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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 16, 1976)
1 U » f*»ga 4 Portland Observer Thursday. September l#th. 1976 Charles pleases Seaside crowd &ttotÙMMÌ ytudt, by Steve Eng hy A*cn S P E T T R IM IN B L I T HIT4MLNGBIRP To describe Hummingbird ns a band of session musicians is an inadequate representation - in fact, that description is totally misleading Max Middleton «keyboards). Bobby Tench «guitar and vocals) and Clive Chaman h . . . were all members of the Jeff Beck Group that recorded the albums Rough And I»--a- and Jefl Beck Group In 72, Beck disbanded the outfit so he could fulfill his ambition to play with ex-Vanilla Fudges Tun Bogert and Carmine Appice Max. Bobby, and Cbve wished to continue playing together, but without the restrictions Beck had imposed on them. To that end. they formed Hummingbird as a proper recording and concert band in January. 73. Origina By. the fifth member of the old Beck Group, drummer Cory Powell, wanted to be involved in the project, but instead he decided to play with Bedlam, and later form his own band. Hammer. Therefore. Conrad Isidore, who d previously worked with Stephen Stills and Joe Cocker, joined And the final member of the line up was Benue Holland (guitar). wtao'd been playing with Pure Chance and Geòrgie Fame. This format then went into the studio to record. But it was a time-consuming process, and while business deals were being arranged, individual members worked sessions Middleton, for instance, continued to record with Beck and was also involved with the Mick Taylor-Jack Bruce Band, while Tench joined Streetwalkers The original tracks recorded by Hummingbird and produced by Ian Samwell were, with the exception of two. scrapped; and they recorded again The result was their debut album. Hummingbird, released m mid 75. "I was pleased to see it come out," Bobby says "But it was very difficult, when you’ve got five people in the band who re all strong players, not to force a direction We just wanted to see where the music would go naturally. On the other hand, a lot of Conrad's songs were recorded, which made the album very one sided. It is a good album, but it could have been better "I’ve got nothing to soil you but my sound, and it's get to be right." said Ray Charles recently. He was talking to the sell-out crowd at Sea side's Convention Center. Sunday the 6th. The mirrophoaes were wrong on his voice aad piano, aad he wisely stopped the show til they were right. (Unlike the Paramount show, where he reportedly lost his compoaure and the mood of the evening over the same thing.) For Ray has perfect pitch, maybe the best ear in the business; he's a legendary perfectionist - a few times while playing, he even turned to correct w a r of his band members. But lie enjoy- ed kimself the whole show, and of course the people did too, "Georgia" sounded even sadder than its hit record version, painfully care ssed, drawn-out. The same style sobbed that great country song "Born to Lose." Ray was playful sad. with humor and outrage in another blues “How Long Has This Been Going On?” He mixed humor too, with poverty, in “Busted", a song of Ray's that was later a Johnny Cash hit. Still with country tunes, his perfect timed back-up girls the Rayiettes helped with a rhythm 'n' blues version of John Denver's "Country R oads" Though they were flawless. I missed the gusto that Marjorie Hendricks used to give the group, years ago. They did others with Ray, including the finale, that greatest of rock n' roll songs. "What I'd Say.” Ray did it on the organ, though be used to play it crisper on piano, and it was shorter - lessening its tension and impact, recalling those stale cover treatm ents of Elvis. Jerry Lee Lewis. Roy Orbison, Bobby Darin. But then, seventeen years is a long time to play a song that hectic. It got him his encore. Ray’s voice was strong as ever, and sad: artfully jagged, crude, echoing Southern poverty. Yet how many people know he used to sound smooth and bland, when he copied Nat Cole and played Seattle with his trio in the 1950s? Or that Ray's country hits of the 1960s were net commercial sell-outs, as some "soul” Whitney Young Classic honors Bethune * . . . Despite many crushing burdens and handicaps. I have risen from the cotton fields of South Carolina to found a college, administer it during its years of growth, become a public servant in the government and country, and a leader of women. J would not exchange my color for all the wealth in the world, for had I been born white. I might not have been able to do all I have done or yet hope to do." These words are from the Legacy of Mary McLeod Bethune, a truly great woman of the world, who will be honored along with the salute to the National Council of Negro Women during pre- game activities at the 6th Annual Whit ney M. Young. Jr. Memorial Football Classic at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. October 30th. Mary McLeod Bethune was borr. in 1875. in Mayesville. South Carolina to Samuel and Patsy McLeod, ex-slaves. After emancipation, her parents obtained a five-acre tract of farm land near Mayes ville. She was the fifteenth of seventeen children born to the McLeods. Some of the older children were also slaves, but the younger ones grew up at their home. “Mother worked in the field at father's side cutting rice and chopping fodder. “When I was nine, I could pick two hun dred fifty pounds of cotton a day.” Mrs Bethune recalled in her Legacy. From these humble beginnings Mrs. Bethune rose to become one of the out standing women on both the national and international scene. She served on the National Commission for Child Welfare under Presidents Coolidge and Hoover: special advisor on minority affairs to Pre sident Roosevelt; was director of the Office of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration from 1936 to 1944; founded Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach. Florida; founded the Na tional Council of Negro Women; and was an officer of many other national organi- DEWAR’S. PROFILES His flawless band opened with a short set of jazz, with solo-after solo, followed by ventriloquist Aaron Williams and Freddy. The caustic dummy was hilar ious . insulting the audience. Blacks, whites, ventriloquists in general, and especially the police. After a ll it was benefit for the Seaside cops' I « a.a » • » BARKLEY L. HENDRICKS Juntas Nseee t e of Port Bans. Louisans has returned home after visiting relatives in Portland. California. Nebraaka and Texaa. Lncy JehnsM has returned home after a five week trip to Denver and Oklahoma. ChrisSsBn i Max weft. daughter of Mr. and Mrs Charles B. Maxwell, spent two days in the area visiting friends in Port land and Seaside. She comes from an old family and was raised in Salem. While serving in the Army in World War II. and adopted a child in North Africa C i ergs Tribble has accepted a position with Data System s. Inc. in San Francisco, where he will be a sales representative for computer system s. He formerly worked at IBM in Portland. Tribble is treasurer of the Albina Lions' Club. M r. and Mrs. MB tagrsm had a plea aant trip to I am Angeles. California where they attended the Imperial Con ferenre of the A.E.A.N.M.S. The trip did not end there, however, aa they flew to the Hawaian Islands. The Ingrams toured several sites with the Shrine group, the visit being highlighted by a trip to the Punchbowl National Cemetery and a din ner cruise on the Pacific Ocean. Bill Ingram is a Noble in Mina Temple *68 of Portland Stanley Cage, maintenance engineer at the Bethel A.M.E. Church will be retiring after 7 years on the job. Congratulations! May Finney has completed a two week IRS training course. She received her training in Ogden. Utah. Juanita LyDay has entered Willamette University majoring in journalism. Jukn its, an outstanding student who graduat ed from Jefferson High School in June, received a 92500 scholarship. S M IT H 'S SCHOOL WASHES MADE EASY I . _ __. Frigidaire PSU features youth gym The Portland State University D e partment of Health and Physical Educa tion will offer a special gymnastics pro gram for young people from age six through high school again this fall Participants will have the option at registering for one of three, or more than one. 10-week sessions, beginning Sep tember 27th. Monday and Wednesday evening sessions will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. far all agea. However, partici pants will be divided according to ability and age. A Saturday morning session will divide participants into age groups. Those from age six through 12 will per form from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m Partici pants from age 13 through high school will perform from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. All classes will be held in the PSU Health and Physical Education Building. A registration fee of $25 will be charg ed each participant. If the participant chooses to attend more than one session, the fee will be $25 per session. The regis trstion lee includes insurance coverage The Portland Community College legal assistant program was granted final ap proval by the House of D elegates of the American Bar Association during their August meeting. The PCC program was one of eight granted the full accreditation. Don Fiser, department chairman, indicated of the more than 200 colleges offering legal assistant programs, less than 20 have been approved. Working in consultation with the Ore gon Bar Association. PCC was one of four institutional programs in the United States to start a pilot project of testing legal assistant educational guidelines developed by the national legal body. To enroll in the program at PCC a student must be employed in the legal profession or hsve departmental approv al. A certificate is awarded to the student who completes core courses and selects one of the nine specialty course clusters which allow specialization. The student completing additional general education and three speciality areas is awarded an associate degree. Those course clusters offered to the student are family law. litigation, propety ty law, taxation, probate practice, office management, criminal law, business law and general. AU classes are offered evenings and Saturdays only. They are taught by prac tiring attorneys and law office managers. The American Bar Association defines a legal assistant as a specially trained nonlawyer who assists sn attorney in the performance of certain limited profes sional services under the attorney's direction and control. This person can perform any acts under such direction except accept a case, set a fee. give legal advice and appear in court. To become certified in Oregon an in dividual must complete the associate de gree, pass a certification examination and have two years legal work experience. Tea benefits UNCF campaign The public in invited to attend an educational fund raising tea featuring the United Negro College Fund st the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Daniels. 10845 S.E. Mill Court, Portland, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 26th, 1976 Those attending wiU be invited to make a free will gift to the 1976 Oregon UNCF Campaign. Light refreshments Authentic, t * ► mo»« taton a I »O fo n d «rh.«kJ«« in Scodano bu' (aw are authanUc onougP >•' Oowor a W rita Lota« " The gwofcty standard« tatahataad in 'MÄ now« nava* rotiod W M t h r you a«* lor D a w a r'a or "W h ite Lataaf." y a a *ll t a t the camo g re a t Scotch i has assumed a new posi lion aa secretary at Schick Center for the Control of Smoking *.♦ -» J TIB Iffgf|J < «en •m w - Ml M od el W A Frigidaire Jef Action washing is just as easy on your clothes as it is on your budget. W ith the turn of single dial, you can choose o Color-fast or N on-C olor fast cycle, with just the right w ater temperatures for each assd exact selections o f washing time. M any fine Frigidaire features. BIIBCET WASHES *248 Bar approves PCC program (Pronounced D o-ert “ W hite L a b el') HOME; New London, Connecticut PROFESSION: Painter, photographer, fine arts instructor HOBBIES: Music, basketball, traveling. LAST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Displayed at a major bicentennial exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which featured the paintings of over 600 artists from American history. QUOTE; “My work provides me wish tothl freedom. In turn, it demands total honesty. Bo long as one can remain honest with himself and his work, lie'll have the freedom lor the exploration and satisfaction of his foremost feelings and desires PROFILE: Sensitive. Has a rare talent for capturing and expressing universally felt emotions in his paintings. SCOTCH Dewar s "White Label« zationa. including the NAACP and the National Urban League. When she founded the Daytona (Flori da) Normal and Industrial School for Girls in 1904. she had $1.65 in cash, a borrowed four-room cottage and faith in God and in herself. Her first class consis ted of five little girls and her own son. Today. Bethune Cookman College, a liberal arts institution, has an enrollment of 1.250. Mrs. Bethune passed away on May 20th, 1955 The Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman College will face the Spartans of Norfolk State College in the 6th Annual Whitney M Young. Jr. Memorial Football Classic st New York's Yankee Stadium. Besides the tribute to the "Great Lady” and the National Council of Negro Women, bead ed by Mrs. Dorothy I. Height; Melba Moore will sing the National Anthem. Connie Parker will sing the Black Nation al Anthem; there will be recognition of Black American Legionaires; live enter tainment; presentation of the Whitney Young. Jr. Memorial Award; and spark! ing precision marching by both school bands. purists thought at the time? Ray bad played piano in a R onda hillbilly hand in the late 1940a. listening regularly to the Grand Old Opry. A man of musical c m tradictiona. when Ray married rural gee pel sounds to ghetto blues in the 1960a. bluesman Rig Rill Broonxy complained; “That's wrong . . . He's got a good voice but it's a church voice He should he singing in church.* And Ray Charles eras there when rhythm n' blues merged with hillbilly to become rock'n'roll - his "I Got C A Woman" was on Evis' first album. Progressive jaxx. R t B. white country. Tin Pan Alley. Ray plays all that, well varied, not confused. For he's had the time, and the hard times, to learn it all. Born Black watching his brother drown when he was four, blind at seven, motherless at fifteen, playing professionally and taking hard drugs by the time his father died when he was seventeen. Ray was a giant record ing star for white and Black audiences before he was thirty. And following the narcotics arrests, he was cured of heroin in a hospital at the age of thirty five. At forty-five Charles is relaxed, joking between numbers, super-confident within his sunglaasee-and-tuxedo image. Nor bitter . . “People . . . should go out into the world and learn to keep fighting for themselves.” he once told sn interviewer. Still you feel that nothing is forgotten, such as that time Ray was paid only with a can of sardines, and was so hungry and hurried, that be spilled it in his blindness trying to open it. Those scars will always be in his voice. The only voices I've heard as sad as his. belonged to Hank Williams and Billie Holliday, both losers in the fight Ray won: drugs. The coot of that victory, and others, aches in his singing. N a m e s i n th e N e w s D a u i a r t n avar v a n a t One in every four school children has a vision prob lem, according tofofhe N a tional Society «or'the Pre vention of Blindness Make sure your child's eyes are checked and get necessary treatment. will be served and thoae dropping in will have an opportunity to learn more about UNCF achools from audio visual presen taliona. and through conversations with UNCF Alumni. Oregon Advisory Board Members, and UNCF Steffi Mrs. Willie Mae Hart and Dr. Ernest Hartzog are Co-Chairpersons of the UNCF Oregon Advisory Board. Mrs. Harris B. Paris is Chairperson for the September 26th Tea. FRIGIDAIRE LAUNDRY CENTER // It fits inte tight spaces and tight budgets; handles faaiily-sise leads. Here's family-size wosher ond dryer •n o single slim cabinet |ust 2 feet wide It's so compact you con fit the Frigidaire Laundry Center almost anywhere the foundry gathers, ond it plugs right into 120-volt household current (separate 15 amp circuit) AM ♦hat's required is proper plumbing, wiring and venting You'll like its convenience ond its budget price Model LCA-120 ’318= msy rums SMITH'S SHOP 9 TO I M O M . THRU « I SAT. 'TIL 6 (Closed Son ) 30th and S. E. DIVISION • 234-9351 I
