Portland Observer Thursday. September 20. 1979 Page 7
Community Calendar
SPECTRUM IN BLUE-SO FTO UC H
Detroit in the Sixties was an exciting environment to grow up in for four
teenage girls with budding interests in music. The members of SofTouch, Fan
tasy’s glamorous new vocal group, didn't know each other then. But Opal
Jones, Paula Denson, Candice Ghant, and Alicia Ingram had one thing in
common: close contact with the vibrant, thriving Motown sound of the
Supremes, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Martha and the Vandellas, the
Miracles, Stevie Wonder, the Spinners, the Marvelettes, and so many others.
Opal, Paula, Candi, and Alicia would catch local appearances by these artists
every chance they could, which was quite often.
“ It gave Detroiters sort of a feeling of being proud to have that type of in
dustry there—besides the cars,” recalls Opal, who serves as group spokes
person.
Three members of what was to become SofTouch found themselves working
for Motown in various capacities before they were out of their teens. Opal
wrote songs that were published but never released. Candi also worked as
songwriter and sang with a group called The Difference Between that was signed
to Motown but never got off the ground. Alicia did background sessions there
and, likewise, sang with a Motown group called The Chosen Few that went
nowhere.
The thread that runs from their Motown days to the present is producer
Henry Cosby, best known for his work with Stevie Wonder. He recognized the
girls’ talents while they worked individually at the Detroit company and kept in
touch after they formed SofTouch in 1974.
"Each individual projects a different sound,” says Opal. Candi’s sugar-
coated soprano leads on Cornin’ Back fo r More (the initial 45 release). One
Million Years, and Please Be True. Paula’s strong gospel-imbued voice is
featured on the disco updating of the Four Tops’ oldie, Standing in the
Shadows o f Love, as well as on Be M y Fortune Teller, Good Love Gone, and
the Isley Brothers’ I t ’s Your Thing. Opal, who describes her own voice as
“ sweet and funky," sings lead on the Supremes’ classic My World Is Empty
Without You. All monologues are handled by Alicia.
Alicia also sang with a group called the Dabanars. The other members, Thelma
opkins and Joyce Vincent, later becme Dawn of Tony Orlando fame.
“ Musically, Detroit is now pretty much dead,” Opal explains. "After Motown
ft, it just seemed like the whole city started to deteriorate like there was
ithinit else there—no more excitement.
SofTouch relocated in Los Angeles last October. “ We felt that the oppor-
nities as far as the recording business was concerned, would be more ac-
cessible to us as a group,” Opal says.
SPORTS HOUR
JOE’S PLACE
/
r
1801 N.E. Alberta
will D R A E T y OU FOR ONLY 15C
Days: Sat., Sun. & Mon.
Call: 288 8788
Humboldt Neighborhood Association, neighborhood cleun-up October
16th. Picnic with Piedmont Association on September 29th at 1:00, Peninsula
Park. Bring lunch; coffee and punch provided.
Women’s role in the development of Africa will be the subject of a Thurs
day evening class, 6:40-9:20 p.m., Women’s Studies Certificate Program, Harder
House, PSU, 229-3516. African women have always been at the core of their
society's development. This course will examine the historical roles o f African
women and focus on their contributions to the social, economic, political and
cultural development of Africa. Women’s achievements and problems will also
be examined.
NAACP Political Action Committee will sponsor a workshop on the 1980
Census— North Branch Library—512 N. Killingsworth, September 27th, 7:00
p.m. Lewis Drake from the Seattle office Bureau of Census will speak on the
census and recent Black population studies. Robert Phillips is chairman of the
Political Action Committee.
Eckankar, A Way ot Life presents: Open discussion group for the first and
third Sunday of this month, 2:00-3:00 p.m. No charge. Introductory lecture
and film will be held the second Tuesday and fourth Friday of this month. No
charge. All events are at Portland Eckankar Center, 1111 S.W. Alder. For
more information call 228-3863.
Community Dance Services (CDS), a dance and fitness program offered by
Portland State University, is accepting registrations for fall term, including
persons interested in a special session for older adults. The CDS program offers
non-credit classes in Jazz Dance I and II for three different age levels at the
PSU Health and Physical Education Building. The weekly classes begin Sep
tember 24th and run through December 7th. Registration must be completed by
October 1st. Exercise and Jazz Dance for the older adult, Thursday, 6:30-7:30
p.m. All classes are $20 for the term except the Wednesday, Adult Jazz II class
which is $25. Students may register at the time of the first class and should
come dressed in exercise clothes. For information, contact the PSU Dance
Program, 229-4401.
The Firehouse Theater will open its 14th season with The Man in the Dog
Suit. Albert Beich and William H. Wrights gently hilarious comedy of personal
rebellion. Directed by Florine E. Weiss, Friday and Saturday evenings, October
29th-November 24th, 8:30 p.m. curtain. Admission $3.50—Season Tickets and
Group Tickets available. The Firehouse Theater is located at 1436 S.W. Mont
gomery. For reservations call 248-4737.
The Portland section of the National Council of Negro Women extends an
invitation to women in the community to attend a Membership Drive Tea on
Sunday, September 23rd at the home of Mrs. Rosie Lee Douglas, 4510 N.E.
Mallory, Portland, from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. President is Mrs. Betty J.
Stephens. The theme of this year’s event is “ Tea of Yesteryear" featuring
foods we all remember.
Some 3,000 8-10-year old boys will get their first introduction to the wonder
ful world of Cub Scouting Thursday, September 20th—School Night fo r Cub
Scouting in the 15-county Columbia Pacific Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Doors of participating schools will be unlocked at 7:30 p.m. to boys and their
parents who are invited to come and meet representatives of local Cub Scout
packs. They will discuss the program, register boys, and enlist adult leaders and
sponsors. Boys are welcome to join Cub Scouts at any time during the year, but
those who sign up September 20th will be “ in at the beginning” on activities
planned throughout the year.
THE KINGSTON PRESENTS
BOBBY HUTCHERSON
W ITH
GEORGE CABLES,
PIANO:
JAMES LEARY,
BASS:
ft EDDIE MARSHALL,
DRUM S
THURS. b FRI. SEPT. 20 21, 7:30 b 10:30 SHOWS
Tickets $5.50 in advance available at
The Kingston b Millennium Northwest • Information 224-2115
THE KINGSTON • 2021 SW MORRISON
PORTLAND
NEED NO TEETH TO EAT MY BEEF
BBQ Ribs or Hot Links Dinners —Beef or Pork
We also have Orders-To-Go
: LOWELL'S LOUNGE
o
b Ray's Bar-B-Q Pit
o
5144 NE Union Ave.
“
Open Mon-Sun —12 Noon-Until
•
288 7852
I'
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JACK ROBERTS PRESENTS
SUN. SEPT. 30 - 7:30 PM
DUMMYCASH
PORTLAND COLISEUM
TICKETS: $8 75
$7 75 - $6.75 On sale al Coliseum Box Ot
fice Meier b Frank, downtow n, Salem, b Eugene all Gl Joe
stores Fredrick b Neteon, downtown Stevens b Sons, Salem
b Lloyd Center Over counter sales cash only. Mail orders -
send check or money order to: Johnny Cash Show, P.O. Box
2746, Portland, OR 97206 Call 235 8771 for information
Hear J o h n n y Cash on K W JJI
Members of the Hisako Ozawa Modern Dance Company of Sapporo.
Japan, are seen in their award-winning presentation, "Chi-Nomi-Shlri"
(We pray for the mountain). The dance, choreographed by company
founder Hisako Ozawa, is a modern dance interpretation of a legend of
the ancient Ainu culture of Japan's Hokkaido. The Ozawa Modern
Dance Company makes its only Western U.S. appearance at Portland's
Civic Auditorium at 8:15 p.m., Sunday, October 7th. Tickets, at $5 and
$6. are available at the major ticket outlets. The company's visit to Port
land is sponsored by the Portland-Sapporo Sister City Association, the
Mayor's Office, Portland State University, and Reed College.
For M ore Inform ation
STORMY WEATHER PRODUCTIONS PRESENT
DAVE
BRUBEÇK
the leqendary compose’.
/azz performer,
and winner ot st* downbeat
poll'. — in concert’
UJ
T
PARAMOUNT THEATRE
8 .10 PM
SATURDAY. OCTOBER 6. 1979
TICKETS $7 50. $5 50 and $5 50
A i M eiei 8 Frank Everybody s Records. Steven & Son T ickets
(Lloyd s Center) Budget Tapes & Records and Frederick & N elson
A s s o c ia te P rtw hicer B urke G a rre tt
» /
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