has distinguished himself as a performer in jazz, classical music, and rhythm and blues for more than four decades. A longtime educator and former Director of Jazz Studies at West Virginia University, Johnson has performed with artists including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Christian McBride, Benny Golson, Ahmad Jamal, and The Temptations. Equally admired for his work in the classroom, he has inspired generations of students while continuing to perform with ensembles such as the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra and teaching at Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts 6–12 (CAPA).

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Pamela Johnson has spent more than four decades enriching Pittsburgh's jazz and educational communities as a vocalist, teacher, and arts advocate. Co-founder and Program Director of the Afro American Music Institute, she has helped nurture generations of young musicians while maintaining an active performing career. Johnson has shared the stage with jazz luminaries including Shirley Scott, Hank Crawford, Kenny Clarke, and Johnny Lytle, and has been a leading force behind some of Pittsburgh's most impactful music education initiatives. 

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A beloved vocalist, songwriter, and community leader, Tim Stevens has been a fixture in Pittsburgh's cultural landscape since the late 1960s. For more than five decades he has championed civil rights, voter engagement, public safety reform, and racial equity. As a jazz and popular vocalist, Stevens has written dozens of original songs, including compositions recorded by nationally recognized artists, and has appeared on programs such as The Mike Douglas Show. A former President of the Pittsburgh NAACP, he is currently Chairman and CEO of the Black Political Empowerment Project (B-PEP) and continues to perform regularly. 

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A Celebration of Pittsburgh Jazz Past, Present, and Future

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The Pittsburgh Jazz Legends celebration will be one of the signature events of MCG Jazz's 40th Anniversary Season, bringing together legendary artists, devoted jazz fans, and generations of Pittsburgh musicians for an unforgettable evening. The festivities begin with the Pittsburgh Jazz Legends induction ceremony, followed by a special performance by the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, featuring conductor and composer Andy Farber performing his Usonian Structures, in celebration of the 90th Anniversary of Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic Fallingwater. Additionally, the orchestra will premiere a newly commissioned work by Pittsburgh Jazz Legend Mike Tomaro, inspired by the beauty, innovation, and enduring influence of Fallingwater. 

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Following the performance, attendees are invited to a lively Jazz Party and Jam Session, featuring food, refreshments, special guests, and opportunities for audiences to mingle with Pittsburgh's jazz community. The evening will also include unique photo opportunities with many of the previous Pittsburgh Jazz Legends honorees, creating a rare gathering of the artists whose dedication and artistry have shaped Pittsburgh's place among America's great jazz cities.  The evening promises not only a celebration of musical excellence, but a once-in-a-generation gathering of the individuals who continue to define Pittsburgh's remarkable jazz legacy.

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About MCG Jazz

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MCG Jazz is a social enterprise of Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, a subsidiary of Manchester Bidwell Corporation, a nonprofit arts and learning center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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For four decades, MCG Jazz has preserved, presented, and promoted jazz through world-class performances, recordings, education programs, artist residencies, and one of the nation's most significant jazz archives. Through its concert series, educational initiatives, recordings, and community partnerships, MCG Jazz continues to connect audiences with the transformative power of jazz while ensuring that Pittsburgh's remarkable jazz heritage remains vibrant for future generations.

 

For more information, visit www.mcgjazz.org or call 412-322-0800.

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This extraordinary class of musicians will join the following previous classes:

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Class of 2008

• Charles “Chuck” Austin

• Harold Betters

• Cecil Brooks, II

• Dr. Nelson E. Harrison

• Roger Humphries

• Dr. James T. Johnson, Jr.

• Gene Ludwig

• Joe Negri

• Dr. John “Doc” Wilson

 

Class of 2012

• Don Aliquo, Sr.

• Frank Cunimondo

• Joe Dallas

• Art Nance

• George “Duke” Spaulding

• Judge Warren Watson

 

Class of 2013

• Michele Bensen

• Kenny Blake

• Etta Cox

• Al Dowe

• Jim Guerra

 

Class of 2015

• Dr. Harry D. Clark

• Kenneth Cook

• Raymond A. DeFade

• Dwayne Dolphin

 

Class of 2019

• George Jones

• Max Leake

• Chuck Spatafore

• Lou Stellute

• Mark Strickland

 

Class of 2024

• Tony Campbell

• George Edward Heid

• Eric Johnson

• Marva Josie

• Eric Susoeff

• Mike Tomaro