City Native Attracting National Spotlight, Interest

Singer/songwriter Young in demand during Pride Month festivities

By Elizabeth Laughlin
The Tube City Almanac
June 26, 2023
Posted in: McKeesport and Region News

Joey Young, 21, of McKeesport, shown here with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, is attracting a national following for his dynamic mix of soul and pop. “Watch out for Joey Young,” a family friend says. (Submitted photo courtesy Joey Young, via Instagram)

A city native has been grabbing the national spotlight as an in-demand entertainer at events around the country.

Joey Young's newest single, "Spectacle," dropped June 2, one day before he was introduced by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro at the three-day Pittsburgh Pride celebration on the North Side.

One week later, Young was a featured soloist during two concerts with the Renaissance City Choir at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. 

That’s after a run of performances during which Young, 21, also headlined Pride Month events in Miami Beach and Hollywood, Fla.

It's a long way for the McKeesport Area High School graduate who says he was bullied during his childhood for his gender-fluid style. Young credits social media — especially TikTok — with sparking his early career success.

“Social media took me from the person who made ballads to a pop artist,” Young says. “This is what I was born to do. I don’t love anything like I love this.”

Young, who cites Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey and Ariana Grande as among his inspirations, developed a national following after one of his original songs, “Scorpio,” went viral on TikTok. What started out as a fun hobby — singing and performing — turned into a career path.

Young choreographs his own songs, which are often in the style of pop or R&B/soul. After a rough start attending Catholic schools, where Young says he faced discrimination, he found acceptance at McKeesport Area High School, where in 2018 he became the first male cheerleader in 70 years — since his own grandfather.

He also was named to the homecoming court before his 2020 graduation.

Young also took to the stage at the high school — singing with the choir — and at McKeesport Little Theater, where he says peers and teachers encouraged him to continue performing.

His fellow students were extremely supportive of his music, Young says.

“A lot of people, especially people my age, had love for me,” he says. “Nobody had my back like the community did.”

At 16, Young experienced a devastating loss after the death of his aunt Andrea. He used this sadness and appreciation of her to write “Human Race,” his first single, which he produced in 2020.

“I started to write a song telling the story of my relationship with my aunt,” he says.

One of Young’s objectives in making music is to help people join forces and be connected rather than divided. He also wants others to “be more receptive to people not like [them].”

Before pursuing a career in music, Young considered college or taking a steady job in an office, but ultimately, he says, he knew he wanted to sing and perform.

His family has supported his dreams, Young says — but they’ve also told him he needs to work hard and be dedicated to his craft, especially as an independent artist.

“My family told me if I’m going to do it, I have to [actually] do it,” he says. “I’m always focused on what’s next.”

Franchesca D’Amore is a family friend of Young who has seen him grow and succeed over the years.

“I’ve known Joey since he was 3 years old,” D’Amore says. “His aunt was one of my closest friends.” She attended Young’s performance at Pittsburgh Pride and calls him “one of the kindest and fairest people I know. Always sticking up for the underdog.”

Young poses before a performance with the Renaissance City Choir at East Liberty Presbyterian Church. (Submitted photo courtesy Joey Young, via Instagram)

Young says he was honored to perform with the Renassiance City Choir, which was founded in 1985, and is one of the best-known choral groups in the United States for LGBTQIA performers and their allies.

Kym Scott, the artistic director of Renaissance City Choir, praises Young’s performances June 10 and 11. Young, she says, had only one rehearsal with the RCC before the concerts.

“I work with a lot of composers—I was impressed with the quality of the show,” says Scott, who also serves as director of choral activities at West Virginia University where she conducts the WVU Chamber Singers, Mountaineer Chorus, and Community Choir, and who conducted the University of Southern California chamber singers when they performed with The Rolling Stones.

“Someone suggested to (Young) that he reach out to us,” Scott says. “He was nothing but incredibly complimentary of the choir. I think it’s a great relationship that we’ve established.”

Young says he will continue to focus on his music, and he plans to release more songs throughout the year. In addition to TikTok, Young is active on Instagram and Facebook, and his songs are available on services such as Apple Music and Spotify.

D’Amore expresses excitement for his future.

“I foresee him touring next,” D’Amore says. “He’s so polished and dedicated to his craft. Watch out for Joey Young.”

Elizabeth Laughlin is a freelance writer and a doctoral student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is a graduate assistant who runs the department newsletter and writes for a digital project. She writes for Modern Language Studies, and her short story, "Twenty-Seven," is being published in their journal.

Originally published June 26, 2023.

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