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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 7, 1982)
Portland Observer, July 7, 1982 Page 7 Samantha's her name, Sanging is her game! Samantha Sang’s name is real. So is her ability to make hits, as evidenced by the gold status o f her very first U.S. single and album, •‘Em otion.*’ At the age o f tw enty-five, Samantha was one o f a few Australian-born per formers who have made a stunning impact upon the American charts. H ow ever, her track record extends back almost as far as her older Australian col leagues--Helen Reddy, O livia Ncwton-John and o f course. The Bee Gees. W ith her unique name, Samantha was destined to be part o f show business, and it ’ s not surprising that music has played a constant role in her life. By the time Samantha was eight, she had made her Australian radio de but. Tw o years later, she performed for the first time over Australian na tional television, and as a teenager, was considered one o f Australia's lead ing vocalists, complete with recording deal. Her second single, ‘ ‘ You Made Me What I A m ," won commendations as the all-time best Australian-pro duced record, and earned her a "Best Female Vocalist A w ard” at age six teen. her com position, “ Love o f a W om an.” The song became an international million-seller, but since she was only sixteen at the time Samantha was un able to extend her public appearances to the U.S. Instead, in the years which followed, Samantha conquered Europe, with eleven television specials, the award as "Best Perform er” at the Yugoslavian Song Festival, “ Best Female Vocalist” at the Tokyo Song Festival, and tours o f South A frica, Japan and New Zealand. Since their original meeting, The Bee Gees had constantly believed in Sa mantha's talent, and when Samantha and Barry saw each other in Paris in 1977, he offered her a song co-w ritten with brother Robin, called “ Emo RAY. G O O D M A N & BROW N Special Biend of Love S ongs tio n .” The disc was recorded last spring at M iam i’ s C riteria Studio and be came Barry G ibb’ s first independent production. It also became an imme diate smash, entering the national charts on its first week o f release, a suc cess matched around the world. A fter their eight-year wait for Samantha, Americans flocked to hear the single, and then to won Samantha's debut album, also titled Em otion. Both were awarded gold certification w ithin weeks o f release. Samantha reached many o f her newest fans with cross-country touring throughout 1978, made a quick trip home to the cheering o f her countrymen. SAMANTHA SANG Recognition o f Samantha's list o f achievements led the way to her giving a European concert tour, during which she met Barry G ibb and recorded “ My voice has always been described as a chameleon," she states, ‘ ‘ with no break in my vocal range. And since I can sing anywhere from belting to soft, I thought, why not put it all on an album so even people who won’t be able to see me in concert can enjoy the music I love to sing.” Good music is timeless. And time and time again over the last ten years Ray, Goodman & Brown have consistently delivered their unique, velvet smooth sound to millions o f approving fans around the world. The success o f their first two Polydor albums promises to be duplicated with their latest release, Stay. This LP once again brings them together w ith producer Vince Castellano and arranger Lou Toby to create their special blend o f sensuous love songs. Gaining their initial fame in the early ’70s as the Moments, this talented trio topped the charts w ith such hits as “ Love On A Tw o-W ay Street,” “ Sexy M am a” and “ L o o k A t M e, I ’ m In L o ve .” A fte r becoming Ray, G oodm an & Brow n in 1979, they scored w ith the gold single “ Special Lady” and "H a p p y Anniversary.” Stay features ten outstanding selections and H arry Ray, A1 Goodman and B illy Brown have collaborated as com posers on many o f these. The a lb u m ’ s firs t single, “ H ow Can Love So R ight,” is destined to jo in the group’ s popular repertoire o f favorite tunes. As performers, too, Ray, Goodman & Brown really stand out. Their rap port w ith an audience and humorous presentation make the trio ’s live shows very special occasions. A ll were in their teens when they started singing pro fessionally. H arry Ray harmonized a cappella while hanging out at the pro jects in Longbeach, New Jersey. Later on, he performed with a band called the Sound o f Soul while he was in the A rm y ’ s Special Services, and, after that, w ith The Establishments. His favorite performers were Smokey Rob inson and the Temptations. GEMINI 2 PRODUCTIONS presents ; & MC and COMEDIAN JIMMY THOMPSON ALSO . . . A GUEST BAND LUNG FUNG RESTAURANT & CLUB 8001 S.E. DIVISION ST. AT 82nd AVENUE PORTLAND, OREGON Two Shows N itely 8:30p m 6 T L 3 0 pm Cover GENEVA’S LOUNGE 4 2 2 8 N. W illiam s Av ‘ ticket outlets MeieRtTRANk^T'veNst^oM-TREjiEiiickS-MtV&oHs 21 and over JULY 8, 9 THURS. and FRI. 2 SHOWS NIGHTLY 8 p.m .—11:30 p.m. FOR TICKET INFO . . . ALL MAJOR OUTLETS AND CLUB FOR INFO CALL (5 0 3 ) 7 7 7 -1 7 9 1 STEVENS & SON (Lloyd s Center) (503) 284-2101 G.I. JOE’S (Meadows) (5 0 3 ) 2 8 1 -1 1 7 1