Thursday Night Jazz: Etta Cox

City of Asylum welcomes back legendary Pittsburgh jazz vocalist

It is our great honor to welcome back legendary vocalist Etta Cox to the Alphabet City stage. Etta stunned audience members in her 2019 performance, but you might have caught her vocal prowess and acting chops on other local stages, including appearances in the Pittsburgh Public Theater’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and City Theater’s productions of From the Mississippi Delta, Spunk, Avenue X, Constant Star and Crowns. She and Al Dowe have performed across the United States, opening for iconic performers including Ray Charles, David Brenner, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Danny Glover, Ossie Davis, Mavis Staples, Mark Murphy, and Allen Harris. Etta’s return to Alphabet City to join the ranks of world class Thursday Night Jazz performances is a program you won’t want to miss. 

About the Artist:

Etta Cox, originally from St. Joseph, Missouri, has performed in the tri-state area for many years. She has appeared on Broadway in I Love My Wife, with Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs, the 1940’s Radio Hour with Dee Dee Bridgewater, as well as the starring role in Showtime’s production of The Me Nobody Knows. She is well remembered for her starring roles in Ken Gargaro’s production of Beehive and the Shakespeare Festivals Two Gentlemen of Verona. She and Al Dowe have been performing not only in the Pittsburgh area, but New York, Atlantic City and Key West Florida. They were also the co-owners of the popular jazz club DOWE’S ON 9TH. She and Mr. Dowe made a premiere performance with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s production of Smokin’ Roses with performances at Pittsburgh’s Byham Theater, August Wilson Theatre and Wolf Trap. Etta Cox was voted “Best Jazz Vocalist” in Pittsburgh for eight consecutive years, has received the Harry Schwalb Award for Excellence in the Arts, was selected as one of the 25 Most Powerful Women in Pittsburgh by Pittsburgh Magazine, and was voted Performer of the Year by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, to name just a few of her many accolades. Etta earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Voice from Mt. St. Scholastic College and also attended Missouri University. She taught in the St. Louis, Missouri school district for three years before moving to Pittsburgh. 

About Your Visit: 

The in-house restaurant 40 North is open for dinner from 5-9pm. Please visit Open Table or call 412-435-1111 to make a reservation.