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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 1979)
«© S ■ ITS by Allen Jonc* ROCKIE ROBBINS - SPECTRUM IN BLUE If you look at the odds, Rockie Robbins should never have come to the atten tion of a major record label, much less sign a contract, and cut a debut album with a top notch production team like Richard Evans and Johnny Pate. But Rockie Robbins did pull all of this off and the product of his efforts, an infec nous Ip called Rockie Robbins" is both a happy ending and a great beginning. As o’ January 1979, recording was moving along smoothly. Robbins, Evans and Pate had cut tracks in Los Angeles and then headed toward Chicago's P S. Studios to lay down the vocals. But fate had one more hurdle for Rockie to leap somehow, between L.A. and Chicago, all but two of the masters were erased and Robbins found himself in the middle of one of the worst blizzards in history with virtually a whole album to do over. They started again and if any thing, ended up more pleased with the second go-round than they were with the first. It was pushing that little extra bit that brought Rockie to the studio in the first place. As a native of Minneapolis (a city not known for spawning new talent) with little formal training or experience. Robbins should have remained in the obscurity of the local club scene. But he went for the long shot: He aban doned a secure, lucrative position with Munsingwear to front a series of bands. L h8u8d'ient ° f d,8C° dr'8d up local 0'0S tor Perform'ng groups and so, rolling the big dice, he decided to take out a second mortgage on his house to finance a last ditch demo tape Rockie remembers the decision, "M y wife and I sat down and I said, This is the story: Either we make one last effort to do the thing or we say it beat us ." Once the self-produced tape was finished, they simply mailed it to record companies and waited. Only an innocent with an unshakable belief in his own talent would think this approach would have any chance of success. But, like the plot of a forties movie, the tape was heard by responsible ears Ron Moss of A&M 's A&R department listened to it, placed a call to Minneapolis and two short months later Robbins signed his name to a contract. Johnny Pate, who arranged Peabo Bryson s album, was brought in to arrange and co-produce with Evans Robbins described the album they made as a different kind of love album ," but even that classification falls short of the mark. The songs, certainly, are about love but the intensity of Robbins' delivery coupled with the stylistic range he embraces makes it transcend any narrow definition. He wrote five of the nine tunes and the album flows effortlessly from ballad to funk to disco to reggae. From the irresistible throb of "Miss Dyna mite" to the ethereal soulfulness of "Be Ever W onderful," Rockie displays an emotional commitment rarely heard. Again and again, he challenges his voice and extraordinarily smooth range with nary a false step or easy slide out The natives call Minnesota "cold country" and perhaps it took a frigid en vironment to produce a singer who can turn on the heat like Rockie Robbins Why don't you put on your asbestos gloves, place h.s record on your turn table, and sit back — the warmth he generates will astound you. The City is currently seeking minority representation for its Economic Develop ment Advisory Committee. The Committee is responsible for overseeing the City s economic development program which focuses on creating jobs for City residents and assisting in-City businesses. The person should be willing to at tend meetings on a regular basis and commit whatever time is necessary to accomplish important work activities. A background in business is desired, but not required To make a recommendation, or to apply in person, submit the request in writing to Eric Hovee, Office of Planning and Development, 620 S.W. 5th Avenue, Room 610, Portland, Oregon, 97204, by Friday, May 18. Fred's Place 2511 NE Union V •» L ittle F ra n k ie Lee w it h Bobby & H his T a lk in g G u ita r Direct from Oakland Two shows nightly Monday-Sunday A ls o : B la c k V e lv e t S ‘ V. • .......- ... ¡¿W mb B COM PLETE COOPERATION ON A L L D E N T A L INSURANCE C LA IM S “ Super Saturday” is rapidly ap proaching for the Irvington School neighborhood The big event w ill feature a parade, displays, entertainm ent, music, food, games and much more. W ith ‘ ‘ Super Heroes” as its theme, the parade w ill kick-off the festivities, as it winds its way through the neighborhood. Students are en couraged to dress-up in costumes, and if they don’t have costumes a special face-painting session at 11:00 a.m. is planned. The parade begins at 11:45 a.m., forming at the Irvington covered play area. Irvington’s drill team w ill lead the May 11 th and 12th are the dates o f the biggest production in Adams P e rfo rm in g A rts Departm ent history, “ Gypsy.” “ Gypsy” is a musical based on the m em oirs o f Gypsy Rose Lee, a famous strip-teaser o f the 1930’ s. The performance begins w ith her childhood as a vaudeville performer and continues through her eventual stardom as a strip-tease artist. Sharon Eshoo w ill play the part o f Louise, who later changed her name to Gypsy Rose Lee. The lead role, however, is the part o f Rose, Louise’s domineering stage mother, who w ill be played by Julianne John son. During the tw o-and-a-half hour production. Rose is in all but one scene and sings seven o f the fifteen songs. The leading male role went to first year dram a and music student Cleveland Haynes, a senior. Haynes plays the part o f Herbie, an agent who falls in love with Rose. Though Eshoo has had a number o f different roles since her freshman year, the biggest was in last fa ll’s p ro d u ctio n of ‘ ‘ The Glass Menagerie” when she played Aman da. iGATel • C L 'P I THIS AD I G ood for I ? adm issions ! tMNKer and quest I Value $ i I adm.ssiiwi i v i f lim e o r ,. ■ I I I I I Ml THRU« A U G .I8TH I POST TIME! AT 7 3 0 P M ! Air ( oodHtoned Glut) Skyview I m Portland ■ NF and riaisey Halsey a St t M ivc ??3rd r r j ' U rf'Kl Sorry. Sorry I |M U ITN O M A H | N O R A C IN G T H IS no appointment needed Come in at your convenience MAY I f t I H FREE CATALOG PARK FREE — Any Park n Shop Lot HOURS: Weekuays 8:30a.m. to 5p.m . A 297 4836 7 • ARTICHOKES parade, which sponsors report w ill also feature “ a few surprise guests.” Costumed and face-painted kids with decorated bikes, wagons, skate boards and anything else the “ kids can dream up” w ill be included in the parade lineup. There is a serious side to the “ Super Saturday” as well. The City Crime Prevention Unit w ill send o f ficers to the school that day to register and engrave bicycles to reduce the chance o f theft. This is the second annual ‘ ‘ Super S aturday” and school prin cip a l Frank Haight says it is intended to be ‘ ‘ an outdoor (keeping his fingers crossed) spring festival.” Planning for the event is being led by the Irvington Community School as a neighborhood celebration. ‘ ‘ Food and Fun” is the invitation being extended to all who wish to at tend. Irvington School is located at 1320 N.E. Brazee. 10 « MEDIUM f largì s iz i T DRY ONIONS f « « M O r TOMATO PLANTS 1 LOCAL, FRESH oo • SPINACH APPLES Irvington plans parade, festival Racing Monday through children under I? not Saturday adm ittedH H acng Monday through Saturday * WE HANDLE ALL THE DETAILS OF COMPLETING YOUR CLAIM FORMS _______ CI«u-iZn?wWi" b® pr®#ent#d by «»“ dents of Cleveland High School, the SLh Hu™ " Rel“ t,on» Singers, and community members, on May e ^ n e . from " 2 R ’ ’ k c * CI#Ve,and Entertainment will include scenes from A Raisin in the Sun" and a fashion show. is a valuable asset, . . appearance Companies k - - • i t e r Ü Ü L M O D U C I « N T I » ef PORTLAND" I D E N T A L IN S U R A N C E and I St. Paul 1750 S.W. Skyline Blvd., Suite 220 . . . UNION OR COMPANY your health W holly Owned by Call Today Adams presents musical 'Gypsy' PUBLIC NOTICE WESTERN LIFE INSURANCE CO We Specialize In Life & Health Insurance • Investment Products • Group, Medical ft Dentical Under Ten, All Tax Sheltered Plans, Pension, Etc. D’Ïc io v ,> S £ 0 0 PORK & BEANS 5(51» ORANGES VALENCIA JB 4i.59‘ <£VI~ <?7’5 D . MARIANI EXTRA-CHOICE M IE -9 9 ' APRICOTS Ó M 0 W N & » ....... LOINS («tra lean Iriiket CORNED BEEF 16 or Whole lb. 165: 18lb. ovg. FREE SLICING! lb. xtCES GOOD THRU SAT., MAY 12, SHERIDAN FRUIT Co. S C U N IO N & OAK E X O D 2 3 5 -9 3 5 3 U S ifct/uca/if~na/am / $ te a //H s n / & 1518 N E KILLINGSWORTH PORTLAND. OREGON 9721 1 284-7997 MAY 1979 EXODUS GROWS Reports its Director Rosalie Boothe 1. EXODUS is implementing Portland's first com munity-based Youth Theatre Alcohol Awareness Project, this project is funded by the Department of Labor. 2. EXODUS through its community Advisory Coun cil will implement the "EXODUS Forum", which is an information sharing service to the commu nity. The first forum presentation will be held at 12:30 p.m., May 17, 1979 at EXODUS Day- Treatment Center. 3. EXODUS has also grown to develop the EXODUS Women Forum" which is composed of women in treatment of alcoholism, from care units, Portland hospitals, institutions, educational centers and agencies. 4. EXODUS graduated its third class on the "Triple R Concept" (Rights, Respect and Responsibility concept), April 7, 1979. Saturdays 8.30 a m. to 1 p.m. Dr. Jeffrey BRADY, Dentist 8.W . 3RD ft YAMHILL ST., PORTLAND. OREGON TAKE ELEVATOR TO 2ND FLOOR 3RD ST ENTRANCE h ir a free government catalog listing more than 2IMI helpful booklets, write: Consumer Information Center. Dept B. Pueblo. Colorado MHMI9 : EXODUS is fast becoming an important service cen ter to our community. With nearly 400 clients, and employing 16 full-time employees.
