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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 1980)
Paga 4 Portland Observer July 24. 1980 ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT SMOKEY ROBINSON: "The world's greatest living love poet." Sweet Honey In The Rock will perform at Smith Canter Ballroom, Portland State University on July 26, 1980 MAKING IT HAPPEN By Nyewust Askan On July 26, I960 at 8 P.M ., at Smith Center Ballroom, Portland State University, 1855 SW Broad way, the vocal quartet "Sweet Honey In The Rock” will perform in concert. "Sweet Honey In The Rock, ” is a all-fem ale Black acapella group, o rig in a tin g out o f W ashington, D.C. The songs they sing, reach way back into the roots o f traditional Black fo lk music o f the Black church and com m unity. W hile listening to them, one can feel the movement o f the ages coming alive. Their concept stress us o f the voice as rhythm ic instrum entatio n, accented by foot-tapp in g, hand clapping, and thigh-patting. There are the complex variety o f vocal effects, unexpected but mellow phrasing, the changing o f octaves, slu rrin g , supporting harmonies, the switching o f leads and rhythmic interjections. These Black women are Black storytellers, warriors o f protest of the highest order. In order for the listener to truly appreciate the songs o f "Sweet Honey In The Rock, ” he/she must understand that this group is not about boggie. It is not about disco or Rappers Delight. This group is political, is about the reconstruction o f histo rica l periods and events utilizing the cultural products o f the oral community. Most groups we hear today are commerical; arc about the making o f money. "Sweet Honey In The Rock, ” is about the making/keeping our history alive. Where most groups are null and void o f political direction, "Sweet H oney In The Rock, " is pure political dynamite. Listen to sister Bernice Reagon, leader o f the group, break it way down to the bone. “ American protest song tradition stretches the fu ll range o f this n a tio n ’ s history in time and ex perience. Songs a rtic u la tin g the dreams and bemoaning the poverty and oppression o f the old came with the first settlers. The Nation o f the original peoples o f this land also registered their anger and angu sh in their laments and drum prayers as they saw their land, culture and people displaced by the new settlers, black people, brought in chains from A frica have produced one o f our richest and most ar ticulate body o f protest songs. The lyric and music o f their field hollers, worksongs, sp iritu a ls, blues, resound w ith expressions fo r a better and freer day. One area of protest song spanning people, culture and language gave voice to the ideas and expectations o f the country’ s w orking people. Honest work has long been held as the way to the American dream of success and freedom . W orking people registered their struggles, organized and individual, in songs and actions that began a process that was aimed at giving more power to the laborers. W hether factory hands, or tillers o f the soil, the songs o f the workers can be found in every culture that exists within this society.” She continues: ‘ ‘ The g ro u p ’ s name stems from a re fra in in a tra d itio n a l Black s p iritu a l that refers to a land so sweet honey Hows from the rocks. Honey, symbolizing warm th and sweetness; and rock sym bolizing strength and con sistency, which is what we try to convey in our song." And there is that spirit o f com munity. "W hen we were forming, it was agreed that we would cover a range o f m aterial as wide as we were. We are s till seeking out audiences, still finding out exactely where our music can be received and appreciated. We’ ve done funerals and weddings, and we’ ve developed a children's repertoire for school programs. We love perform ing at places in the com m unity where music is needed to help people get through certain events in their lives,” she said. We here at the Portland Observer welcomes "Sweet Honey In The R o ck," to Portland, and urge our readers and supporters to lend their spirits to this up-com ing concert July 26, 1980. In the words o f writer Greta Graham, "Experience Sweet Honey In The Rock, ” o f your soul. A touch of N ew Orleans Bourbon Street Restaurant Welcomes the Astrological Sign of Leo starting July 24th through August 23rd. Ladies night every Thurs day. Come roar with the Lion. Two for one. No cover. 1530 N E Grand Awe at Weidler LEO (7/23— 8/22) Brotherhood Attractions & Stormy Weather Present AN EVENING WITH SMOKEY ¡ROBINSON ¡Reserve Seats $8.50 & $9.50 PARAMOUNT THEATRE TICKET OUTLETS MEIER & FRANK (DOWNTOWN) FRED ERICK 4 NELSON (DOWNTOWN) STEVENS 4 SON (L l O*D c e n t e r . EVERVBODYS RECORDS-STATEWIDE BUDGET TAPES 4 RECORDS-STATEWIDE CALL 255-0750 CONFUNKSHUN N om inating Rally: Portland Coliseum July 27, 6 P.M. Listen to Barry Commoner, LaDonna Harris, and guest speakers. Food and entertainment. C u ltu ra l N ight. Chilean artists, “ Canto Libre” and “ Marcelo Perez” with dance and pantomime, July 25th 8 P.M., Northwest Service Center,* 1819 N.E. Everett. For more information call 231-7038 or 239-5820 or 281- 1628. DO YOU REALLY W A N T TO SAVE ON YOUR FOOD BILL? W e otter savings ot up to 40% and more on tine quality wonder and Hostess pro du cts, plus large discou nts on othe, baked goods Besides our every day lo w prices, w e feature in store specials daily Just look for the "b ar gain signs on the displays in our store Discover for yourself w hat thou sands o f sm art shoppers in the area have fou nd o €) You'll be am azed at the savings you m ake a t our W onder T h rift Shop! Food »tamps gladly accepted SATISFACTION GUARANTEED You must be completely satisfied with every purchase or we will cheerfully refund your purchase price W O N D E R -H O S T E S S TH R IFTS H O P 115 N. Cook St. C o rn e r o f V a n c o u v e r £» C o o k S t , P o rtla n d , O re g o n O p e n M o n th r u S a t 9a m 6 p m C lo s e d S u n d a y s RUNYAN'S) ‘ STORE I 3 7 1 6 N.E. UNION AVE. STORES OPEN MONDAY THRU SA1URDAY 9AM-6PM Smokey Robinson will be at the Paramount Theatre Friday, August 8, 1980, 8pm. check ad below for more information. Motown’ s - first record, “ Cot A Job, ” which was a hit in the Detroit area. Soon after that came "W ay Over There" (the first nationally - distributed Motown disc) and then, the breakthrough record - 1960’s "Shop Around. ” That smash hit record began for the Miracles and Smokey a 10 year stay at the top, with such Robinson gems as: "Y ou Really Got A H old On Me, ” "M ic k e y 's M o n k e y ," "O o h , Baby, B a b y ," "T ra c k O f M y T e a rs," "Yesterlove, ” "Satisfaction, ’ ’ and " Tears O f A Clown ” following. In addition to hits for the Miracles, Smokey found time to craft a hugh number o f hits for other Motown artists as well, the Temptations’ "M y G ir l" and "G et Ready, " Mary Wells' "M y Guy, ” Marvin Gaye's " A in ’t That Peculiar” and a truckload o f others all sprang from the pro lific pen o f Smokey Robinson. Even today, Smokey is intricately involved in the career o f his newphews, Motown artists Keith and Darryl, and his songs have been redone by stellar artists as Linda Ronstadt, Gladys Knight and the Pips and Eddie Rabbit. In 1971, a road-weary Smokey left the Miracles to concentrate on his position as a vice-president at Motown. But executive pursuits ultimately didn't fill the hole his retirement had left and soon, Smokey was back in the studio again. The results produced some o f the finest musical moments o f the decade. After so many years o f hits and what he likes to call the “ peak and valleys” o f showbusiness, Smokey Robinson is especially at ease now. Or, as smokey noted in an interview with Soul Magazine, “ I can go into a studio and record my version o f ' Three Blind Mice, ’ if I want, cause if it doesn’ t work, I ’ ve only hurt Smokey Robinson, dig? I’ ll just keep on makin good music and release records 'til the people are tired of me and want me to stop.” And if that's the case, it looks like the warm, personable music o f Smokey Robinson will be part o f our lives lor a long, long time to come. a touch of new Orleans restaurant Welcomes the Aetrologicel Sign of Leo Sterting July 24th through August 23rd. Ladies night every Thursday. Come roar with the Lion. Two for one. No cover. OPEN 5DAYS A W EEK FOR BREAKFAST SAT. & SUN. OPEN 11 o’clock Sunday Buffet noon to 4 pm SEE SPORTS O N G IA N T SCREEN T V. FRIDAY, 8PM AUG. 8TH COMING AUG K Recording and producing one hit record is a strenuous, demanding task that requires an inordinate amount o f talent, energy and luck. Recording and producing a string o f hit records that spans two decades and weathers in numerable trends is an amazing feat. And recording and producing a string o f hit records that not only spans 20 years o f trends, but also has a hand in shaping some ol those trends is...incredible - something only a handful of artists have done. Smokey Robinson is one o f that handful. Smokey Robinson is incredible. Pop music giant Bob Dylan is said to have once called Smokey “ the world greatest living love poet.” Music critic Vince Aletti wrote that Smokey is “ one of the finest contemporary lyricist.” And music lovers the world over continue to pay him perhaps the highest compliment o f all -- the lush roman ce Pop music giant Bob Dylan is said to have once called Smokey “ the w orld's greatest living love poet.” Music critic Vince A le tti wrote that Smokey is “ one o f the finest contemporary lyricists.” And music lovers the world over continue to pay him perhaps the highest compliment o f all - the lush romance music that is Smokey’ s trademark continues to sell in huge numbers. Like last year's "Cruisin. " for instance, which proved to be one o f the biggest Robinson hits o f the last 10 years. And now, there’ s a whole slew ol new Robinson goodies served up in impeccable style — Smokey calls it "W arm Thoughts. ” It started in the late 50s when high-school pals W illia m Robinson, Claudette Rogers, Bobby Rogers, Ron W hite and Pete Moore - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles -- auditioned a fledging songwriter/producer named Berry Gordy. Gordy, who would soon go on to found Motown Records, was impressed by the group's songs - Smokey Robinson originals - and took them under his wing. In 1958, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles released their - and Jantzen Beach Cantar will present the “ Jantzen Hop,” August 9th, 9:00 P M . to 1:00 A.M . at Jantzen Beach Center. Music will be provided by the big band sound o f George Reinmiller, and Mel Brown, drummer for Diana Ross, will be one o f the several exceptionally talented musicians on the Reinmillr roster. For more information call 289-5555. TICKETS ON SALE NOW z ‘t) JOE’S PLACE 1801 N.E. Alberta BECK .‘ i i* FOR SALE 66 Ford H ton pickup truck, V 8, runs good, •600 00 or best offer Call anytime 287 8303 Happy Hours 7 - 10 AM & 4 - 7 PM MON.-FRI. Live entertainment 7 days a week 287 8723 1530 n.e. grand Avenue at Weidler Free perking on the premiaes
