Portland Observer Thursday. February 22. 1979 Page 5
Ä,
by Ruth Spencer
Newt Winters, Jr., dancer in the
musical, “ Bubbling Brown Sugar,”
has returned from his performances
in London, England to visit with his
family.
Newt is a former Jefferson High
student.
Ms. Carol Easterly, Ms. Cha'lotte
Williams, and Ron Herndon were
guests on Herb Cawthorne's televi
sion program , “ G etting It T o
gether,” Sunday, February I8th, at
8:30 a.m.
The topic discussed was the Black
Education Center, a school success
fully serving Black children. Ms.
Easterly and Ms. Williams arc pa
rents at the school and Herndon is
director. Thanks Herb for your in
formative timely program.
BLOODSTONE
SPECTRUM IN BLUE
Meet Bloodstone — Charles Love, Willis Draffen Jr., Charles McCormick
and Harry Williams Jr. — four multi-talented songwriting, singing musicians
whose talents have stood the test of time. Their new album, “ Don't Stop" is
their first for Motown Records.
The Bloodstone success story began several years ago in Kansas City,
Missouri, where via a local high school talent show, a traditional outlet through
which much raw talent is usually nurtured, the group actually envisioned their
potential as entertainers. However, where other young promising acts simply
faded into the woodwork. Bloodstone was just beginning.
" It was the thing to do,” remembers Willis Draffen Jr. “ You’d groom your
self in those smoky rooms and small halls until you got it right. Then you went
to L .A . That’s where we knew it was all happening, and that’s where the band
wanted to be.” Indeed, Hollywood was a ruling target in the scope of the band.
By this time the group had changed its name from the Sinceres to Bloodstone . .
. it sounded far more contemporary and by now self-contained and accom
panying their own vocals on guitars. Bloodstone was certainly innovatively dif
ferent in a world of stand-up groups.
Bloodstone did make it into Los Angeles, quickly settling into the city’s live
music circuit. The band performed at some o f Los Angeles's most thriving
clubs despite the absence of a hit record. Shortly afterwards came the oppor
tunity to journey to England where they supported top-name acts like A1 Green
and Curtis Mayfield. It was during this period, based on their appeal as an ex
citing visual act. Bloodstone was making a strong impact on live audiences. By
the time they arrived back in the states, London Records had offered them a
recording contract.
The result was an album entitled, “ Natural High.” A single of the same
name became one o f the most successful R&B/pop releases o f 1973 and it
kicked o ff an impressive string o f hit albums and singles, including bestsellers
like "Never Let You G o,” “ Outside Woman,” “ That’s Not How It Goes,” “ I
Need Tim e,” "Riddle O f The Sphnix,” “ M y Little Lady” and ” Do You Want
To Do A Thing," among others.
Now established in the industry as a certified, chart-topping act, Bloodstone
worked to further expose their talents with an avant-garde move; starring in
their own zany feature length musical comedy called, “ Train Ride To
Hollywood.” They composed and performed the film ’s lively soundtrack. “ We
figured movies were just an extension of musical entertainment. The roles in
“ Train Ride” were something we enjoyed doing, it was a production fit for all
ages.” "There is no racial trip to that film either,” Charles Love points out.
“ We made sure it wasn’t one o f those exploitation movies that was going
around at the time.”
Now on Motown, “ Don’t Stop” marks the bands’ return to their entertain
ment roots — the music. “ If a group wants to stay on top o f things, it has to go
with current trends,” retorts Love. “ We’re doing a little disco, but it’s what we
like to call mellow disco, because we’ve maintained our unique vocal style and
sound throughout.”
With songs like the title track, The R&B/disco o f “ Just Wanna Get The Feel
O f It ,” and the sultry ballad, “ I'm Just Doing My Job,” one can once again
experience Bloodstone's trademark flowing harmonies, smooth lead vocalizing
and biting, gospel ad-libs. Like Bloodstone’s best works of the past, this album
emerges as a timely, ultra-competitive work, with traditional R&B and pop
overtones.
Now, with their latest release, Charles Love, Willis Draffen Jr., Charles Mc
Cormick and Harry Williams Jr. resume a colorful career that has already
resulted in the sales o f millions o f overtones.
LOVIN' IT
Stuart Anderson's Black Angus Cattle Company Restaurants have been
noted for their excellent menu for quite a few years now. But equally as im
pressive is their line-up of nightly entertainment throughout the chain.
For example, a group called Lovin’It is currently headlining at the Black
Angus in Vancouver, Washington. And they are really bringing the people in —
in masses. Lovin’ It is a five piece group with a young lady by the name of Linda
Hornbuckle heading up lead vocals.
Most of their selections are contemporary with a little jazz, disco and rock all
tastefully incorporated into their show to make it enjoyable. You already know
the food is good, why not top it o ff with Lovin’ It for dessert!
CHECK ITO U TI
A very special thanks to Delores “ Mahogany” Eastman, LaMont Gentry,
Myrtle Eastman, Roosevelt Alma, Richard and Michelle Hicks for extending
such a warm hand o f hospitality at my recent trip to Los Angeles — see you all
soon.
Meet the Stars of
Towne Square — Daily & Nightly
★
★
J .W ., Re-Run, Jamie, Bob Andrews, The Saint, Deep Sea,
John Harris, Ray Mays, and Gene Tuck.
TOWNE SQUARE
4908 NE U N IO N A V E N U E
288-3621
Ms. Mary Berry, assistant secre
tary o f Education, D epartm ent
H EW was the scheduled speaker at
the fund raising dinner for the
United Negro College Fund held at
the Red Lion Inn at 7:30 p.m. Thurs
day, February 22nd.
*••••**••*
Freda Walker, Johnetta Every and
Jacqueline Solomon, seniors at Jef
ferson High School were presented at
the Links Debutante Ball, February
18th.
A recent Harris Poll found that
white Americans are more willing to
stop discrimination than believed.
Eclipse
(Continued from Page 1 Column 6)
In contrast to the deep blue sky
during to ta lity , there w ill be a
yellow-orange glow along the
horizon. This is the cloud layer out
side the shadow. To the southwest an
on-rushing salmon-colored dawn will
signal the end o f to ta lity and a
shadow may be seen briefly in the
northeast as it retreats.
Safety Precautions
The Academy o f Ophthalmology
emphasizes that during an eclipse the
eyes are not protected by sunglasses,
exposed film, welding goggles or any
other commonly available filte t.
They recommend that children not
be left unsupervised during the eclipse
and that no one watch the eclipse
unless they have taken tim e to
become well informed.
Portland Public Schools
The Portland Public Schools are
one o f the few school district’s in the
path of the eclipse that have chosen
not to adjust school hours. The
eclipse will take place during the time
that school children will be waiting
for buses and walking to school.
The district’ s position follows:
R egular Sch o ol O pening: We
believe that the question of eye safety
is one with which parents and the en
tire community must deal. Adults, as
well as students, will be subject to
additional risks during the critical
ten-minute period. A late or early
opening in itself will not eliminate
the possibility of children being tempted
to “ look at the eclipse,” especially
those whose parents have gone to
work. The impact of changing the
schedule can be adverse for a number
o f families; consequently, careful in
struction, rather than a change in
schedule, will be the best means of
avoiding eye damage. Schools will
open at the regular time.
School Instruction: All students
will be informed by their teachers of
possible permanent loss of vision and
advised that they should not look at
the sun for even brief periods be
tween 8:10 and 8:20 a.m. Sunglasses,
smoked glass, etc., provide no pro
tection.
Students W a lk in g To School:
Since most students live w ithin
walking distance o f their schools,
elementary school students should
leave home after 8:20 a. m.
Bus R iders: School buses will
operate on schedule, and drivers will
remind students on both February
23rd and 26th o f the dangers o f
looking at the eclipse and direct them
to avoid these risks while waiting for,
riding on, or leaving school buses
during the 8:10 to 8:20 a.m. period.
Parents are asked to remind students
of this.
Parents of very young students are
asked to consider their individual
child’s ability to understand or abide
by the instructions. If you doubt that
your child is capable of observing the
directions, you may keep your child
home (or bring him /her to school
later in the day), and the school will
excuse the absence. Some special
education students as well perhaps
Mrs. M a ry H arris, pianist at
Hughes M em orial C hurch, is
recovering at home after a short con
finement in a hospital.
Shrove T aerday will be celebrated
February 27th, at 6:30 p.m., with a
Pancake Supper at St. Philip Epis
copal C hurch, 120 N .E . Knott
Street.
The Reverend Austin Ray cele
brated his first anniversary as pastor
at Hughes United Methodist Church,
February 19th.
According to Representative
David Obey, head of a House Budget
Committee Task Force studying the
move to lim it federal spending,
Oregon would lose $467 million if
the federal budget is balanced in
1980.
The publication. Desegregation
W ithout T urm oil, is available
through the Community Relations
Service, U.S. Department of Justice,
Washington, D .C . 20530. The pub
lication is an experience guide based
on a national conference co
sponsored by the U.S. Department
o f Justice Community Relations Ser
vice and the National Center for
Quality Integrated Education.
The U .S . Supreme C ourt has
agreed to hear a case that will decide
if a school board can force a teacher
who wants to run for public office to
take unpaid leave.
should not be sent to meet their buses
that morning. I f parents so choose,
the child will be excused. It is the re
sponsibility o f the parent to deter
mine if the risk is sufficient to make
it advisable for the child to stay
home. The school will attempt to
prepare students adequately for the
event. We all recognize that there is a
danger in looking at the sun at any
tim e, but the 8:10 to 8:20 a.m .
period, while the sun is darkened,
will be especially hazardous because
the danger is not so apparent.
LOOK FOR THE BIG "T"
"A Sure Sign of Good Taste”
What do you look for in choosing a food
store? Wide selection? Competitive prices?
Confidence in the quality of the items you
buy? We provide all of these ingredients at
every TRADEWELL Store. And, because we
really value you as a Customer, we add
another ingredient that we think is the
most important of all: Friendly, personal ser
vice every time you shop! Remember, look for
the Big " T " — it’s a sure sign of good taste!
1 4 4 1 0 S I - DIVISION
S.S. 20th « DIVISION
395S SE. ROWEU
S.E. 72nd A H A V H
N.E. 74th a OUSAN
N.E 15th a « E M O N I
HIUSBORO-960 S.E. OAK
W . BURNSIDE a t 21st
SAN R A FA H -1910 N.E. 122nd
T R
Forast Otova-2329 PACIFIC
MOLAUA
Oregon I City-171
I
C an by-1
-10S1 S.W. 1st
UOVO CENTER
□□□□□ L L
(M aterial on the eclipse was
provided by the Oregon Museum
of Science and Industry (O M SI).l
FOR THE
NEXT WEEK,
S W IN G HOME
WILL BE MORE FU N
THAN GOING O U T
For the next week, staying home will
he more fun than going out.
You’re going to see more entertainment
in your living nx»m than in all the nightclubs,
concert halls, movie houses and theaters
in town.
Because this week is part ot Public
Television Festival '79.
During Festival '79 you’ll see everybody
horn Tony Bennett to Minnie Pearl, Arthur
Fiedler to Tennessee Ernie Ford. Albert Ein
stein to Laurel ¿s Hardy .
You’ll see all this plus our usual, out
standing schedule ot programs like “Nova .
“Masterpiece Theatre”, and “The MacNcil
Lehrer Report"
So tor the next week, the most exciting
place to go...is home.
STARTING SATURDAY
Live from the
GRAND OLE
OPRY'
6 PM to Midnight
T V worth Maying home far.
K0APTV10 3- KOACTV7
OREGON EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLIC BROADCASTING SERVICE
THIS AD MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING