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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1981)
AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE MILLS E xclusive - By Lanita Duke Grassroots News, N.W. - When it comes to casing on down the r<$ad, no one does it with such dynamic entertainment energy as Stephanie Mills. Grassroot News reporter Lamia Duke focuses on her dialogue with Ms. Mills during her last visit to Portland. Duke: Stephanie, could you enlighten our readers to yo u r cu ltu ra l background? . , ... M ills: I was brought up and raised in Brooklyn, New York and later graduated from Bourhall Academy, a private school in Brooklyn. Duke: Your first major commerical success was "The Wiz. " which was an all Black plav. What type o f interaction occured because o f that, between the artists and the audience? Mills: It was great! TheWiz broke the ice for a lot o f Black Broadway plays that came after us. Plays like Bubbling Brown Sugar and A in 't Misbehavm The Wiz paved the way for their success and we were on stage for four years and during that time the critics said we wouldn’ t last, but we did. Duke: Since the traditional critics killed the production, what do you think KBOO 90 .7 FM: On Thursday, January I5, 1981, KBOO 90.7 I M will honor the birthday o f civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with a special programming from 10am to 12 midnight. Program hosts include. George Page from 10am to 2pm; Art Alexander from 2pm to 6pm; George Fitz from 6pm to 8pm; and J.W. Fridav from 8pm to 12 midnight. Several in terviews w ill feature: Ronnie Herndon. Vcrn Chatman, Lucious Hicks, Mar vin Welt, John Jackson, Herb Cawthorne, Linda Roberts, and Linda Williams. There w ill also be commentary by: Kwame Toure, Malcom X, was the appeal? Mills- The appeal was nothing but entertainment. In this day and time people just want to come and enjoy themselves and forget about their problems. It was a fairy tale about a little girl who went through changes within herself. It didn’ t have a heavy message. It wasn’ t Blackness. We weren’t saying that we were Black people. People could see that. We were just talented Black people dancing and entertaining. ACT-SO ORIENTATION KICK-OFF JOAN ARM ATRADING IN EUROPE Duke: Now that you've expanded into studio recordings, do you like that better than an actual stage production? Mills I love what I’ m doing now and The Wiz wasn’ t my first Broadway show. It’ s just that I’ ve proven myself as a Broadway performer. Now I'm trying to prove myself as a commerical recording artist. I enjoy the artistic demands but can do without the traveling. Duke: How do you like working with Teddy Pendergrass? Mills: I love working with Teddy. Our first date together is here in Port land since cutting the tune. 1 think he’ s a wonderful man. Duke: Having achieved commerical success under the banner o f BAB, do vou feel some type o f allegiance to the Black community? Mills: Yes. I would like for Black women to look up to me, not look up to me per se, but look at me as a symbol; to save for something better than their surrounding. We should learn to adapt to higher and better things in life as opposed to being told that you can’t. The easiest thing to do is for someone to tell you that you can’ t. Duke: What are your plans fo r the future? Mills: I'm going to cut another record, a little film work and someday go (jack to Broadway. Duke: H hat advice could vou pass on to our readers? Mills: To be the best you can be; to work hard at whatever it is to ensure your successes are real and not just a paper chase. HAPPENINGS ACT SO O rientation Noon Luncheon, Saturday, January 24, 1981, noon - 3pm, Matt Dishman Community Center, 77 N.E. Knott Street. Guest speaker: James De Priest, Oregon Symphony Conductor. Theatre W orkshop: Theatre workshops winter term begins Janaury 12th. ( lasses for all ages arc being offered in music, dance, and threatre at Mt. 1 abor Annex 511 ST ftOth. and in Portland Community schools and centers. Call 235-4551 or 235-0305 for details. Benefit: A benefit concert for “ El Salvador” featuring a group of Chilean musicians from Seattle called “ Jatari" and local artists will be held Saturday, January 17, 1981 at 8:00p.m., at St. Andrews Church, 806 N.E. Alberta. For more information call 224-2872, 239-7015, or 235-9388. Dexter Gordon Quintet January 19, 1981 Joan Armatrading was not surprised to find the sign on her dressing room door in Nuremberg, Germany read "John Armstrong.” The veteran singer/ songwriter is used to a lack ot recognition among promoters and booking agents (The New York Times recently described her as "perhaps the best unknown pop star in the business” ). Howver, Miss Armatradmg’ s current tour of Europe and Great Britain in dicates that this confusion does not extend to her tans. Most ot the 49 dates on the tour have been SRO and the critical raves are pouring in non-stop. "The star gives a lesson in music,” was the opinion o f the Hamburger o f Hamburg, Germany, “ she was brilliant and her musicians were stars them selves.” Der Spiegel, Germany’ s major news magazine, called Joan A r matrading an “ Idol.” Joan Armatrading’ s European agenda, her second major headlining tour of the continent, encompassed 26 dates in eight countries, with 15 concerts in Germany. According to her personal manager, Michael Stone, the rock oriented material from Armatrading’s new A&M Records LP, Me, Myself, I (just released in the U.S.) has increased her following among young people. “ We just played an SRO show in Vienna,” Stone related, "and the audience ranged from thirteen into the 40’ s. The young people were standing and dan cing up front, and the oldcer people were sitting quietly and enjoying the beat in the music.” The highlight o f the European tour to date was Joan Arm atrading’ s televised performance at the Rock Palast in Essen, Germany. In addition to the 10,000 fans in the hall, the concert was beamed to a potential audience of 700 million people in eight countries, including Germany, France, Great Britain and the Soviet Union. Artnatrading's new band includes some ot rock’ s finest, notably tormer Eric Clapton sideman Dick Simms and former l ittle Feat member Richie Hayward. Hayward agreed to make the tour despite seriously injuring his leg in a motorcycle crash, and being informed by one doctor that he would never walk again. “ We’re providing his therapy,” explains Michael Stone. The Armatrading itinerary concludes with 23 dates in Great Britain, where the West Indian-born artist has a massive following. Perhaps, by the time Joan Armatrading returns to America, promoters and booking agents will get her name right. SEE SPORTS O N G IA N T SCREEN T V. r. JOE’S PLACE 1801 N.E. Alberta 4/ -• r J I , BEEIL ¿I ? ... WINt , Í* DO YOU REALLY WANT TO SAVE ON YOUR FOOD BILL? We offer savings of up to 40% and more on fine quality wonder and Hostess products, plus large discounts on other baked goods Besides our every day low prices, we feature in store specials daily Just look for the bar gam” signs on the displays in our store Discover for yourself what thou sands of smart shoppers in the area have found You'll be am azed at the savings you m ake at our W onder T h rift Shop! Food stam p s g lad ly accep te d ] Portland Center for the Visual Arts 117 NW 5th Avenue 222-7107 Two Shows 9:00p.m. - 11:00p.m. Tickets $6 50 05 00 PCVA members) ACT-SO, the Afro-Academic Cultural Technological Scientific Olympics will be holding its annual scholarship orientation lunch eon, Saturday, J a n u a ry 24, 1981 at the M a tt D is h m a n C o m m u n ity C e n te r from noon u n til 3 p.m. This is an opportunity for all high school students, parents, teachers and counselors to become inform ed about the ACT-SO program. Special guest speaker will be Mr. James De Priest, new conductor o f the Oregon Symphony. The ACT-SO program is partially funded by a $3,000 United States National Bank challenge grant. INFLATION BEATER Happy Hour at the ROCKS Monday - Friday 5-9 House Brand Drinks 55* Beer 25« Movies Shown Daily OLD FIGHTS MUHAMMAD A LI JOE LOUIS and OTHERS WEDS. LADIES WED. AFTER THURS. NIGHT FRI. HOURS Till 4:30 2 D rin k s lo r l he p r ic e o t o n e SAT. AFTER $ DISCO 1 H ( l \ S IK» COX C l The Best Souvlaki In Town MONDAY through FRIDAY SATISFACTIO N G UARANTEED Y o u FPust be c o m p le te *v s a tis fie d w ith e v e ry p u rc h a s e o r a p w«M c h e e rfu lly re fu n d yo u r p u rc h a s e p ric e WONDER-HOSTESS THRIFTSHOP Michael J. 115 N Cook St. Ticket outlets Jango Records. Music Millennium; Longhair Music; PCVA Corner of Vancouver b Cook St . Portland. Oregon Open M on thru Sat 9am 6pm Closed Sunday* 15 N.W. 6th 228-1308
