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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
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COM PLETE COOPERATION
ON A L L
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“ 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
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tMNKer and quest I
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adm.ssiiwi i v i f lim e o r ,. ■
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AT 7 3 0 P M !
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m Portland ■
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|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
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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 «
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DRY ONIONS
f « « M
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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
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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
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Adams presents
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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.