Vento, Ziggy, Hawk & McCarthy is a Pittsburgh based acoustic group consisting of John Vento, Bob Zigerelli, Cherylann Hawk and Kevin McCarthy. Their 4-part harmonies float over acoustic guitars and percussion, crafting fresh yet familiar renditions of their own creations along with songs that you know and love. The VZHM song catalogue is a mix of originals from John’s albums “Love, Lust & Other Wreckage” and “Brick by Brick,” a handful of Cherylann’s originals from various projects, and acoustic versions of popular favorites from artists such as CSNY, Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Tracy Chapman and more.
John Vento, vocals and percussion, brought the band together. John is best known in Pittsburgh as the front man for the high energy, rhythm and blues group, The Nied’s Hotel Band. Along with Ron Esser of Moondog’s, he co-founded Band Together Pittsburgh, an organization that creates music programs for people on the autism spectrum. He also created Steamworks Creative, an intimate listening room in Gibsonia, Pa., which is where VZHM began to develop their sound. John began performing more acoustic music, during the recording of his 2018, “Love, Lust & Other Wreckage,” with Cherylann Hawk as a key contributor. John’s latest album, “Brick by Brick” was released in the spring of 2023.
Bob Zigerelli, vocals and guitar, began playing guitar at the age of 8, appeared in his first band at 10, and by 14, was ripping Jeff Beck solos like a pro! Bob had the pleasure of performing on Pittsburgh’s “Come Alive” television show. After a stint at Berklee College of Music, he moved to California. He later returned to the tri-state area and spent the next 10 years as a hired gun for bands such as; “Timepiece”, “The Group Therapy Band”, “Blue Dawn”, to name a few. Bob started making music with John and Cherylann in November of 2020 when he began to co-write and record on John’s album “Brick by Brick.”
Bob Zigerelli, vocals and guitar, began playing guitar at the age of 8, appeared in his first band at 10, and by 14, was ripping Jeff Beck solos like a pro! Bob had the pleasure of performing on Pittsburgh’s “Come Alive” television show. After a stint at Berklee College of Music, he moved to California. He later returned to the tri-state area and spent the next 10 years as a hired gun for bands such as; “Timepiece”, “The Group Therapy Band”, “Blue Dawn”, to name a few. Bob started making music with John and Cherylann in November of 2020 when he began to co-write and record on John’s album “Brick by Brick.”
Cherylann Hawk, vocals, percussion and guitar, has been singing since age 5, and started playing guitar at 12, when she began to write country music and perform around Wheeling, WV and beyond. In 1996, a couple of years after she moved to Pittsburgh, she formed what became Cherylann Hawk & The Clay Band, playing familiar classics and songs by Lilith Fair artists who were touring at the time, as well as originals from her 3 albums. She currently does solo shows, sings with theCAUSE and Reuben’s Painted Mandolin, and has been performing and recording with John Vento since September of 2017.
Kevin McCarthy, vocals and guitar, has been a part of the western PA music scene for almost 40 years. He has been a performer, teacher, recording artist, music store owner, and has performed throughout PA, MD, OH, VA, WV, and the DC. In 2019 he was recognized by the BSWPA as one of the top guitarists in the area. He has played a wide variety of music, including blues, pop, jazz, rock, country, and urban contemporary, and plays a variety of guitars, but favors the 2004 Epiphone Joe Pass that was a gift from his loving wife, Darla. He is also a Scar Guitars endorsed artist. Kevin began performing with John and Cherylann in early 2023.
Kevin McCarthy, vocals and guitar, has been a part of the western PA music scene for almost 40 years. He has been a performer, teacher, recording artist, music store owner, and has performed throughout PA, MD, OH, VA, WV, and the DC. In 2019 he was recognized by the BSWPA as one of the top guitarists in the area. He has played a wide variety of music, including blues, pop, jazz, rock, country, and urban contemporary, and plays a variety of guitars, but favors the 2004 Epiphone Joe Pass that was a gift from his loving wife, Darla. He is also a Scar Guitars endorsed artist. Kevin began performing with John and Cherylann in early 2023.