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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 2, 1976)
itbM* BOY AYERS A UBIQUITY • • • In the world of entertainment there is no clear cut definition of being popular. There are many aspects to look at when determining the popularity of a certain artist or a group of artists. There is the artist himself, and his appeal to the listening public. His talent, his versatility, style and imagination are key and very relevant qualities an Mtertainer must have in order to be successful. Roy Ayers is just such an artist I remember seeing Roy Ayers many times during nay high school years in Los Angeles, where his popularity began to mushroom throughout the city. Needless to say. we all knew that Roy would become a professional musician some day. Shortly after his graduation from Jefferson High 8chool. Ayers enrolled into Los Angeles City College and signed a recording contract a t the same time. In less than tw o years, Roy Ayers had become a noted and respected jazz musician among his peers. The following year, he was included among the giants of the business in the famed. “Down Beat Jazz Poll." as the most promising jazz vibeist on the musical aaaae. His performance this past weekend at the Paramount Northwest only reinforced my belief in the man and his music. Accompanying Ayers on back up was: Harry Whitaker aa piano. Dennis Davis on drums and percussion. David Johnson on base. Chano O' Parral on congas, bongos, and vocals. Roy Ayers lead the aggregation on vibes and vocals. They did tunes like “Brother Lovie." "It's So Sweet," “Giving Love." "I Am Your Mind." and his classic “Virgo Red." It's interesting to note that all the musicians on his “VirgoTied" album are all born under the sign of Virgo. Coincidence? . . . not hardly. I am a Virgo, too. and can understand his reasoning. Besides. “Virgo Red" turned “GOLD" for him. Isn't that reason enough" SOUTH AFRICA AND THE LESSONS- ” *»rn & A N D T H F I F S S flN S . FOR BLACKS IN AMERICA L arry S m ith Kent Ford LARRY SMITH N ational B lack O rganizer Workshop on In tern a tio n a l S o c ia lis t s P overty P rogram s i . i t ili i 1 A PCC Cascade Room B47 AD. BLDG T h ird World C u ltu ra l Forum 730pm Free Childcare Provided AN EVENING WITH ELVIS iseum Sun. Dec. 5 S at. Doc.4 3:00p m PCC Cascade Kllllngaw orth at Commercial by Lisa Rankins f I ALSO: The evening of November 28th I went to hear Elvis Presley. Actually it was just for : fun; I'm not a real Elvis fan, but when I got there it wasn't that bad. We had to sit through about three other performances and everyone got a little bored. Then there was an intermission of about 15 minutes. Everyone was stomping their feet and saying. “We want Eivis! We want Elvis!" The MC came on the loud speaker and said. “We are now having technical difficulty." Everyone started booing. And finally the big moment came - the lights went low and my friend sitting next to me almost dug a chunk-out of my arm she was so excited. ELVIS!!! He sang some new songs and old ones. too. He started with Jailhouse Rock. The crowd went wild. His back-up singer would come up and hand him a scarf for him to put around his neck, then Elvis would fling it into the audience. The girls ran up to the stage like mad. Elvis was going to throw a scarf down to someone and he got down on his stomach and held onto the scarf and kissed the girl. The audience went wild again. Throughout the entire performance all that you could hear was “Get your Elvis buttons, get your Elvis pennants and shirts." They had Elvis everything. It sounded like you were never going to see him again, like he was going to die. You could see he's getting pretty old. He had one of his back up singers come and sing two songs while he went and sat down. I heard some people crying when he sang his last song. On the way out, they were still selling buttons. The lady standing next to me said, “If they aren't selling him forget it!" I was surprised how many old people and young people were there. But the funniest thing. I thought, was when I heard the girl he had bi—ed say, “I'll never wash my face again." It made me wonder what her face will look Khe a year from now. I’ll never forget my 13th birthday - I spent the evening with Elvis! 1975 Continental Mark IV Loaded with Luxury Options A has low Milos Tho Parfect Christmas Gift at $9995.00 ROTH VOLKSWAGEN, INC 2 6 0 0 S. E. 162nd Gresham 665*7121 HOLD IT TOM . . . Portland s Maurice Luces nukes futile attempt to I effort by Chicago's Tom Boer winkle. However. Lucas had his highest i a Blazer hooping 30 points, and grabbing 18 rebounds. iiaa Lus aesMvxa 1» w o q rta tl ».hit Spoti "Joik by Ron Sykes “If I had the first pick in this year's NBA draft,” said Stu Inman. “I would still pick Wally Walker." Well, now we've seen Scott May. Richard Wasington. Leon Douglas, all drafted ahead of Wally, the NBA 5th overall pick, and all three are worlds ahead of the still budding Walker. Rolland Todd, where are you? At last look. Todd, first ever Blazer coach, was employed in the Italian professional bas ketbali loop. Since the NBA ABA merger more U.S. players will eventually find their pie-in-the-sky in European ball. Jim McDaniels, ex Supersonic, is currently drawing the highest salary in Europe, reputed at some $100.000 per year. Remember a fellow from University of California at Berkeley by the name of Ainsley Pruitt? Well. Big Ainsley can now be found pounding the hardwood for Caen, France, of the European league. How about ex-UCLA great Larry Holly field now playing for Gressen. Germany. Others playing in Europe: Gary Free man, Oregon State: Louis Dunbar. Hous ton; Frank Kendricks, Purdue; Loy Peterson, Oregon State: Bob Nash, ex Piston and Hawaii. European basketball has offered U.S. players another avenue of survival after they've been cut by the NBA. However, there are a few players »hat got their start overseas before making it to the NBA, such as: Stan McKensie, Red Robbins. Jim Fox, Willie Norward. Greg Howard. Kim Hughes, Steve Hawes and Terry Driscoll, all coming from European ball to U.S. pro teams • — • — — • — • — • • — Boxing, the last 7 days or so. has gotten a considerable amount of ink, both pro and amateur. Years ago, I was an .- id amateur boxing fan, but after watching Black fighters rendered so many bad decisions by outdated, and prejudiced boxing judges, and becoming more and more frustrated, I decided to just quit. Amateur boxing in Oregon is a farce. I mean. I've seen Tacoma bring a team loaded with Nat l Champions, and out of 11 fights only win one or two. How those little gray haired ring judges could sit there puffing on their 15c cigars and ebest those kid« n , I’ll never know When I was piddling around as an amateur before going into the ring our corner man would tell us. “You'll hafta >♦ * ♦ Sporta Editor whip him good in order to earn a decision.” Now that is awful when you think of the impact that kind of talk could have on the youth today. What he was, in effect, telling us was that because of the color of our skin we wouldn’t be treated faily. And believe me, he was so right then, and it still is so right at the amateur level There is only one way to remedy this bad situation, and that is to get young Blacks interested in becoming boxing officials on the amateur level. How nice it would be to see a Black fighter step into the ring, look around ringside and see two or three Black judges seated. Sidney Wicks continues to take knocks from Portland fans even though he's long gone. Portland's white media, for some reason, is anti Wicks. The latest knock on Sid is that they believe he is the reason for Dave Cowens leaving, they're also, seemingly upset because he hasn't signed with Boston. Some fans seem to label him a troublemaker because he chooses to exercise that right given to all free men and that is the right to do as one pleases without going outside the confines of the law. Sid is a ball player, sure, but he's also a human being first. And if he chooses to play in L.A.. so be it. Every G.M. seem s to knock Super Sid . . . after he has already turned down lucrative contract offers. Portland offer ed Sid $275,000 a year for five years, after he declined the story goes out that he wasn't a team player. Wonder how he survived two years at U.C.L.A. and also, lead the Blazers in assists as a power forward. Then comes New Orleans G.M. whose pride was destroyed because Wicks was offered a most attractive contract there and had the nerve to turn them down. By the way, what has happened to Geoff Petrie? He hasn't as of yet. been offered a contract by Atlanta, but there's no talk of that. I wonder why? Once on our neweconomy COMPLETE Contains egg, milk and shortening Once on our money-saving coupons. t I12C i Save 12« on purchase 1,22 of any size Aunt Jemima Syrup. | 97208 G *O C fP A * Out ogen» you may or rept this roupon l-om r«to»l customers only on the purr hose of ony sue Aunt Jem-mo Syrup VM» w<|l pay you 1?« plus M honrft.nq for eoch roupon so re deemed Any other use may constitute FRAUD Proof of purchase must be submitted uprjn reqtiesf This coupon is vrxl i# ’o«ed i'tensed restricted or wherever prohibited by lov* Consume» must pay any sole«, 'a« O H f• lIM T ID to o m coupon in *» packaoi un o IO tHf QUAKfP OATS COMANMY BO t f A oaf m w it uN or, i ZZ9i Coupon I «pups Aprii X ) 1977 12C 12C *2' 120 Save 12< on purchase of Aunt Jemima Complete Mix, 5 lb. size. »7208 In Portland's 142 98 shellacking of the hapless Indiana Pacers one fan was heard to shout, “You guys make a good practice team." How soon we forget. Blazer fans, at home, are growing more complacent with each Trailblazer wir,. One only has to go back to last seasin , when each victory was hard fought and welcome, to appre d ate the job th is yesr's . am is doing. Fans now want blood. They think that the team should win by 20 at home, or they’re not playing well. 12C fjH O C f P As our ogen’ you may o cep* this coupon from re»»l customers only on the purchase of 5 lb bo« of Aunt Jem»mo Complete Mi» At» will pay you 1 p l u s M handling Io» ear h r o u p o n so re d e e m e d Any other use may ronsMute fRAUD Proof of pur c hose mus* be submitted upon request TKs coupon is vod if ’o»ed I- ensed restricted or wherever prohibited by law Consumer must pay ony soles to» O H IP UMITID TO ONf COUPON PfP PACKAGf 9 N O TO IM » Q U A K fP OATS NET WT. 5 LB. **«s «no« m 4 nwuMs COM PANY P Q W >X 41 06 O A T P A W iiM O r .e a x n ¿Pancake fr Waffle Mix Coupon ( > ( » « April » »77 U s s iw .« a itiv