Pat J. DiCesare Sr. (born April 12, 1938) is an American entrepreneur and rock concert promoter, whose career began at the early stages of rock and roll. His career in the music industry spanned the latter half of the 20th century, and his Pittsburgh-based company, DiCesare Engler Productions, was at one time one of the top-grossing businesses"Pittsburgh: a first-rate concert city today." North Hills News Record. Rex Rutowski. 12/31/76"Concert Promoter moves office to the North Hills." Rex Rutowski. North Hills News Record. P. 21. 2/26/1975Billboard. Top Grossing Concert Promoters. TIA-50. 12/22/1979Billboard. Top Grossing Concert Promoters. TIA-46. 12/20/1980 amongst US concert promoters.
Early life DiCesare was born in Trafford, Pennsylvania into a family of 9 siblings. His father emigrated from Italy and settled in Trafford to work for Westinghouse Electric. After graduating from Trafford High School, DiCesare took a job with Westinghouse in nearby East Pittsburgh. He left his job just months later to work as a record distributor for Tim Tormey, a concert promoter and talent agent in the Pittsburgh area1.
1950s
As a teenager, DiCesare wrote songs and performed in a doo wop band with a group of friends called "The Penn Boys". He wrote, produced, and released his first single in 1957, "Gonna Have a Party," which was performed by The Penn Boys. He also wrote "I'm Spinning" and "You Say You Love Me," which were originally released on Fee Bee Records in 1957.[Pittsburgh gets its own label. Mike Kalina. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 23. 1/26/81 They were recorded by the Del Vikings just after they had released their 2 Gold record singles "Come Go with Me" and "Whispering Bells" on Dot Records.American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today. Jay Warner. P.150-152. Hal Leonard 2006 In 1958, he started Bobby records, named after his first recording artist Bobby Vinton7. He later managed The Marcels7.
1960s
"If you expected to play Pittsburgh in the late '60s, pal, you either talked to Pat DiCesare or you stayed home." Ed Masley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"PARTNERS IN POP \ IN 1964 PAT DICESARE BROUGHT US THE BEATLES. THIRTY YEARS LATER, HE AND RICH ENGLER BRING US THE STONES. WHAT KEEPS DICESARE-ENGLER ROCKING THROUGH THE DECADES?" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Friday, September 30, 1994 Author: ED MASLEY
Tuesday, May 8, 1962, was the date of the first concert that DiCesare promoted himself."From Beatles to Broadway, DiCesare-Engler has booked it all." 12-22-94. Meribeth Snively THE TRIBUNE-REVIEW The show was the Four Freshmen at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown, Ohio. At the time he worked as a record distributor for his mentor, Tim Tormey, who was a concert promoter and talent agent in the Pittsburgh area10. DiCesare worked with him on his "Shower of Stars" concert series that featured several headline acts booked together to sell out large venues.
On September 14, 1964, Tormey and DiCesare brought the Beatles to the Pittsburgh Civic Arena11 during their first U.S. Tour. DiCesare put up the $5000 guarantee. He got the money from his father, who had to put a lien on his house to borrow money from the Westinghouse Electric Credit Union11. The show sold out at a price of $5.90 per ticket. DiCesare had to miss the show because he had been drafted by the U.S. Army. Tormey worked the show while DiCesare was in Fort Sill, Oklahoma11.
In 1965, DiCesare co-founded the Dapper Dan Roundball Classic with his friend Sonny Vaccaro. The inaugural game of its 43-year run was played on March 26, 1965, at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. It was the first national high school All-Star game.
When Tormey left Pittsburgh for Hollywood to work with Dick Clark Productions1, DiCesare continued to promote concerts on his own1 11. He called his company "University Attractions," and then finally "Pat DiCesare Productions1." DiCesare had exclusive leases with the Civic Arena, Syria Mosque, and eventually Three Rivers Stadium1, and therefore promoted almost all of the large rock concerts that played Pittsburgh in addition to promoting shows at many of the surrounding secondary markets such as Erie and Johnstown.
1970s
In the early 70s the Civic Arena continued to eclipse yearly attendance records due largely to the "new" phenomenon of the rock concert."Downtown Shows Old Magic New." George Anderson. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. P 41,47. 1/12/1972 Some Pat DiCesare Production sellouts at the Civic Arena in 1971 included 3 Chicago shows, Grand Funk Railroad, The Who, Black Sabbath, and Jesus Christ Superstar."'Pied Piper' of Rock Has His Musical Key For Young Hearts." George Anderson. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 10/17/1971 In 1972, Pat DiCesare Productions also set and then reset the attendance record at that time for a rock concert in Pittsburgh with Three Dog Night and then Alice Cooper."Alice Cooper show almost off." Mike Kalina. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p13. 6/12/1972 Both played at the recently constructed Three Rivers Stadium.
In late 1973, DiCesare partnered with Rich Engler. Engler was a drummer in the band "Grains of Sand" and promoted shows in small towns in Western Pennsylvania. They called the new company "DiCesare-Engler Productions", and it became one of the top-grossing businesses amongst concert promoters in the nation. Engler focused on booking the acts. DiCesare focused on other entrepreneurial opportunities, most notably acquiring real estate.
In 1977, DiCesare-Engler took over operations at the Stanley Theatre"Theatre Changing Hands: What's Happening at the Stanley?" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. George Anderson. p.3. 12/6/1977 in Downtown Pittsburgh. DiCesare soon put together a deal to purchase the theatre.Boxoffice. Pittsburgh. P. E-5. 7/25/77 The venue quickly became the number one grossing auditorium in the country.Billboard. Top Venues. TIA-50. 12/22/1979Billboard. Top Venues. TIA-46. 12/20/1980'Public', Stanley thriving. North Hills News Record. P. 12. 1/9/1981
1980s In 1980 DiCesare-Engler expanded operations to Las Vegas for a brief period. Pat DiCesare promoted shows and operated the 7,500 seat Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts."The Origins of a Partnership: In search of a showcase". Patty Tascarella. City Tab Pittsburgh. 5/1984 vol 1 number 7. p. 6-7,19 He moved back to Pittsburgh in 1981 and partnered with Nick Censi and Rich Engler to make DECCO Records. They had signed a few local acts including Joe Gruscheky and Jimmy Barkan.
Despite the success of the Stanley Theatre, DiCesare-Engler sold the venue. In November 1983, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust announced their $12 million purchase of the Stanley Theatre.3rd theater suggested for new cultural area. Barbara White Stack. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 1,4. 11/29/83 It is now known as the Benedum Center. Earlier that same year, Pat DiCesare and Rich Engler received the Variety Club entertainment award Honors. George Anderson. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. P. 16. 11/15/83 for "Bringing Broadway back to Pittsburgh."11.
In 1984, DiCesare-Engler signed a 10-year agreement with the Syria Mosque in Oakland (Pittsburgh), where they assumed management and continued promoting rock and Broadway shows as they did at the Stanley Theatre."DiCesare-Engler Sign to use Syria Mosque." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Mike Kalina. P22-23. 6/9/84 Soon after the move, DiCesare began looking for a venue to do more shows in the summer since the Syria Mosque did not have air conditioning. They began booking the AJ Palumbo Center when it opened in 1988, and had built the Melody Amphitheatre (also known as IC Light Amphitheatre or Chevrolet Amphitheatre) at Station Square in 1989 where they booked shows for a seating capacity of 5000."Station Square to get amphitheatre." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 5, 1989"PALUMBO CATCHING MOSQUE BOOKINGS". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. August 15, 1991. PETER B. KING
In 1986, DiCesare purchased almost of land near Cranberry Township just north of Pittsburgh with plans to build a major recreational center that would include an indoor mall, waterpark, children's theme park, and a $10 million outdoor amphitheatre with 7,500 covered seats and room for 12,500 lawn spectators.DiCesare vs. Adams. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. P. 1. June 16, 1986"He wants to build this township on rock 'n' roll." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. P. 4. June 16, 1986 However, he lost $500,000 in a battle with the Adams Township zoning commission."DiCesare's commercial plan rejected". MaryAlice Meli. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette North. P1. 1/5/1989 He then purchased in Jackson Township, Pennsylvania. While trying to rezone his Jackson Township property, Pace Concerts of Houston, Texas broke ground in Burgettstown – located in Washington County, Pennsylvania about 45 minutes West of Pittsburgh."DiCesare rethinking Jackson Township arena plan." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette North. Donald L Hammonds. March 7, 1989. p4
1990s In March 1990, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that DiCesare was abandoning plans to build an amphitheater and that "he (DiCesare-Engler) and PACE Entertainment Group of Houston would co-promote the Star Lake Amphitheater," which later opened in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania in June 1990. DiCesare was quoted as saying, "I'm convinced that the Pittsburgh area is not big enough to support two amphitheaters. . . We will be shifting our shows from the less desirable venues to the amphitheater.DiCesare says he’ll book acts for Star Lake. Andrew Sheehan. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. P 6. 3/10/1990" He had subsequently announced plans to build a $250 million, 2100 unit developmentADAMS RIDGE CLOSER. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Sunday, August 19, 1990"Big changes loom in Adams." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette North. P1. MaryAlice Meli 8/25/1988 on his Adams Township property, which some referred to as "DiCesare City.North Hills News Record. "DiCesare gets OK for housing development." Tim Hartman. 5/14/1989" It is now known as "Adams Ridge."
DiCesare-Engler continued their strong performance in the concert industry. They remained in the top 20| "PUBLICATIONS NAME WDVE TOP STATION, HAIL LOCAL CONCERT VENUES." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Thursday, February 14, 1991. PETER B. KING in gross sales amongst US concert promoters thanks to the success of their smaller venues such as the AJ Palumbo Center, Syria Mosque, IC Light Amphitheatre, and their 1992 venture with Electric Factory Concerts to build the 4000 seat Bud Light Amphitheatre at Harveys Lake just outside of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.Billboard. Newsline. May 23, 1992 DiCesare-Engler also continued their usual volume of sales at the Civic Arena and Three Rivers Stadium in addition to their new association with Pace Concerts in booking shows at Starlake Amphitheatre.Entertainment star still shining. Cathy Lubenski. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 02/10/1991 In 1997, when the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first released their list of the "Top 50 Culture Brokers", Pat DiCesare and Rich Engler ranked 3rd."PITTSBURGH'S TOP 50 CULTURAL POWER BROKERS" June 8, 1997 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Page G-1