Rockin' in the 'Burgh

Ray, the brother of Ronnie James Dio (of the band Dio), is himself something of a musical phenomenon. Ray moved to Pittsburgh in the mid-80s and became a successful disc jockey. His claim to fame was in creating a sound system that used the unique accoustics of the tunnels found in and around the city (Pittsburgh is known not only for its three rivers, but also for the valleys and hills created by those rivers). A number of tunnels had ceased operation for motorists, and Dio discovered he could rent them out for parties and events. These receptions became quite popular. Bill Blighe described the sound experience like this: "It was incredible. The music was literally coming off the walls. Ray would have the vocals bouncing from the ceiling, the bass streaming along one wall, the keyboards rolling along another. It was something to hear. And the light show that went with it...incredible!" Unfortunately, the light show was a source of trouble for motorists traveling nearby. A number of accidents occurred as drivers became distracted by lights and sounds exploding from the tunnels. Eventually, of course, this caused the downfall of the whole experience and soon the word went out. Everyone now knows: You can't get the Ray Dio reception in the tunnels.