Page 8 Portland Observer, January 7, 1982
HAPPENINGS
Oregon appears at Reed College
ENTERT A IN M c N
Best Pick Of The TV Season:
Oregon, one o f America's most original and contemporary bands, will
perform a concert Sunday, January 24 at 8:30 p.m . in the Reed College
Com m ons. The $7.50 tickets are available at Longhair Music and Reed
College. 771-1112, ext. 425.
Ralph Towner. Glen M oore, C ollin W alcott, and Paul McCandless are
the musicians who make up Oregon. The four band members play a total o f
over 50 instruments including classical guitar, French horn, piano, flugel-
horn, bass, sitar, tabla, clarinet, violin, oboe and flute. They draw heavily
on the traditions o f American jazz, but their music also reflects European
classical. Indian and African sources.
A fter recording several widely acclaimed albums for the Vanguard label,
Oregon made their first LP for E le k tra /A s y lu m , O ut o f the Woods, in
1978. They now have a second E /A album. Roots in the Shv.
The Righteous Apples deserves a very special place in this season’s televi
sion line-up. It ’s a youth-oriented show that succeeds in delivering a “ mes
sage” without forgetting to be entertaining.
The show centers around a m ulti-ethnic group o f four talented high
school students who come together as the “ Righteous Apples,” a new but
dedicated rock band. In each episode, they involve themselves in realistic
situations and conflicts confronting today’s teenagers.
What gives The Righteous Apples believability is its realization that life is
not as simple as black and white. The characters, from kids to parents,
whatever their race, all have opinions about things— as individuals. They
give us the shades o f gray. Instead o f wrapping up each show in a neat, lit
tle, ribbon-tied package, the endings are often left open-ended so the au
dience can draw their own conclusions. The Righteous Apples, unlike many
television programs, gives the viewer credit for having some intelligence. In
an episode about inter-racial gang violence, a white youth is killed and a
Black, crippled for life. The ending has both sides still angry, still confused.
There are no handshakes and smiles— but the message is obvious. Fighting
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Jayne and Leon Kennedy were a joyoua pair before their marriage
ended.
The R ighteous Apples
is not the answer.
Each one o f the “ Apples” is a well-defined individual. Big Neck is Black,
the charism atic, street-wise leader o f the band. H e ’ s everybody’ s big
brother. D C. is a short, Jewish kid who’s liked by all. H e ’s really a shy
“ old-fashioned” guy but hides behind the facade o f a boppy, swinging mu
sician. Gio is an honor student, a high scholastic achiever who also happens
to be beautiful. She’s Black, upper middle-class and outspoken. Sandy is
blond, a bit giggly with a Betty Boopish charm. She’s the youngest member
o f the group and has aspirations to be a star.
The stones all develop naturally around the characters. Instead o f being
preached to about drug abuse, we see it happening. G io, a person we care
about, finds her whole world falling apart as she gets hooked on ampheta
mines. When D .C . confesses to a sexually aggressive young lady that he’s a
virgin, we can fee l the embarrassment and understand something about teen
peer pressure. Sandy finds herself tom between family and friend when Big
Neck is accidentally shot by her aunt, a frightened woman who mistook him
for a robber.
These four kids come across as real, three-dimensional people. Like all o f
us they’re vulnerable. They do stupid things, get hurt, make mistakes, etc
- b u t they don’ t give up and are strengthened by their experiences. The
Apples are a positive and believable role model for young people. Their
characters are skillfully written so as to avoid cliches and stereotypes On
the opening shot o f every show, the first thing we see is four multi-racial
teenagers performing on stage; but by the show’ s end. we have come to
know and care about four fellow human beings.
Tying the half-hour together is the very danceable, original music per
formed by the cast. The well-choreographed production numbers are an in
tegral part o f the show. Songs such as “ Stay in School” or “ M erry-G o-
Round” (about drug abuse) serve to support and complement the theme o f
each story.
SUPER CUT
Money Doesn't Guarantee
A Successful Marriage
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Did Jayne and Leon Kennedy’s “ 10 year plan” to become rich and fa
mous break up their marriage?
The Kennedy’ s plan was to work hard in Hollywood for 10 years, make
money (they only wanted $50,000 a year, now they pay a PR firm that
much), buy a ranch, raise children, and “ live happily ever a fter.”
Leon Kennedy says their careers kept taking them away from each other.
He says the sacrifices they made to achieve their goals ended up eroding he
and Jayne’s relationship. “ . . . I t ’s all just a tragic loss. Wc have the fame
and the fortune but we no longer have that true love that really comes only
once in a lifetim e.”
*No appointment
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LEGENDARY JAZZ TRUMPETER
MILES
Proline now offers a
Big Tour Set
Fresh for the first leg o f a successful U .S. tour to promote their best-sell
ing M C A album, Freetime, Spyro G yra’s percussionist Gerardo Velez and
bassist David W o ffo rd paid a visit to W B L S ’s popular Frankie Crocker.
The grammy nominated jazz-fusion group is currently on a triumphant re
turn tour o f Japan, and will kick o ff the second half o f the U.S. tour with a
performance at N t w York C ity’s Radio City Music H all.
D an ce
& Exercise
Registration is going on right now
for classes at G Y M IN I’S located at
6049 S.E. Stark Street. A ll classes
begin the week o f January 10th for
w inter term 1982. Classes offered
include: “ Dance/Exercise,” " C o n
ditioning with W eights,” “ Fitness
O ver 5 0 ,” “ C u rren t & Po p u lar
D ance,” and “ Couples D ancing.”
Also available are classes in “ Jazz,”
“ T a p ,” and “ B a lle t.” T h ere are
group classes for Men, Women, and
Teens, as well as private lessons for
individuals. C all 232-3311 for class
schedules and registration inform a
tion.
— ——
11
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1 *¡? • * “ ' J1“ ' ‘“ ’‘T » Vou In constant touch.
„ “^ ? " 9.d ,,* c‘ d tal- «»"» * le n . tone voice, and
m obile telephone service.
74c g c c ^ r
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713 S.W. 12th Ave . Portland. OR 97205
226-1507
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4554 N.E. Union • 284-6017
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