manning_ricky

Richard Llewellyn Manning

Ricky Manning, dubbed by the late Principal Pops Conductor Marvin Hamlisch as “The Singing Detective,” is a greater Pittsburgh native and a 17-year veteran of the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office who was promoted to sergeant in April 2013.  After a short audition with Hamlisch, he was originally brought to the Heinz Hall stage for the 2011 Highmark Holiday Pops performances, singing “Danny Boy” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.”  He most recently performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony in “Salute to Veterans” during Neighborhood Week in 2015 and the Highmark Holiday Pops performances in 2013.

Manning also had the pleasure of several return performances as a guest vocalist with Pittsburgh’s own River City Brass, under the direction of Master Conductor James Gourlay.   Manning performed in a River City Brass special, Celtic Connections, and he performed at the Great American Brass Band Festival in Danville, Kentucky, singing “500 Miles,” “Country Roads,” “I Walk the Line” and “Rocky Top.”  He is a graduate of Central Catholic High School and holds a B.S. in law enforcement from Point Park University.  

Manning was a member of the Carnegie Mellon University Pipes and Drums for 12 years and studied under the late world-renowned Pipe Major Alasdair Gillies.  Manning performs a wide variety of music from rock, folk, country and Celtic styles.  He is the lead singer in local band “Donnie Irish” and can be seen performing around town with local bass legend Justin Brown and drummer Bill Gendron.  They recently performed as the opening band at the 2013 Pittsburgh Irish Festival.  

As always, Manning would like to dedicate his performance to the memory of all military, law enforcement and emergency services personnel whose families can only be with them in spirit.  Manning would like to thank God for all of his many blessings, including his entire family, his wife, Sarah Beth, and his son, James.