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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 7, 1980)
Pag» 4 Portland Observar August 7, 1980 ENTERTAINMENT LEN FRANKLIN il M a k in g it h a p p e n (E d ito r's N o te: Len Franklin, Manager/co-owner o f "The House o f Sound, ” located at 3606 N. Williams Avenue, is a very candid, sincere, sensitive and aspiring Black man. In an interview with Nyewusi Askari, o f the Observer, he talks about the Black community, some aspects o f his career and Black children.) Q. H o w /w h e n did you become Interested in the record business? A. I got started in the record business at the age o f 18, at Jeffer son High School. When I was about to graduate in the year o f 71, Jeffer son got a radio station. Reggie Harris was student body President at Jefferson at the time, and since we were very good friends, we worked very close in the develop ment o f the station. We had music piped into the cafeteria. It was here that I established my roots. Q. H o w In v o lv e d w e re you w ith the stetlon? A. Before I get into that, let me give you some brief background of the station. The radio station came into being after the people at Jeffer son went out and bought some broadcasting equipm ent. A fte r three m onths, they bought TV equipm ent. Thus, after solving some o l the basic equipment problem s, I got my own sports program on the TV program. Every m orning around 8:30, we had a home room, so after 15 minutes I had about a 5 minute show. I inter viewed people like Woodrow Green and many o f the local sports figures. We talked about what they were good at outside o f sports, what they weren't good at, and that’ s where and how I got started. Q. Were you Involved In any phase of music at Jeff? A. No, except I was Drum Major in my last year. I marched up and down the street at the Rose Festival and that was one o f the things I was really good at. Thara Memory, (one o f the brother’ s who really hot in Jazz right now) had his own o r chestra, and he took time out to teach me all the different steps of being a good Drum M a jo r. We received a lot o f recognition in the City of Portland. Q. W h a t C o lla g e did you attend and w h at did you major In? A. I went to San Francisco State and majored in Communications. 1 graduated from there with a degree in Communications. But before 1 went to California to go to college, I aliened PCC (Sylvlania). They had a good communication's program and an excellent radio program. Q. W hat type of activities In radio w e re you in v o lve d in at PCC? o f Male image I project to Black Will support Black businesses i f kids, so, I spend a lo t o f tim e Black businesses support the com w orking w ith Black children m unity. This is why I try to be whenever I can. For example, right visible in the com m unity, always now there is a young Black I ’ m trying to help out when and where I working with. He is trying to get a can. As Black businessmen, we can jo b at KEX ra dio, in sales and not expect the community to sup broadcasting. He put me down as a port us, i f we are merely going to reference, stating that I got him announce that we are here, yet started in the business. I work with refuse to go out into the community many young people who are trying and contribute to its’ growth. Its to get into communications or who very im portant that the Black are tryin g to learn about com businessmen o f this com m unity, munications. I try to show them the develop a positive working relation things that others won’ t show them. ship with the community, for it is There are many people with skills through the community that we will who refuse to sit down with our either survive or perish. young and show them the ropes, the “ Len Franklin feels very good in ’s and outs o f the game. Not just about life, feels very good about the record business, but business being a Black man, and feels very that fa ll in to the line o f com good about the future o f the com m unications. I f you d o n ’ t com m unity. Len F ranklin is a Black municate with everyone, you can’ t man first, and its important to me communicate with anyone. that I work very hard to develop my “ I am basically a doer. M y Blackness, which means I must philosophy is, 'D o n ’ t do as I say do, work to develop my mind. This is but do as I do.” I f I am able to show what I try to communicate to young the young, through doing, how to people. Develop your mind, and in get a loot hold, then it eliminates a doing so you w ill develop your lot of conversation or empty talk. I Blackness. I believe that culture is am striving very hard to be a good very important to the development role model for young brothers. We o f the young mind, but if the young need positive Black male role mind is receiving bogus in fo r models in the City o f Portland. As mation, then it is subject to go into a Len Franklin the Black man, I per phase I call, non-development.” sonally believe the Black community Q. W h a t has bean the c o m needs more Black men involved with m u n it y « resp o n se to y o u , the everyday business o f the Black during these last fou r years at community. The House of Sound? “ P o litic a lly , I see the Black community moving in many positive A. G reat! I enjoy the com directions. To fight fo r “ Q uality munity, I enjoy working with Black Education” for our children is the people. I was raised in this neigh best thing that could have hap borhood right around the cornor o f pened. This fight is broad and far Failing and Cleveland, so this com reaching. The Black community is munity has been my roots. I enjoy not only fighting fo r the Q uality dealing w ith the young kids and Education o f Black children, but helping with different community Q uality Education fo r all o f the functions like churches. A month or children trapped in the vacuum so ago, I did a function with Mt. created by those incapable o f Calvary and we put on the first developing educational programs fashion show to be presented in a important to the positive develop church. The community is the foun ment o f our children. dation of my in sp ira tio n , “ As a Black man operating a m o tiva tio n and goal-setting. Black business in the Black com Without the community I wouldn’t m u nity, I feel very good. Black be Len Franklin Black man. And people o f this community ha\e sup thats the bottom line. ported “ The House o f S ound.” Black people, white people, all kinds o f people come and spend their money with us, and that’s im- Interested in c u rre n t books their money with us, and that’ s im a b o u t A fric a n L ib era tion ? portant. It speaks to the positive Visit: nature of what I am trying to do. It JO H N REED BOOKSTORE speaks to the type o f atmosphere In the Dekum Building people find when they come here, 519 S.W. 3rd Avenue even if its just to look around. The Sixth Floor House o f Sound is the peoples place and I ’ m trying very hard to keep it Or call 227 2902 that way. “ The people o f this community A. I was a disc jockey at Sylvania. I worked w ith H arold Johnson, who use to w ork at Channel 12. Harold was my idol at the time. He was doing news repor ting and I always wanted to be like him. Q. Lets sw itch up a bit. Tell me a b o u t Len F ra n k lin , B lack m a n ...s o m e o f his p erso n al philosophy, w h o is he and w h at he is trying to accomplish. Zi Historic south Main AN EVENING WITH _ SEE SPORTS O N G IA NT SCREEN T V JOE’S PLACE 1801 N.E. Alberta WINf restaurant OPEN 5 DAYS A WEEK FOR BREAKFAST SAT. & SUN. OPEN 11 o’clock S unday B u ffet noon to 4 pm H a p p y H o u rs 7 -1 0 AM & 4 -7 P M MON.-FRI. Live entertainment 7 days a week 287 8723 1530 n.e. grand Avenue at Weidler Free parking on the premises » , Vancouver, USA STUD DIVISION HOLD ’EM DIVISION The Bank Tavern Alexander's Restaurant & Bar , „ 6 9 5 -3 8 6 2 The Horseshoe Tavern 6 9 6 -0 9 0 7 Register at any participating club S5.00 Maximum Bet 525.00 Entry fee 5100.00 Buy in • TROPHIES • PARAMOUNT THEATRE ticket outiets meier s frank ( downtown » F red erick S NELSON (DOWNTOWN» STEVENS S SON (LlCVD CENTERi. EVERYBODvS RECORDS-STATEWlDE BUDGET TAPES 4 RFCOROS-STATEWiDE 255-0750 CONFUNKSHUN TICKETS ON SALE NOW 1 Welcomes the Astrological Sign of Leo Starting July 24th through August 23rd. Ladies night every Thursday. Come roar w ith the Lion. Two for one. No cover. 6 9 4 -8 4 8 1 Reserve Seals $8.50 & $9.50 _ _ _ I .' a touch of new Orleans Onslow s Restaurant & Lounqe FRIDAY, 8PM AUG. 8TH CALL 282 2216 August 17, 1980 11:00 a.m .-10:00 p.m . Brotherhood Attractions & Stormy Weather Present COMING AUG t ( "T h e Hank I hai in leerá lion b u ilt" 2737 N.E. Union Am ateur POKER TOURNAMENT G Com munity Benefit A. First o f all, I am very op timistic about the future o f Black people in Portland. I am a believer in Black people’s ability to survive against the odds. As a Black man, I am very concerned about the kind SMOKEY ROBINSON A m e ric a n S tate Bank 1st, 2 n d , 3 rd p l a c e w i n n e r s in e a c h d iv is io n w ill r e c e i v e a h a n d s o m e t r o p h y in a d d i t i o n to t h e i r c a s h w i n n i n g s . P roceed s g o to: V ancouver U.S.A. O p en Air Market H istoric South M ain Im p rovem ent Project D ow ntow n Bus-Rider B en ch es
