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
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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