Cathy Zang Delights Overbrook Pointe Residents with Nostalgic Tunes

In the dining room at Overbrook Pointe, sunlight filtered through wide windows, casting a warm glow over the seated residents. But it wasn’t just the light that filled the space—it was Cathy Zang’s voice that brought life to the afternoon.

Zang, from Shaler Township, is no stranger to the spotlight. Her career boasts performances on the iconic Gateway Clipper Fleet, collaborations with Pittsburgh’s legendary entertainer Don Brockett, and the prestigious title of “Pittsburgh Idol” after winning a KDKA Radio contest.

“I’ve been singing since first grade,” Zang recalled.

It was a first-grade teacher who had heard something special in Zang’s voice, encouraging her to pursue singing lessons—an important moment that would shape the course of her life. By second grade, Zang was on her way, the seed of a lifelong passion beginning to bloom.

In this intimate setting, her performance held a different kind of significance. It was an afternoon of nostalgia, a journey through songs that stirred memories long tucked away.

Her set list was a chosen collection of classics, ranging from Otis Redding’s soulful “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” to The Drifters’ iconic “Under the Boardwalk” and even a nod to local legend Bobby Vinton with “Roses Are Red (My Love).”

For Elaine Walker, a resident of Overbrook Pointe of nine months, Zang’s voice did more than entertain; it brought back a flood of memories.

“She’s got a beautiful voice,” Walker said.

After the show, Walker had the chance to meet Zang and express how much the songs meant to her. Zang’s rendition of Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” had Walker swaying gently in her seat as though tethered to a rhythm.

“If I could have gotten up out of my seat, I would have danced along,” Walker shared during a touching moment with Zang.

It was Zang’s Elvis Presley tunes, however, that unlocked some beautiful memories for Walker.

“I went to one of his concerts,” Walker recalled.

After the concert, she and a friend tried to visit Elvis at the Hilton Hotel, driven by the thought of meeting him.

“My friend was so in love with him,” Walker laughed. “We were escorted out of the Hilton because my friend kept trying to go up to his floor. I was so embarrassed,” she said, still chuckling at the memory.

For Walker, Zang’s performance not only brought back memories of concerts but also reminded her of special times spent with her late husband.

“When I was young, my husband and I used to go dancing all the time, and a lot of the songs she sang resonated,” Walker reflected.

Walker summed up the experience with a phrase so simple yet so profound.

“It brought me back.”