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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 1983)
Portland Observer, June 15, 1983 Section II Page 3 Keep on "Pipin G R A SSR O O TS N EW S. N. W. — Thirty years o f musical talent, choreographic masterpieces and true hope-to-die love ballads exploded on the stage last weekend in Portland, in the form o f Gladys Knight and the Pips. Their ability to survive in an industry that churns out talents like an assembly line, according to Pip W illiam Guest, is unity. “ W e have a common respect for one another and the same goal. W e want to be the best group in the world. In our thirtieth year we plan to expand ourselves indi vidually and as a group.” Their ability to expand is centered around their longevity as a singing group. This unit has passed the test o f time, especially in the 1970's, when a couple o f their hits, "N either One o f U s" and "T h e W ay W e W ere.” went number one with a bullet. In the mid-seventies the rumor mill had a baby over the break-up o f Gladys from the Pips. "First o f a ll," Guest begins. "W e have never in our life broken up. During the time this rumor was spread we were with Buddah Records. Gladys left Buddah Records because o f non-payment and signed a contract with Colum bia Records. This pre vented Gladys Knight and the Pips from recording together for three years. During this period we had to think o f something that would keep us alive as a group because in three years people forget you quick. The Pips signed with Casablanca Records and kept singing just to keep the name alive. People had never seen Gladys Knight and the Pips do anything separate. So someone just took it upon themselves to spread the rumor that Oladys Knight and the Pips had broken up. And you would be surprised how some people like bad news. We were performing in O hio when someone came up to us and said, ‘ It's really too bad you guys are breaking u p ,’ I had to ask him, ‘ Did you just come out o f the concert?* He said he had, but it was still too bad that we were breaking u p ." tour Julianne Johnson accumulated a lot o f credits while studying at the U n i versity o f Portland. But not just academic ones. A M ay graduate with a bachelor of arts in theater and psychology, she recently received the second place award at a national acting competition, and is scheduled to soon leave for a South Pacific tour as a cast member of U . o f P.'s production o f " T h e Fantastiks." A leading actress while at the university, Johnson placed second at the American College Theater Festival held in Washington, D .C , Before travel ing to the April contest, Johnson competed with 67 other students at the regional level to win first prize and the $7)0 Irene Ryan Scholarship for acting. At the national competition the 22-year-old actres received employ ment offers from CBS, AB C and NB C She has tentatively accepted CBS’s offer, and plans to move to New York in late September or December. However, Johnson has quite a bit more traveling to do before then. University o f Portland’s production of “ The Fantastiks" was chosen by the Armed Forces Professional Entertainment Department for a perform ing tour o f Japan, Korea, O kinawa and Hawaii. The 10-member cast and faculty advisor will leave June 21 for a 49-day tour. According to A ir Force Personnel O fficer M ajor Bagby Daniel, only two or three university theater groups in the nations are chosen each year for an armed forces tour. W hile at the University o f Portland, Johnson served as president of Alpha Tau Omega theater fraternity, and o f Theta Tau Delta service sorority, and was listed in " W h o ’s W ho Among Students in American Universities and Colleges." She is the daughter of Robert and Margaret Isaacs. 6327 NF. 32nd. "The m a jo rity o f people do not know that Gladys Knight, Bubba Knight, Edward Patten and W illiam Guest are some very talented musicians. But I guess God just moves in mysterious ways. The talents we haven’t had a chance to show people will be the very thing that will keep us living for another thirty years." J ^ H ja n v G u e s t^ a jn e m b e y jH h e J R jg s ^ In their thirty years o f creating good quality music, the Pips have noticed the music o f today tends to be trendy and faddish. "E very four months the music trend changes because that is the life o f 45’s. But black musicians are flexible and we’ve been singing all types o f music ever since we started singing. I t ’s just that the industry will brand us with something like R&B to keep us in one place. Insofar as that relates to Gladys Knight and the Pips we have tried to maintain ourselves. We are so happy about our new album, ’ Visions.' There are teenagers today who know who Gladys Knight and the Pips arc from their parents. But for some reason we haven't captured this new set o f teenagers. We are going after them now, although we haven’t really changed our sounds. It is a very dangerous thing changing with trends. Because trends come and go but Gladys Knight and the Pips will be around for a long time to come.” Guest says that the disco trend affected original groups like Gladys Knight and the Pips. "T h e disco trend hurt a lot o f people. But there was a balance because it gave a lot o f new people a chance. And we found out if you are old and good you will be around. We try and maintain ourselves with, at least, one hit every decade.” You can say many things about Gladys Knight and the Pips but the one item that ought to lead all their other fine qualities is the way they deal with the romance in everyday life. " I think that writers who write for Gladys Knight and the Pips will coin a song in a certain style for us. I think it is the way that Gladys sings. But people are funny. They will come up to me and ask , ’ What kind o f problems is Gladys having now?’ They believe the songs because they can relate to them because they are in that same th in g ." Gladys Knight and the Pips, like so many groups who have been around for 3 and 4 decades, are certainly not overdrawn when it comes to their dues paying account. They have seen their fellow Afro-Am erican artists coin a tune for a nominal fee only to picked up by a pop or a rock and roll artist who will make a mint from the very same song. " O f course, this is not fair, but it happens all the time. W ith Gladys' version o f “ The W ay We W ere ," it had to go through all the K&B charts before it was picked up by the pop charts. A lot of black artists will never be heard because o f that. This is a complaint white artists have, as well as black artists. I know from personal experience, there is no color line among artists. It is the people who sit behind the desk. They don't know anything about music. They are business people. They can either make you or break you.” We know the stereotypes and labeling that goes on behind the scenes o f the music industry will never dissipate the talents o f Gladys Knight and the Pips. After all, they will use their imagination to weather the storm of troubled limes. To lake us to a place where peaceful water flows and musically give their audience a once in a lifetime thing. T he M at B ro w n Q u in te t kicks o ff Y o ur Zoo and all th a t J a zz 1983 at the Washington Park Zoo. The concert is free with regular zoo admis sion. For info on parking, shuttle bus, etc. call 226-1)61. High Society Restaurant presents Sojourner Truth Theatre Five shows June 17,18,19 D tn n » b drink« optional 517 NE Killingsworth "Deep and Weird Dance Concert" GLADYS K N IG H T A N D THE PIPS father's Day Weekend Special Event Donation ♦3°° Since their debut in April at the late, lamented l.uis’ La Bamba, Le Bon has been hailed in the press and on the street as one o f Portland's hottest new bands, and a breath of fresh air in the city's semi-stagnant rock scene. Conceived by writer/percussionist Rick M itchell. Le Bon (which means “ The G ood” in French) includes several of Portland's finest musicians; Carlton Jackson on drums, Dave Captein on bass, Dan Balmer on guitar, John Jenson on trumpet, Jim Pribbenow on sax and Billy Kennedy on vocals. O n Sunday, June 19, at the Portland Center for the Visual Arts, Le Bon will present a “ Deep and Weird Dance Concert” focusing on the jazz/new music side o f their repertoire not fully revealed in local club dates. In addition to the band's originals, the concert will consist of classic composi tions by jazz innovators such as Ornette Coleman, Miles Davis, and Albert Ayler. Those who come to dance should not be dismayed, however, as these instrumentals will be balanced by a healthy selection o f “ future fu nk” dance music featuring the unique vocals o f Billy K. Opening for Le Bon is a band o f musical free spirits called Freezer Burn. A spin-off from the Portland Improvisors and Composers Association, Freezer Burn is a showcase for the original, often humorous, avant-garde jazz compositions of percussionist David Storrs. Other members include M ike Curtis on reeds, Tom H ill on trombone, Del Bialosotosky on guitar, Dave Leslie on keyboards and Captein and Jensen from Le Bon In sum, a combination of talents deserving wider recognition. The concert begins at 8:30 p.m . Tickets are $3.00. Full bar. 21 and over. For more inform ation, call 288-2977, For m ore inform ation or reservations call 284 3625 or 289 9278 Ticket outlets Mrs C s Wigs 281 6625. Broedwsy Hsir Weavers b Designers 281 9485 and High SocietY R w ttu ra m 294 3625 Sooo Co AMATEUR NITE W e are looking for all types of talent; blues singers, ¡ a n , Dancers, poets, rock singers, instrum entalists, com edians, actors, etc. llTTnnual^STricain^Suitura^M'gh^^ii^be^reaentedHb^^he" Aaaoclatlon of African Students on Saturday. June 18. 1983 at the PSU Ballroom-Smith Cantar. 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The program Includes; food from various countries, traditional songs snd dances, fashion show, drumming ft artifacts and guest speakers. Participating or ganizations Include Black Studies and the Black Cultural Afalrs Board. Admission is 93.00 for students and 96 00 general. For more information call 296 1936 or 229 3472 Portland sculptor's work shown In 1976, Carlton Bell was awarded an American Revolution Bicentennial Administration gram to produce ) sculpture panels de picting black historical past. His commissions have included works for more than 200 private collectors, and in 197) he was selected as the first in a series o f Oregon artists to be honored by Oov. Robert Straub. Bell has taught in the John Adams High School and was "artist in residence" at Portland Com m u nity College in 1971-74. Some o f Bell’s work can be seen in the offices of; • Donald E. Pollock Investments • Zellerbach Paper Co. • Aetna Insurance • Pacific Metals • Quimby Welding • John Adams High School • Duniway Elementary School • Franklin, Madison, and Marshall High Schools • Waverly Children's Home • The Garden Home Elementary School, and • The South Bay Trade School in San Diego. Geneva's Lounge 4228 N Williams TOWN SALE “Motown Is colobrating It’s 25 Anniversary— Look tor savings on Motown Music at Fred Moyori” Anthology— Commodores Anthology— Diana Ross 1A1 1A1 include» a l their btggeat hits' All her best plus 2 new songs Donai Richie 5.97 5.97 include» Truly.” "You Are’ and My Love ’’ A I This Love" plus -I Like It ’ ■/rrxMfrvrr MQTDWN' rl dune J u m ST Prises Good Fri., 17 M in i T kers^ dune » . 1 8 » ' ' Each of these advertised Items must be reedHy avaHabte for sale at or below the advertised price In each I Fred Meyer Music Market store. mÄ ’ or or l o r d s » t a w s 24-1813
