Northsider Gloria Sheffield and her band performed holiday carols for a group of residents at LIFE Pittsburgh.

By Sophia Mastroianni

Dressed in an elegant red holiday dress and high heels, Gloria Sheffield begins singing a selection of Christmas carols to the residents at LIFE Pittsburgh while her band accompanies her with the performance.

Bassist, Joseph “Chipper” Gray, keyboardist, Dr. Frank Novasack, and drummer, Brad Clayton, assisted Sheffield with the tunes, each adding a jazzy twist to “Jingle Bells” and “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.”

Gloria Sheffield, dressed in an elegant holiday dress and high heels, sings a selection of holiday carols to residents at LIFE Pittsburgh while her band (from left: Brad Clayton on drums, Joseph “Chipper” Gray on bass and Dr. Frank Novasack on keys) accompanies her with the performance. Photo by Sophia Mastroianni

Although Sheffield often performs the national anthem and “God Bless America” at political gatherings, her band, in its current lineup, is a new addition. Gray, who was cast in The Temptations miniseries on NBC for his musical ability, has been with Sheffield the longest and played in her former band, Gloria with Passion. Clayton has performed at both national and international venues. Sheffield said she accidentally found the keyboardist playing a tune in the center of a Sam’s Club and asked him to play something she could sing along to. According to her, they have been friends ever since.

“These guys are really together,” Sheffield said about the band. “And I like putting these things together,” she said about the event at LIFE.

Residents at LIFE sang along to the carols while tapping their feet to the beat and nodding their heads with the rhythm. Sheffield believes these kind of performances uplift the crowd.

LIFE Pittsburgh is a non-profit organization that houses and assists seniors in sustaining a fulfilled quality of life. Barbara Lawler coordinated the event.