Jazz legend returns to Hill District
http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/articlelive/articles/35868/1/Jazz-legend-returns-to-Hill-District/Page1.html
Ashley G. Woodson
By Ashley G. Woodson
Published on 08/31/2006
From his humble beginnings on the Hill, the future musician could have grown up to be yet another statistic. A walking testimony of perseverance in the face of adversity, Pittsburgh-native and Jazz legend Dr. Leo Casino will debut his documentary, “Return To The Hill,” Sept. 2, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Kelly/Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty.
Dr. Leo Casino debuts documentary
From his humble beginnings on the Hill, the future musician could have grown up to be yet another statistic. A walking testimony of perseverance in the face of adversity, Pittsburgh-native and Jazz legend Dr. Leo Casino will debut his documentary, “Return To The Hill,” Sept. 2, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the Kelly/Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty.
The film was inspired by a phone call last year from a childhood friend in his native Pittsburgh, which brought the troubling news that the friend’s son has been gunned down. Casino promised himself that he would return to the Hill District neighborhood where he grew up, and try to find a way to keep these young Black men from killing each other.
In Pittsburgh, Casino organized a town hall meeting and invited the media, community leaders and young Black teens, both at-risk kids and gang members. World-renowned coroner Cyril Wecht was invited to speak, talking about death in matter-of-fact, unglamorous terms these kids don’t hear in rap tunes.
A woman whose 23-year-old son was killed by gang violence spoke about the death of her only child, how she’s forgiven her son’s killers--but more than anything, wants the killings to stop. Casino explained how he turned his life around and recalls being adopted by a loving family (who often had guests like Lena Horne), finishing school and going onto college.
Casino described how he moved to Miami and had a successful music and 20-year film career, including being inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1998. He also described how he became something of a real-life Forrest Gump, meeting three U.S. Presidents, corresponding with a jailed South American dictator, produced TV for Geraldo Rivera and played for Paris Hilton.
By the conclusion of the town hall meeting, Casino hoped he had reached some of these kids. He urged them to find a family outside of the gang, and latch onto someone who will encourage them in any way whether it’s a friend, teacher, coach, etc. He finished by playing a tune with a local rap group, conveying a message that is uplifting without being corny, authentic but hopeful.
“I walked through Centre Avenue and went back in my mind to a time of businesses that lined the avenue and was bursting with life,” said Casino. “There were sharp dressers, never-ending house parties, socials on the weekends, going to the North Side, Homewood, Whiteside Road, and meeting new friends and dancing the slow drag.”
Casino’s high school teacher, Ervin Biggs who was in charge of the talent shows at Fifth Avenue High School, coached and taught Casino how to be a man and feel second to none. He surprised Biggs at his family reunion last month and played songs that he played at the talent shows back in the day. Casino took the opportunity to tell Biggs how much he appreciated the guidance, love, and concern he gave him.
“I really appreciate you and all the help you have given me in making this film possible,” said Casino. “From my humble beginnings in the ‘Burgh to what I have accomplished is due to my upbringing. My life goal is to one day come back to the Burgh with money and resources to make our home great again.”
“My good friend and mentor Dr. Joe Lewis, helped me and inspired me to dig deep for the story. We read together the news of so many of our young people killing and dying for nothing. I cried every evening after meeting the parents of the young Black victims, revisiting my deceased sister and her tragic murder. Seeing the pictures of her dead body was devastating but I continue to push on, urging my people to rise up.
Casino is planning on filming a follow-up, taking in the club scene and the many success stories from Pittsburgh natives who are living around the world, such as Gail Jackson, a Pittsburgh native who owns Negril Tree House, a beachfront resort in Negril, Jamaica.
Casino has been in show business for over 30 years. He began studying music at the age of nine in Pittsburgh, and had the good fortune of playing with such hometown heroes as Stanley Turrentine, Sy Morocco and George Benson. After overcoming a very tough childhood, he was awarded a full scholarship to Howard University, where he completed the first Jazz major in the U.S. studying with legends Donald Byrd and Quincy Jones.
During his career, Casino has played with a who’s-who of the world’s great jazz, blues and pop musicians, including everyone from Earth, Wind & Fire, Neil Diamond and James Brown to Jimi Hendrix, Jaco Pastorius and Bob Marley.
He holds an honorary doctorate degree from Mallory College and his latest CD, “Better Days,” is dedicated to the victims and families of 9/11.
Casino could have ended up on the wrong side of the tracks. When he returned to Pittsburgh, the memories rushed back: his mother, a prostitute, would shoot him up with heroin as a baby, to quiet him. There was the nurse who found him at six months, rolling around on the floor, eating his own excrement. The father he never met; and his sister -- kept in captivity by a pimp, forced into prostitution, and eventually killed. Just think, Casino would one day be voted into Town Talk Magazine’s “50 Best-Dressed Men in the World”.
This year Casino produced “Return To The Hill” and starred in two other films. One rap movie and a suspense drama where he plays a Black politician who rips off the community, steals $50 million and commits suicide. Casino has just finished mixing a new music CD that will be out in October of 2006.
The film was inspired by a phone call last year from a childhood friend in his native Pittsburgh, which brought the troubling news that the friend’s son has been gunned down. Casino promised himself that he would return to the Hill District neighborhood where he grew up, and try to find a way to keep these young Black men from killing each other.
 |
| DR. LEO CASINO |
In Pittsburgh, Casino organized a town hall meeting and invited the media, community leaders and young Black teens, both at-risk kids and gang members. World-renowned coroner Cyril Wecht was invited to speak, talking about death in matter-of-fact, unglamorous terms these kids don’t hear in rap tunes.
A woman whose 23-year-old son was killed by gang violence spoke about the death of her only child, how she’s forgiven her son’s killers--but more than anything, wants the killings to stop. Casino explained how he turned his life around and recalls being adopted by a loving family (who often had guests like Lena Horne), finishing school and going onto college.
Casino described how he moved to Miami and had a successful music and 20-year film career, including being inducted into the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1998. He also described how he became something of a real-life Forrest Gump, meeting three U.S. Presidents, corresponding with a jailed South American dictator, produced TV for Geraldo Rivera and played for Paris Hilton.
By the conclusion of the town hall meeting, Casino hoped he had reached some of these kids. He urged them to find a family outside of the gang, and latch onto someone who will encourage them in any way whether it’s a friend, teacher, coach, etc. He finished by playing a tune with a local rap group, conveying a message that is uplifting without being corny, authentic but hopeful.
“I walked through Centre Avenue and went back in my mind to a time of businesses that lined the avenue and was bursting with life,” said Casino. “There were sharp dressers, never-ending house parties, socials on the weekends, going to the North Side, Homewood, Whiteside Road, and meeting new friends and dancing the slow drag.”
Casino’s high school teacher, Ervin Biggs who was in charge of the talent shows at Fifth Avenue High School, coached and taught Casino how to be a man and feel second to none. He surprised Biggs at his family reunion last month and played songs that he played at the talent shows back in the day. Casino took the opportunity to tell Biggs how much he appreciated the guidance, love, and concern he gave him.
“I really appreciate you and all the help you have given me in making this film possible,” said Casino. “From my humble beginnings in the ‘Burgh to what I have accomplished is due to my upbringing. My life goal is to one day come back to the Burgh with money and resources to make our home great again.”
“My good friend and mentor Dr. Joe Lewis, helped me and inspired me to dig deep for the story. We read together the news of so many of our young people killing and dying for nothing. I cried every evening after meeting the parents of the young Black victims, revisiting my deceased sister and her tragic murder. Seeing the pictures of her dead body was devastating but I continue to push on, urging my people to rise up.
Casino is planning on filming a follow-up, taking in the club scene and the many success stories from Pittsburgh natives who are living around the world, such as Gail Jackson, a Pittsburgh native who owns Negril Tree House, a beachfront resort in Negril, Jamaica.
Casino has been in show business for over 30 years. He began studying music at the age of nine in Pittsburgh, and had the good fortune of playing with such hometown heroes as Stanley Turrentine, Sy Morocco and George Benson. After overcoming a very tough childhood, he was awarded a full scholarship to Howard University, where he completed the first Jazz major in the U.S. studying with legends Donald Byrd and Quincy Jones.
During his career, Casino has played with a who’s-who of the world’s great jazz, blues and pop musicians, including everyone from Earth, Wind & Fire, Neil Diamond and James Brown to Jimi Hendrix, Jaco Pastorius and Bob Marley.
He holds an honorary doctorate degree from Mallory College and his latest CD, “Better Days,” is dedicated to the victims and families of 9/11.
Casino could have ended up on the wrong side of the tracks. When he returned to Pittsburgh, the memories rushed back: his mother, a prostitute, would shoot him up with heroin as a baby, to quiet him. There was the nurse who found him at six months, rolling around on the floor, eating his own excrement. The father he never met; and his sister -- kept in captivity by a pimp, forced into prostitution, and eventually killed. Just think, Casino would one day be voted into Town Talk Magazine’s “50 Best-Dressed Men in the World”.
This year Casino produced “Return To The Hill” and starred in two other films. One rap movie and a suspense drama where he plays a Black politician who rips off the community, steals $50 million and commits suicide. Casino has just finished mixing a new music CD that will be out in October of 2006.