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