The Art of
‘Hu-Manism’
See Page 10
Oregon Daily
Emerald
rhursday. November 21. 1985
Eugene, Oregon
Volume 87, Number 54
Rock star is enjoying her successful career
By Julie Freeman
Of the Knwrild
A rock and roll earner is not
all wonderful, hut it heats a
H-to-5 Job teaching in Redmond,
said Kindy Ross, saxophonist
and lead singer for the Portland
based band Quarterflash.
Ross, a former elementary
school teacher, stepped hack in
to the classroom Wednesday
night to deliver an informal lec
ture at the University as part of
the People of Oregon lecture
series sponsored by the EMU
Cultural Forum.
Dressed in black pants and
sequin-studded Jacket, Ross
spoke to an audience of about
150 about her career and former
experience as a teacher.
Ross said she got involved
with music in college, but at
thut time it was purely for
enjoyment.
"I had no aspirations to bo a
professional musician when 1
was in college I loved playing
the acoustical guitar, and for a
short period of time I was Joni
Mitchell,” Ross joked.
Hut Ross said her true direc
tion at that time was to be a
teacher. She taught elementary
school in Redmond. Ore., for
three years and learned that she
loved kids, but hated the paper
work and politics the job
involved.
Both Ross and her husband
Marv Ross, who currently
writes the band's music, even
tually quit their teaching jobs
and devoted themselves to a
full-time music career.
Ross said thoy came to
Portland because "you don’t
start a budding music career in
Hand,” which is where they liv
ed while teaching in Redmond.
"We got committed to having
the best bar band ever in
Portland. The goal was not to
get a record contract; the goal
was to Ire the best bar band in
Portland, and to make a living.
"I guess that was the ultimate
goal — to eat. And we did that,
and we actually ate quite well
for about three years and were
quite happy being the (rest bar
band we could Ire." Ross said.
The next challenge was to try
and get a record deal, she said.
The band, which was called
Seafood Mama at that time, got
some management and started
to market themselves as a
regional band.
"We were a very eclectic
band, mostly swing music. We
were extremely proud of having
the most obscure songs in the
world. We didn't want to be
anywhere near commercial — it
just was like a dirty word,”
Ross said.
The band then got a spot on a
local television show and decid
ed to press their own record
from a demonstration version of
the song "Harden My Heart."
which they had recorded in the
basement of Ross' home.
They plugged the record at
the end of the show, and Ross
said she was shocked to find
that people would actually buy
it.
The homemade record sold
more than 10,000 copies in
Portland and subsequently led
to a record contract with Geffen
records.
Internal conflicts broke the
original band up before Ross
and her husband cut their first
album, called “Quarterflash,”
with a set of studio musicians in
lx>s Angeles.
Ross said the new band,
which was reformed with
Oregon musicians after the
record, changed its name
because she was tired of being
the “mama” in Seafood Mama.
"The connotations that went
along with it were just not that
great,” she said.
I he name Quarterflash came
from a l)ook of New Zealand
folk phrases and means
something that is one-quartej
flash and three parts foolish.
“To me this means not to take
yourself too seriously,” Ross
said.
Since its name change, the
band has gone on to tour with
performers such as Sammy
Hagar, Elton John and Rick
Springfield, and has produced
two more albums, including
"Back to Blue.” which was just
released in September.
A new video from the band
will be released in January. Ross
said. And in four days
Quarterflash will begin a new
tour with the band Starship.
Ross said she has grown more
cynical, worldly and secure
about herself through her ex
periences with Quarterflash,
but underneath has tried to re
main herself.
”1 just am what I am. " she
said.
Photo by Ross Martin
Quarterflash lead singer Rindy Ross has come a long way since
her earlier days teaching elementary school in Redmond.
Keller ‘adopts ’ Obie for the day
Former Eugene Mayor Gus Keller “adopted" current Mayor Brian
Obie Wednesday as part of the Great American Smokeout program.
Keller, now a non-smoker, will help Obie go 24 hours without a
cigarette today, and if he is successful, speculators jest Eugene may be
in for a cigarette tax soon.
Photo by Karen Stallwood
Council approves a board
to oversee research park
By Scott McFetridge
Of Ike Emerald
The Eugene City Council unanimously
approved an ordinance creating a seven
member board to oversee the proposed
Riverfront Research Park at a Wednesday
meeting.
The board will be made up of four peo
ple selected by University President Paul
Olum and three people selected by city
officials. In compliance with state law,
Eugene Mayor Brian Obie must also ap
prove the University appointments, said
Cathy Briner, a city development depart
ment employee who will be coordinating
the selection process.
Applications for the research park
commission will begin soon and should
be completed within three to four weeks,
Briner said.
The intergovernmental committee ap
proved by the council will succeed the
non-profit corporation that had
previously overseen the research park.
The non-profit corporation was forced to
disband because of difficulties obtaining
insurance, which was needed to protect
the corporation's members from liability
for the research park.
Dan Williams, University vice presi
dent for administration, said the city will
assume liability for the park. The newly
approved committee cannot be held
responsible for the research park.
Williams said he supported the non
profit corporation, but believes the
public commission “is going to work out
even better.
“This will make sure the process is
open to the public," Williams said.
According to the ordinance, the seven
member board will “provide a forum for
public participation and public com
ment on plans and actions necessary for
the development of the Riverfront
Research Park property.”
The commission will “conduct
research, hold hearings, study, in
vestigate, analyze and make expert
evaluations of proposals concerning
development” of the research park, the
ordinance stated.
John Moseley, University vice presi
dent for research, said the public com
mission will be more effective than the
previous corporation because it will
allow for more public comment.
Everything will be done subject to
Oregon open meeting law,” Moseley
said.