Oregon daily emerald., April 19, 1973, Page 7, Image 7

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“Oh Happy Day” which was released in
1969.
Because the song was so popular
among all people, the Gospel Singers
won a Grammy award for it in 1969. The
song itslcf is probably their most
famous tune and one that has con
tributed to their popularity.
In 1970, the Gospel singers received
their second Grammy award for
“Every Man Wants to be Free” which
appeared on their “Oh Happy Day”
Album.
The group was formed by 24-year-old
Edwin Hawkins. Hawkins and an
associate of his, Betty Watson, decided
to form a Gospel group for the sole
purpose of performing at a Youth
Congress in Washington D.C. The group
then started called themselves The
Northern California State Youth Choir.
Once they arrived in Washington,
D.C., the choir was received so warmly
and was so much of a success that
Hawkins decided to make the group a
permanent thing.
As the years passed Hawkins decided
to drop the group’s long name and
change it to the Edwin Hawkins
Singers.
The Singers have come into the world
of popular music, bridging the
traditional with the refreshing present.
Whatever the reason, the Edwin
Hawkins Singers have become the most
vibrant contemporary voice of Soul.
Tickets for this event will be at the
Sun Shop, Chrystalship and EMU Main
Desk for $3 general public and $2 for
University students.
Thursday will be Blues-day. Johnny
Shines, often known as shoe-shine
Johnny will be making an appearance
in support of Segments of Black
Culture.
Shines is a 58-year-old man born April
25 in Memphis, Tennessee. While still in
his teens, Shines ran with the legendary
blues singer Robert Johnson. It was
Johnson that taught Shines his present
Blues style.
Shines comes from a background
with little musical talent. It wasn’t until
1932 that Shines taught himself how to
play the guitar.
Shines’ main influences in the rythym
and blues area were blind Lemon
Jefferson, Lonnie Johnson, Scrapper
Blackwell and Charlie Patton.
The Delta-Blues singer made his
singing debut during an intermission of
a Howlin’Wolf concert. The Man was so
much of a success that he took to the
road singing and playing in any city he
happened to drive in. That was 1934.
It was also during this year that he
started traveling with Robert Johnson,
often singing with him and sometimes
against him.
Together the two men traveler to
Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri
working the country suppers and
dances. Shines broke up with Johnson
shortly before Johnson’s death in 1941.
During that year he took the train to
Chicago, trying to make a living in the
recording arena.
Although many consider Shines one
of the best bottle-neck guitarists, he has
encountered a number of difficulties
getting recorded. When he arrived in
Chicago, Shines formed his own blues
band, playing in and outside of Chicago.
A recording session for Lester
Melrose followed in 1946. Unfortunately
Columbia recordings have not issued
out his records. In 1950 Shines audition
for Chess recording company as Shoe
Shine Johnny.
A recording session for Lester
Melrose followed in 1946. Unfortunately
Columbia recordings have not issued
out his records. In 1950 Shines
S.
auditioned for Chess recording com
pany as Shoe Shine Johnny, but it
wasn’t until two years later with a
session for J.O.B. that any of his
records appeared under his real name.
Even though many consider Shines’
recordings “superb” the records did
little to promote his career.
Disgusted with the recording
business Shines dropped out of the
recording business during the late EO’s.
Today Shines is employed as a con
struction worker.
Relatively undercover for eight
years, it was not until 1965 that Shines
was rediscovered. Presently he is
finding success in the recording
business and is appearing in a number
of concerts across the Country.
Shines is the last inheritor of the
Robert Johnson tradition and is par
ticipating in “Segments of Black
Culture.” Tickets for this event will be
sold at the door for $1.00. The event
starts at 8 p.m. Thursday and will be
held in the EMU ballroom.
The highlight of “Segments of Black
Culture” will be the appearance of Bill
Cosby. Cosby will be performing with
his nationally known friends, Fat
Albert, Dumb Donald and Old Weird
Harold, April 27 at 8 p.m. in Mac Court.
Tickets for this event will run $4.00
general public, $3.00 U of O students
and $2 children under 12.
In addition to Cosby s performance,
song-writer John Hurley will be singing
a few of his songs. Hurley has been
writing songs for a number of years and
is the writer of “Son of a Preacher
Man” a number recorded by Dusty
Springfield a few years ago. Currently,
he is embarking upon a singing
recording career of his own.
Cosby has come a long ways from
performing in cubbie-hole nightclubs in
Philadelphia, where he netted only $5 a
night to become an actor in “I Spy” and
“The Bill Cosby Show.”
In addition to his television career,
Cosby has also made two movies, one of
which took place in the civil war and
which co-starred Robert Culp, Cosby’s
partner in the “I Spy” series.
Along with night-club, television and
movies, Cosby has also cut a number of
comedy records.
Cosby attended Wister Elementary
school along with his famous pals Fat
Albert, et. al. in Philadelphia where Ik
grew up.
He completed his high school
education via correspondence courses
while still in the service. After his
discharge, the entertainer enrolled at
Temple University as a result of being
awarded an athletic scholarship. His
goal in education was to become a
physical education teacher.
In his attempt to achieve that goal,
Cosby worked during the nights as a
bartender and went to school during the
day. It was discovered that he
possessed an incredible sense of humor.
Customers convinced him that he might
have a chance as a comedian, so he
decided to take a crack at show
business.
During one of his performances, Carl
Reiner caught his act in Pittsburgh and
introduced Cosby to producer Sheldon
Leonard, who later signed him to star
with Culp in the “I Spy” series.
The rest is history.
Cosby’s concert is the conclusion of
the Black Festival of Art. His ap
pearance is sponsored by the Black
Student Union and the ASUO Cultural
Forum
Gloria Wroten
Alonzc Davis
Edwin Hawkins Sing art
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Johnny Shinot
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