FROM LOCAL TO GLOBAL: WOMEN WHO ROCK’S LA SHOW BUILDS BUZZ FOR MWRIF

by Gina Edwards

Crackling sounds of crowd chatter filled The Novo on a Los Angeles evening in May 2022. The Pink Carpet rolled out and the fans rolled in as the community gathered for a night of music with an extra boost — the evening’s proceeds supported the nation’s largest research institute dedicated to women’s health: Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation.

Fresh off the tails of the October 2021 Women Who Rock (WWR) Pittsburgh show headlined by Rita Wilson, the all-female-fronted LA concert featured GRAMMY winner Aimee Mann and Latin GRAMMY winners Flor de Toloache, along with Emily Wolfe, Daisy O’Dell, and WWR Rising Star, Graciela.

United to rock the future of women’s health, the lineup of artists continued a tradition that started here in Pittsburgh and is set to keep rolling throughout the country, and around the globe.

Melinda Colaizzi, WWR founder and CEO, says that the WWR LA show brought the energy and excitement from Pittsburgh to the West Coast. After five years of annual benefit concerts at the Hard Rock Café and Stage AE, and with the support of partner Gibson Gives, the team took on the task of delivering the show to a whole new audience. Melinda’s prior experience and contacts working in the music industry in LA led WWR to choose the city for its first concert outside of Pittsburgh. In fact, the Recording Academy, which presents the annual GRAMMYs, played a key role in locating the LA show’s star-powered emcee: Jordin Sparks.

“When the Recording Academy learned more about Women Who Rock and our efforts to support women in music, they got on board so quick,” Melinda says. “We’re so grateful that this cause resonated with [Jordin]. Once she emceed, she voiced a huge desire to be part of the movement with us.”

As Melinda puts it, “The pink carpet took on a life of its own” in LA, with strong women lining up to share their health stories and voices. Buzz from media pickups in Entertainment Tonight and other outlets helped the WWR LA show set a precedent they were ready to repeat back home.

Just a few months after its West Coast appearance, the WWR team was back in action preparing for its October 2022 show in Pittsburgh — featuring emcee-turnedheadliner Jordin Sparks. “Spending time with Jordin, it’s easy to get how much she cares about women’s empowerment and raising money for research,” Melinda says. “WWR shows have such an amazing energy, and we’re excited to be back in Pittsburgh.”

Though the 2022 shows have ended, Melinda and the WWR team are already cooking up what’s next.