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