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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 1973)
’fi Pag« 6 Portland/Obeerv»r T hurad»y January 18. 1973 Earth, Wind and Fire: All the elemements of good music Angry and bitter, Norma (Gloria Edwards) berates Netta (Leslie Uggams) fo r her "college a irs ” and warns her to stop trying to steal B illie Jean (Peggy Pettitt) from the fam ily. Ruth Ann (Loretta Greene) lends support to Norm a. BLACK GIRL, was directed by Ossie Davis and is a Lee Savin Production. It was written by J .E . Franklin from her Off-Broadway hit play. The Executive Producer was Robert Greenberg and the film was distributed by Cinerama. BLACK GIRL is now showing at the Orpehum Theatre, downtown. ’s choirs invite auditions The Portland Oregon Boys and G irts Choirs, whose new sound in religious and popu la r music has elicited warm response throughout the coun try, is extending an Invitation to all boys between the ages of 8 to 12, who really love to sing and travel abroad, to become personally involved in their effort to bring happiness to the world and present the real joy of life to other young people. The presence of boys and girts from so many diverse cultural backgrounds brings cultural enrichment fo r the staff and choir mem hers. There comes an awareness of new ways of perceiving life and it*s problems and an ap preciation fo r other ways of doing things. "W e want to help youth identify the principles of life which lead to happiness fre e of artificilities like drugs," said one of the children. "We want to help in the matter of self-acceptance, family conflicts, yielding 'rights', friendship, success in life's fulfillm ent and the real joy of life ." Founded and directed by Joseph Correa, the singing group just completed their Fall Concert Tour through Oregon, Washington, and Earth, Wind and F ire was conceived three years ago by the group's leader and per- cussionlst-vocalist, M aurice Whias. His ambition was to put together an aggregation which could he comfortable within the various forms of music from rock to country and jazz to soul, but still be able to play with the best and main tain Individuality within their scope of music. Using the symbols of nature. Earth, Wind (fo r a ir), and F ire , the ensemble conveys its musical feelings. Today the Columbia recording a r tists have a charted album, " L a s t Days and T im e ," and the single from that LP, "M o m “ . White is an alumnus of the Ramsey Lewis T rio . Aftsr leaving Ramsey, he went on to seek and explore new tech niques in musical expression. E a rly in the group's involve ment. he put together various musicians, including brother Verdine. That group recorded two albums for W arner Bros., but M aurice wasn't satisfied, so it was disbanded. S till searching for a 's p ir it u a l direction’ , he formed the present Earth, Wind and F ire from the fin est musicians he could find, all possessing the sam e'spir itual* drive he felt. "1 think there is just more love within the group as a whole. We have such a tight communication so that everything comes out to g eth er," he expressed. The other elements that make up the total sound of E arth, Wind and F ire include Jessica Cleaves, form erly with The Friends of Distinc tion. Being proficient with the piano, drums, guitar, and most percussion instruments, gives her a to u t understanding of Idaho and w ill be spanning many different states, meet ing appointments throughout the Spring and in Europe dur ing their Summer tour. You may help bring this same joy to other you ng people by telling other boys and g irls about our sharing the joy of life . F o r auditions, you may w rite to the Portland Oregon Boys and G irls Choirs. P.O. Box ¿0392, Portland, Oregon 97220. o r call 281-8393 o r 228-8557. O ur little "Good w ill Ambassadors" o fo u rfa ir city need your support. Put them at the top of your lis t this new year. “‘Black Girl’ is a fierce, clear and eloquent testament about growing up black in A m erica. Flawless ensemble playing and great emotional energy.” — Time Magazine “‘Black Girl’ is a solid achievement. A triu m p h .” — Rex Reed I’is the best black film yet!’ — D aily News She’s got to cut it... or cut out. Listen to the SOUL G IA N T o f the NORTHWEST Every S a tu rd a y 12:15 - 4:30 KGAR PICTURED L E F T to right are Earth, Wind & F ire members; Jessica Cleaves. Ralph Johnson. Andrew Woolfolk. Verdine White, M aurice White, Philip Bailey, and L a rry Dunn. Not pictured’ John Graham and Al McKay. the group's sound. But it is her multi-dimensional vocals that lend her Importance to the band. ''Sometimes I sing with a certain airy feeling, and then 1 come on strong with flaring vocals on other members. Being the only fe male member really doesn't hold me back. If I give it straight to the guys and they understand where I ’m coming from , there is no problem ." H e r beautiful looks and dy namic personality endearboth to the group and audience. Verdine White plays bass, and his low mellow tunes give the basic component sound needed for the group. "1 like the melody of my instrument to ride low to the ground with earthen tones." he states. "W e don'tdescrlbeourmuslc, the audience doea. And having aware audiences make things happen for us." A nother factor in the outf its* sound Is drummer Ralph John son, a native Californian. " I dig when my throbblngdrlvtng rhythms sound out like thun der and then reverse tumbling down to the ground for a low- scale attack." Ralph's p e r sonal feelings for the ensem ble are, "Wo have everything we need, we are not just something to sit and watch. We want everyone Involved in what we are doing. With that feeling of audience participa tion, we can keep the whole thing rolling.” " I get a feeling from music. It's sometimes personal, but b y J o e y S asso was unhappy because his com pensation, he fell, was not commensurate with tin suc cess of the sertea. He's even alleged to have walked off In anger on one occasion, and showed up in Las Vegas on a day he was supposed to be in Los Angeles reherslng. But, NBC reported that Foxx has a new contract and he's very happy. Louis Armstrong’ s widow, L ucille, has abandoned her plan to open a museum In New York with her late hus band's musical memorabilia. Instead, she’ ll donate the col lection to " a small museum in the m idwest." Louis’ leg endary golden horn is already enshrined at The Jazz Museum in New Orleans. Mabel M erce r, whoort, cel ebrated by singing some tunes at The Press Box. Bobby also presented Mabel with Chad bourn’ s new Bodyshlrt made specifically for evening w ear. It’ s a little early fo r St. Valentine's Day but F lip W il son has ordered some greet ings using his awn verses. One reads: "M y sister don*, do windows. My mother don't do floors. " I f you're willing to be my love, "Honey, I ’ ll do yours.” His favorite: " I care for you. "You care for him . "H e cares for me. "W e care fo r them." Choreographer - d a n c e r Henry Le Tang, associated with such stars as Lena Horne, Peart Bailey, H arry Belafon- te, James E a rl Jones, E lla Fitzgerald, opened his new dance and reahearsal studios on West 54th. St. In NYC, Henry's pupils presented him with the new Magnsvox (Xlys- sey T V game set. During the firs t season of Sanford & Son, every script but one was an adaptation of a segment of the British series "Steptoe 8i Son.” This year, according to producer Aaron Ruben, the series is develop ing Its own stories specific ally from the black point of view. One of the w rite r’ s Ruben has hired is ¡lungs Adell, a 23-year-old from Memphis, Tenn. "When I firs t met him, I couldn't believe what he told me - he felt he could w rite from a black point of view bee suae he had never spoken with a white person until he was 18 years old I ” Two of Adell'a stories have already been broadcast and he has just finished a third, "A Guest In the Y a rd " . One of his scripts dealt with Fred Sanford (Red Foxx) hav ing a toothache and insist ing on a white dentist. through my guitar playing, I try to share it with our audiences." states Johnny Graham. " M y soft melodic guitar playing adds a whlspy flow to the wind element of the aggregation. But some times I flash my guitar throw ing flamea of excitement into the audience, capping some of the most dramatic final notea to be heard live or on record today." Involved with music and a r ranging since the tender age of thirteen, Phillip Bailey, the band's other percussionist and vocalist, adds strength to the unit. "M usic is my firs t love. I think musically and 1 want to convey these feelings to everyone who hears u s," he explains. Presenting an honest im age to audiences lsw h a tL a rry Dunhill, the section's piano player is all about. " M y thun dering blows o il off my in strument with volcanicerrup- tlon. Then pounding off the guitar, I send the flames of flte shooting everywhere. But when the mood of my associ ates la low toned, I take off on a smooth course. Our hand starts out on different levels all the time, hut we constant ly change within these settings to evolve a total sound.“ Possessing that »ante sp iri tual feeling for music, Andrew W ollfolk, the reed Instrumen talist, adds magical quality to the sound. His soft man ipulation enhances the group's breezy touch. But when he lets it go, It grows into a full blown tornado. Working together with all music styles, Maurice states, "W e don't want to appeal to any specific group. A fter all, we are all brothers, and the creator gave ua the talent to play for everyone, and that Is what we Intend to do." Spiritually motivated to create superb music free of the restrictions of todays' musical race and standards. Earth, Wind and F ire capture audiences with visual and vo cal perfection. And when the music has ended, they can feel sure that they have given man's perennial , atlme - music - something new. Oirected by Ossie Davis Screenplay by J. E Franklin based on her play Cinerama Releasing presents a Lee Savin production 'Black Girl" Starring Brock Peters Louise Stubbs Claudia McNeil and Leslie Uggams as Netta Special guest Ruby Dee Also starring Peggy Pettitt Gloria Edwards Loretta Greene Executive Producer Robert Greenberg Produced by Lee Savin | T11le song sung by Belly Everett Original sound track on Fantasy Records | ” .v. ...... •«. C Now P IT .............. ........ playing-Exclusive engagement >rpheum Theatre & Foster Drive In I 10th and Final Week held over — Exclusive Y o u d o n ’t h a v e to be Black to dig O H r* SUPER FLY BLOODSUCKER! Deadlier than Dracula! His H a b its ... UNSPEAKABLE His Lusts. INSATIABLE His F a te ... UNBEARABLE BIÄClM Jones releases record color ::.. clinics In 16 countries and 20 cities in South Am erica and Europe. Future plans fo r Elvln and the quintet include a week at Boston's Jazz Workshop, Jan. 15-20; a college tour be ginning at Ssn Jose State, San Jose, C a lif., Feb. 9-10; a jazz opera he is w riting and a new South American tour in September. Since making his acting debut in "Z ac h a rlah ," Elvln has received several motion picture and TV offers and plans to Increase his ac tivities in those areas. Includ ing w riting and arranging film and T V scores. The Jack W hittemore Agency, in New York C ity, w ill coordinate ac tivities in all areas. Jones has also signed with Peggy Randall & Aaaoc., 8960 Aque duct AveM Sepulveda, CA, for p u b l ic rslatlons/publlcity representation. 287 - 2887 ^ 7 . . . y o u r g irl. Blue Note Record« has just re le s e d "E lv ln Jones Live At The Lighthouse", a new two-record album by the not ed drum m er. The L P , record ed on Jones’ birthday, Sep tember 9, '72, »Iso features the members of his quartet: Reedmen David Llebman (fo rm erly of the Mahavlshnu Orchestra) and Steve Cross- man and bassist Gene P erla. Coinciding with the new re lease, Jones announced that Hank Jones, his poll-winning pianist brother, would make his debut with the group (mak ing It a quintet) at New York C ity ’ s Village Vanguard where they are appearing through January 14, and w ill round out the All Star aggregation on all future engagements. Elvln made the announcement in Los Angeles last week upon his return from a highly success ful two-month long tour of concerts, club dates and drum 1. Superstition - Sts vis Wonder 2. Work To Do - lsley Bros. 3. M e & M rs . Jones - B illy Paul 4 . 992 Arguments - O’J ays 5 . Theme From The Men - Isaac Hayes 6 . If You Let M e - Eddie Kendricks 7. I ’ ve Never Found A Man - Esther Phillips 8. The World la A Ghetto - W ar 9. You ought To Be With Me - Al Green 10. One L ite To Live - Manhattan» PICK OF THE WEEK Let Us Love - Bill W ithers Soul Stuff OBSERVATIONS IN COVER ING THE N IG H T-B EA T: The most exciting gift fo r Sammy Davis recently came straight from the White House, com pliments of President Nixon. The gift is something that Sammy had admired out loud when he was a passanger aboard the Presidential Jet, A irfo rce One, on "th at one occasion when the White House supplied Sammy with a jet trip (at the taxpayers expense) back to Las Vegas from the Nixon dinner table in Wash ington, D .C . The thing that caught Sammy's eye was the super-style flight jacket worn by the President's personal pilot. Davis was so impressed that he wished out loud that he had one just like It. W ell, lo & behold, several months after that wish, a package from the White House arrived at Sammy's house, containing a duplicate of the A ir Force One Flight Jacket, specially tailored to Sam's special size. The jacket puts Sammy one up on Spiro Agnew's pal, Frank Sinatra, who doesn't have an official flight jacket from Ag new's pilot. As a m atter of fact, Agnew's pilot doesn't have ai. "o ffic ia l" flight jacketl In appreciation, Sam my sent a case of Teacher's Highland Cream Scotch to the President’ s personal pilot. A ll is peaceful and happy at the Sanford & Son set no4», according to an NBC spokes man. Redd Foxx reportedly E. C. SOUL SURVEY .. ...... Pig on the Pit Restaurant .. .« AaAMf RICAN IRKRNAIKJNAI Pittura < / z A II WILLIAM MARSHALL DENISE NICHOLAS VONETTA McfiEE GORDON PINSENTwTHALMUS R A S U L A L A . &6].<x& NAM willAMCMIN X)AN IflMfSaMRAVMONDKOfMG S fa S S B lV GiW PAG! , HOURS: f X ’-'JX'VSU-"' Sunday 2:45 p jn . S p e c ia liz e in B a r -B -O Foods Coming January 24 Hours: Sunday thru Thursday 11:00 a jn . to 10:00p.m. Friday and Saturday 12:00 noon to 3:30 a jn . Hammer and W o o f f e r fo o d to g o , d e liv e r y a n d c a te rin g serv ic e 213 NORTH KILLINGSWORTH (503) 283-4573 I Hickey & Boggs B ill C o » b y and R o b a r » C u lp I
