Portland Observer September 18. 1980 Page 5
Al Harris:
Dedication to music
fly \uihamel Scoll
There are many things of an at­
tractive nature through and about
the City of Portland Some o f these
things are the result o f Black
culture, emanating in the form o f
verse, song and music. One such
person who dispenses Black culture
in music is Al Harris.
Al Harris is working towards a
degree in music com position and
dispensing joy and happiness as he
strolls the streets o f Portland. Born
in A tlanta, Georgia, th irty-three
years ago, where he attended Clark
College, he has since put together a
string o f school attendances that
speak well o f his desire and am­
b itio n , Lewis & C la rk, Portland
State University and M arylhurst.
One o f his u ltim ate goals is to
reform the “ New W orld A frican
Band” which he once had with Tom
Boothe, and play o rig in a l com ­
positions that he as well as other
local musicians have written.
Al is dedicated to the music field
and has hundreds o f compositions
that he has compiled over the past
two decades and is p a rtic u la rly
pleased with the things he has done
within the last decade.
“ I view music as a vehicle o f ex­
pression and I try to tell o f the
things I have seen through my
music, but I w ill not sacrifice the
principles o f my music or o f myself
for the sake o f commercialization.
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low down FHA, FHA 245, and conventional terms also.
model open Sat. b Sun. noon to 5 p.m.
92nd Ave. at Burton Road. Vancouver, Washington
Call for a showing anytime.
My spirituality in music goes deeper
than that,” he asserted.
But, he is quick to give credit
where it is due. “ A number o f
people have been instrumental in my
career, but, Mr Clarence Gray and
Rudi M wongosi have been most
helpful, because they have taken a
great interest in me and my music."
When asked what he wanted to ac­
complish in life, his answer w as:"l,
the same as most people, would like
to secure a living through my field,
and at the same time bring joy into
the lives o f others.” Spirit, deter­
m ination and desire tell what Al
Harris is all about.
He plays a to ta l o f eight in ­
struments, and keeps the Kalimba,
an A fric a n instrum ent, in his
possession at all times. The Kalim-
ba’s African name is “ M bira" and
it produces a strange sound that
denotes the heritage o f the
Am erican Blacks; a m ixture o f
many things that flourishes with
sound and purpose.
Al Harris is just one o f the many
Blacks who wave the much needed
banner o f Black culture in the City
o f Portland.
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R F R IT H !MC
HAZEL DELL BRANCH
7160 N.E. 99th Street
Vancouver, W A 98665
Phone 206 574 1522 Vancouver
or 503 241 3723 Portland, OR
A fte rn o o n Fun C lub held each weekday from 2:30 to 6:30
Highland United Church of Christ, 4635 N.E. 9th street.
AL HARRIS
St. A n d re w
a u ctio n s
m aterial
St. Andrews Community Center
announces its 7th annual Building
Materials Acution on Friday Sep­
tember 19 and Saturday the 20th.
The Community Center, located
at NE 8th and Alberta, serves the
neighborhood w ith
programs
designed to reach all segments and
ages o f the c om m unity. Area
children pa rticip a te in the a fte r
school program from September to
June, a fu ll day summer school
c u rric u lu m , athletic groups and
open gym time, youth group and
family story telling nights.
Senior citizens hold weekly
quilting bees, join in senior bingo,
and are served in th e ir homes
through the shut-in visitation and
transportation services coordinated
through the center. People of all
ages participate in fo lk dancing,
Spanish classes, jazz dance classes,
volleyball, clown classes, hand-in-
hand festival, fiestas, com m unity
seminars,
meetings
and
celebrations. The community center
is available to neighborhood groups
such as the Portland Black Reper­
tory Theatre, R .U .N .T ., Narcotics
Anonymous, Tribes o f One Feather,
and the Spanish community on an
as-needed basis.
The Building Materials Auction
will feature new and used building
materials, including a new furnace,
new storm windows and doors, a
new gas g r ill, electrical w ork, a
custom bathroom vanity, plumbing,
in s u la tio n ,
w indow s,
doors,
paneling, cabinets, and much more.
The silent auction and preview will
be Friday, the I9th, from 7 to 9pm.
The oral auction with the renowned
Russ Kerns as auctioneer, w ill be
held from I lam to 3pm on Saturday
the 20th. In addition, a special adult
fun auction w ill be held Saturday
night from 7pm to lam.
The fun auction features items
solicited from parish members and
friends. This year’s list o f over 100
items includes stays at vacation
homes in the m ountains, at the
beach, and in H aw aii, a six day
sailing trip to the San Juans, bicycle
tune-ups, and exotic dinners. A
special item this yea will be an elec­
tio n night party catered fo r I00
people - sure to be a bargain! One
$2.00 bid care will be good for all
three auctions.
A ll o f the money raised by the
auction will go to support the work
o f the community center throughout
the coming year.
St. Andrews Community Center
is a ffilated with the Health Help
Center, the St. Andrews Legal
Clinic, the Clothes Closet, and the
St. Andrew Community School.
Keep it Working
The
United Way
MINNEHAHA BRANCH
47 St. Johns Road
Vancouver, W A 98661
Phone 206-694-8577 Vancouver
or 503-223-8229 Portland, OR
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Energy solutions. It’ll take the two of usAbu and