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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 12, 1987)
Page 4, Portland Observer, August 12, 1987 THE ENTERTAINMENT SEEN Ray Tellis Moving in the Spirit Herndon Appointed by Governor Usually when I ask a musician what their aspirations are, the reply is "to land a recording contract, to be playing steady gigs," etc. But when I asked Ray, he replies softly, "I just want to do what the Lord wants me to " and smiles. In these days when so much controversy surrounds the church and religion, from Jim and Tammy Baaker to Rev. Jim Jones and The Bag- wahn, and we could go on and on naming names, it is to say the least that it is pleasurable to meet someone who is sincere and totally committed. Ray Tellis is just that: Committed. This slender, soft spoken young man really does have a message; one that starts at the pit of his heart, runs through the pages of his life, out into his fingers, accented by his smooth tenor voice, and into the hearts of all who will listen. This may sound to some like a commercial or a hype, even as I am writing it. And though it may seem. But, as some do really have a story to tell, so does Mr. Tellis; and it is my pleasure to write it right here and now, in black and white, for the world to see. "I was and am sometimes an incredibly shy person, so this whole thing about getting up in front of people has not really been an idea of mine at all. I have always loved the piano, and some of my earliest recollections were of the choir director at my church saying, 'No, no, no! The note sounds like this,' and ‘Your part goes like that,' each time hitting one of what seemed like millions of those black and white keys, filling the sanctuary with strong or soft, high or booming bass notes. After that, she would put them all together, the notes and the people, and it would literally sound like heaven to me; and, boy, I wanted to do that, too ." "By the time I was five, I was hard at work practicing and playing til my fingers hurt, but trying to make the piano kind of sing back to me." "I was happy just being able to play and sing with the choir until my imagination started playing songs to me that I know must have come from the Lord. I was fortunate enough to have friends around (namely Ricky Callier and Mel Abel) who encouraged me to start writing down what I was hearing, and family to help me perform it. Once again, I was happy just having my songs performed, and, in turn, performing theirs. In that time, I started playing sax and trumpet in addition to increasing my skills and knowledge on the keyboard. One time I was teaching a song of mine, and the vocalist just wasn't the way I wanted, so guess who ended up perform ing it?" "M y life is just like anyone else's, with ups and downs, triumphs, pain, heartaches, family, children and all that life holds for anyone. The differ ence is I have the Lord to fall back on and songs to sing what I am feeling. I just learned to move in the spirit and let Him have his way.” In recent months. Ray has been collaborating with gospel vocalist Ada Jackson, who Ray says is an inspiration both spiritually and musically. He also won third place in the state-wide KPDQ Songwriting Contest He and his family have done various performances in Oregon and Washington and opened for such major gospel acts as the famed Commis sioned. All in all, Ray hopes to touch someone's heart so they can come to know the Lord and all that He has to offer. Judging by all the talent that He's bestowed on Mr. Ray Tellis, what have you got to lose? Gov. Neil Goldschmidt today announced the appointments of Ronald Herndon to the Oregon State Apprenticeship Training Council. Herndon, 42, of Portland, is the director of the A.M .A. Headstart pro gram and is Co-Chair of the Black United Front. A graduate of Reed Col lege, Herndon is also the director of the Black Educational Center, which he and two others founded in 1970. He replaces Terry Williamson, who is deceased. Herndon will serve an unexpired four-year term, ending June 30, 1989. R S V P FU N A C T I V I T I E S FO R A L L R E G I S T E R E D AND W O RK IN G V O L U N T E E R S Q U A R T E R L Y B IR T H D A Y P A R T I E S . C O M IN G T H I S SPA G H ETTI DECEM BER. D IN N E R & A U C T IO h Y E A R LY V O L U N T E E R R E C O G N IT IO b L U N C H E O N ........................... JO IN IN V O L U N T E E R WORK'. JO IN IN THE FU N DA Y S I R E G I S T E R NOW AND WEAR T H E RSVP P I N . C A L L 2 2 8 - 7 7 8 7 . . C A L L NOW'. FLIRT BAND LIVE W eekends A re Fun A t The Summer Classes at The Oregon Art Institute The future is in your hands at the Oregon Art Institute! Studio art classes ranging from sculpture, portraiture, illustration, computer graphics, cos tume design, photography and drawing and painting are offered all summer long. Classes meet one or two evenings a week from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and during the day for children. The Art Institute's studios are open to parents, children, adults, teachers, high school students and seniors of all levels of accomplishment Call 226-0462 for registration and a free bro chure. The Oregon Art Institute is the oldest and largest visual arts organization in the state and operates the Pacific Northwest College of Art, the Portland Art Museum and the Northwest Film and Video Center. The Art Institute is a not-for-profit organization. Grace Collins Memorial Center Day Care • Kindergarten Frl. — Sat. The’Return of 'Latch Key Program Children 6 wks. to 11 yrs. 4-year old kids at Grace Collins Memorial Center learn how to make cookies. P iedm ont W raps Up M o n th of Prostitution Protest About 25 members of the Piedmont Neighborhood Association turned out with Commissioner Bob Koch to walk along Union Avenue to protest the continuing problem of prostitution in the neighborhood. The walk, on July 29, was the last of six walks held that month. Twice the neighborhood association asked Koch to join in, and he gladly accepted. "W e want to make the price of prostitution for the customers, the johns, so high that they no longer want to come into our neighborhood to do business," says Koch. "If we can dry up the marketplace we can begin to solve the problem of street prostitution." Neighbors recounted stories of finding used needles, broken bottles, discarded quantities of drugs and other items in front of their homes, and told of being threatened by pimps. Koch says the problem is so severe that "it is no longer a question of 'Does the county handle this?' or 'Does the police department handle this?' Cleaning up these streets is something we all have responsibility for." Mon-Fri Call 281-6930 128 N.E. Russell St. For the fourth consecutive year, with the size and enthusiasm of its audience growing annually, Stumptown Jazz returns to Summer Stage. Their performance takes place Thursday, August 13, at 8 p.m. in the amphi theater of the Washington Park Rose Garden. Stumptown Jazz is a Portland based traditional Dixieland jazz band, with roots in Oliver, Armstrong, Morton, Watters, and Murphy. In addi tion, they are a show band —as fun to watch as to hear. Their program is great fun and outstanding entertainment for the entire family. PORTLAND, THURSDAY, AUGUST 20,1987 WOMEN'S RIGHTS DAY CELEBRATION 6:30 am • 6:00 pm 5-year old kids at Grace Collins study hard on school work before going outside to play. Grace Collins Memorial Center Day Care The Flirt Band N.E. Crime Prevention Coord Sharon M cC orm ack and Com m . Bob Koch in Piedm ont, Ju ly 29, 1987 Stumptown Jazz Returns to Summer Stage • Pre-School • Breakfast • Hot Lunches • Snacks at THE ROYAL ESQUIRE with Dr. Rock Sat. & Sunday ■MW*. -Jk «■* A «Hi 9^ ROYAL ESQUIRE 1708 N.E. ALBERTA 287-5145 Lady Blue from 6 - 9 Sunday Jazzy Jam with Benny Wilson &C o. MEMBERS & GUESTS MRS. C’s WIGS SM-E SAv t WEAVING HAIR $18.50 & up or by the ft. $4 & up Bulk Human Hair $23 95 Et up Fwtunos by NAOMI SIMS. ANOAE DOUGLAS. NATALIE COLE & MICHAEL WEEKS W ig S tyling $7.50 AND UP (long or specialty styles slightly higher) BRAIDS $2.95 "The Role of Black Women in the Fight for Women's Suffrage will be discussed by guest speaker Black feminist educator Milly Harmon. Join us in honoring Black women leaders of the struggle for women's right to vote who broke ground in the women's and Black movements, fighting racism in one and sexism in the other, connecting and strengthening both. Radical Women meeting is on Thursday, August 20, 6:30 p.m., Multnomah County Central Library, 801 S.W. 10th Avenue. Everyone is welcome. For more information call 249 8067. Wheelchair accessible. 4-H Reunion The Oregon State University Extension Service in Clackamas County is searching for former Mr. & Miss 4 Hers to help celebrate the 75th anniver sary of the Extension Service in Oregon. Former Clackamas County Mr. & Miss 4-Hers, or individuals who know their whereabouts are asked to contact Jean McCabe at the Clackamas County Extension Service, 655-8635, before August 18. 9300 Bonnie M R S . C ’s W IG S 707 N.E. Fremont 281-6S25 Closed Sun. A Mon. OPIN Tuoa. thru Sat. 11:30 AM to 6:00 PM
