F ebruary 02, 1994 « T he P ortland O bserver P age B? ENTERTAINMENT Cashton ÿfyafewvent Sfìtf filate J(08) 2 8 8 - 5 2 4 6 Houseparty II Airport Sheraton in the Cascade Room February 5, 1994, 8pm - 2am No Host Bar • Hors d ’ oeuvres Provided Donation at the door: $5 per person • 21 and over • Hosted by Robert Malone, Dvvain Strickland Harold Harrison Food Catered by HH Bones Bar-B-Que Music provided by T.C. Rockmaster Tanya Harding Deserves a Fair Trial I f your mother ever warned you about the company you keep, now may be a good time to reevaluate her advice. Why? Because w ith the re­ lease o f their debut album, Devotion, on Giant Records, Company, a seven- man inspirational/funk/R & B group from Charlotte, NC, is a great bunch o f guys to hang out with. And w ith their k ic k in ’ first re­ lease “ Angel,” Company serves no­ tices that they can bust a beat w ith the best o f them. Co-written by Donald Lawrence (a founding member o f the group) and producer Stanley Brown, “ Angel” has a joyous, get-up-off-your- seat-and-dance groove. But beneath the beat lies some serious stuff. Com­ pany is dedicated to delivering music w ith a message. “ W e s in g in s p ira tio n a l,” says Law rence. “ I d o n ’ t necessarily say g ospel, I d o n ’ t necessarily say R & B , I say in s p ira tio n a l. I t ’ s m usic th a t in s p ire s you. W e ’ re h o p in g th a t w hen fo lk s hear what w e have to say - th ro ug h o u r m u­ sic - w e ’ l l at least make some s m a ll c o n trib u tio n to changing w h a t’ s o u t th e re .” In addition to Lawrence and Bagley, members o f Company in­ clude Terry Phillips, Rodney Barber, Jerry Friday, Richard Odom , and Reginald (Kapp) Adams. T heir al­ b u m , w h ic h was p ro du ced by Lawrence and Barber, is a blend o f the old and the new. Stevie W onder’s contribution o f “ Love’ s In Need o f Love,” is deliv­ ered in a rousing, a capella fashion; and the M aurice W h ite/P hillip Bailey classic, “ D evotion,” boasts harmo- nies that w il 1 do the staunchest E W & F aficionado proud. Six o f songs on Company’ s al­ bum were either written or co-written by Lawrence, including “ A Love T hat’ s Real’’ and the rockin ’ but reas­ suring “ Someone’ s Praying For Y o u ” w ith fellow Company member Terry P h illip s . “ Sw eeter Than Sweet,” “ M ore Today Than Yesterday,” and the album ’ s most overtly religious song, “ Superman,” were penned by Lawrence along. “ C om m on sense has to com e in to p la y when y o u ’ re try in g to get a message across,” B agley says. “ I f you w ant som ebody to b e lie v e w h a t y o u ’ re saying, you have to fin d a w ay to get that message to them . W e have never r e a lly been intereste d in h ittin g anyone o ve r the head.” When a neighborhood church needed to raise money, Lawrence, Bagley, Adams and Friday teamed fo r a one-shot benefit; their concert was so w ell received, however, that they decided to sing together a w hile ' longer. Barbei joined the group next, follow ed by Odom, and fin a lly, P h ill­ ips. As a unit, Company has been together since the late 80’ s. W ith the release o f their debut album, Devotion,Company steps out in style. The time is rig h t fo r the p o w e rfu lly positive and inspiring music these young men have in store. So open the door and step aside.. .some very special Company is here! Low-Cost VisionCare & Free Vision Screenings For Inner-City Residents Residents of North/Northeast Portland have access to low-cost vision care and free vision screenings through the Pacific University Cascade Campus Family Vision Center. Located across the street from the Portland Community College Cascade Campus (600 N. Killingsworth), the Cascade Cam­ pus Family Vision Center provides complete vision examina­ tions and eyewear dispensary services according to family and individual income. Patients can receive a thorough vision exam and prescription eye-glasses at very affordable fees, depending on income. That Tanya Hardings deserves a fa ir hearing is a celebrated right that is enshrined in our Constitution. Il is a tragedy o f some sorts that the media has always thrown caution away, whenever a celebrity is accused, assuming, the positions o i judge, prosecutor, and jury. The Tanya Harding and Kerrigan saga brings the need forefront fo r media to lake a critical look at facts and origin o f facts before it leans towards a verdict to avoid future journalistic tragedies. Tanya Harding should be given a fa ir hearing and allowed to p artici­ pate in the O lym pics u ntil proven g u ilty in the court o f law. As journalists our cred ib ility and our patriotism arc firm ly hinged on our ability to produce a w ell-inform ed audience to our immediate society We also provide free vision screeenings for children and adults of all ages. Screenings do not take the place of a complete vision exam butdo provide important vision information. Screen­ ings are particularly helpful for children whose learning ability depends on good vision. For more information about schedul- ina. services, and fees, please call 240-5319. Family Vision Centers P a c if ic U niversity C ollege o f o p t o m e tr y Pacific University Cascade Campus Family Vision Center 600 N. Killingsworth, Portland * 240-5319 W ashington S quare L loyd M all INSIDE h o v d cfntfr 2 2 5 -5 5 5 5 > 4 6 0 1 Hl W ASM INC1ON SO CfcNlfcR 2 2 5 -5 5 5 5 + 4 6 2 5 Starts Friday Feburary 4th ! period. Celebrate Diversity The National Federation o f M u ­ sic Clubs (N F M C ) is offering special awards for organizations, institutions, media and individuals program m ing, apparently entered a settlement out­ promoting and creating Am erican side the court. Fcldom has said that music during February 1994. Inaugurated in 1955, the Parade the boys lawyers and his fam ily had o f American M usic celebration in earlier demanded a $20 m illio n in February o f each year promotes na­ exchange fo r dropping this case. tionwide performances o f American Speculations about how much this music and recognizes United States’ settlement cost Jackson is very rife. composers. The annual Parade is spon­ No tentative amount has been an­ sored by N FM C and supported by the nounced by Jackson or his lawyer. Am erican Society o f Composers, O bviously, this accusation has taken a to ll on Jackson pubic image at Authors and Publishers (ASC AP). least in the United States, but it’s not The purpose is to expand knowledge certain how the outside world would and encourage performance o f com ­ view him w ith this colored spectacle positions by composers o f the U.S., to introduce contemporary compositions o f an accused child molester. and to widen public appreciation and M ic h a e l Jackson had been a c­ knowledge o f American repertory. cused in a c iv il s u it file d last year, Special individual Awards o f Septem ber, the s u itc la im c d Jack- merit w ill be presented for programs son had c o m m itte d sexual b a t­ o f American music during February te ry , se d u ctio n , w illf u l m is c o n ­ 1994 by a radio station, television d u c t, in te n tio n a l in f lic t io n o f e m o tio n a l distress, frau d and neg­ station, college or school, church, choral society, conservatory, sym ­ lige nce in to lure the boy. phony orchestra, opera group, arts Jackson’ s associates and his agent. Creative Artists Agency, were council, library or government orga­ nization. Individual Awards may be not involved in this recent settlement deal. Il was gathered that Jackson’s granted to persons for outstanding programs, promotions, original com ­ two lawyers, M clizm an and Cocharn positions or other service to the Pa­ had worked behind scene to get Jack- rade o f American Music e ffo rt during son o ff the hook o f this scenario. Michael Jackson-Off The Hook? by P romise K ing His image plummeted and slide like his famous M oon-walk back-step sliding dance. Il is the sad story o f Michael Jackson w ho’s been caught up between the merger o f publishers who want to sell their newspapers and a very hostile crop o f news writers who want to make a name and the parents and lawyers o f his faceless accuser. It is pathetic that Michael has to grapple w ith this horrendous accusa­ tion o f child molestation at this time o f his career. Il w ill take the preroga­ tive o f the ominisccnt to determine its truthfulness. M ichael’ s decision to settle scores w ith his accusers outside the courtroom has raised a plethora o f questions. W ill M ichael’s image ever remain same after this saga? W ill he ever sincerely put m illio n into kids projects like lie did before? Was he really innocent as he want us to be­ lieve? These and many oilier ques­ tions w ill linger long in the minds o f wacko-jacko friends and foes. It is very doubtful, i f Jackson w ith this out of-court settlement, has completely be left o ff the hook. Los Angeles County D istrict Attorney Mr. G il G arrctti has repeatedly told re­ porters that Larry Fcldom, the plain­ t i f f Law yer had not ruled out asking fo rh isclicn l to testify against Michael. “ Nobody has boughtanyonc’ ssilcncc. We signed o ff on the deal. That was it” Felon was quoted as saying. In spite o f all, Jackson’ s lawyers have always emphasized the inno­ cence o f the mega-super star enter­ tainer. “ The resolution o f this case is in no way an admission o f g u ilt by Michael Jackson. In short, he is an innocent man who dcs not intend to have his career and his life destroyed by rumors and innuendo.” Jackson’ s law yers H ow ard W citzm a n and Johnnie Cochran Jr. had contended. Experts have said that the legal tw ist in Jackson;’s case could open a floodgate o f sim ilar suits. The legal experts had submitted that the out-of-court settlement could be the most viable option left for Jackson appearance in court in per­ son and this would have been more devastating to his image. Both Jackson and his accuser National Federation Of Music Clubs Offers National Awards February 1994. The entry deadline for both categories is March 10,1994. T he P ro fesso r R u d o lf R .A . Schramm Parade o f Am erican M usic Award w ill be given to the Federated Senior club o f N F M C reporting the “ most outstanding” Parade o f A m e ri­ can M usic program. This award is funded by Mrs. R udolf R.A. Schramm, fam ily and friends,. Awards o f M erit for Federated Clubs w ill be based upon program building, caliber o f music presented, publicity and adher­ ence to guidelines for the competi­ tion. A National C hairm an’ s Aw ard w ill be given for the best overall pro­ m otion during February by one o f the finalists. Special awards arc also given to Federated Music Clubs for present­ ing program sof all American women composers. The entry deadline is June 20, 1994, for the award for Project Ser­ vice to U.S. Music between June 1 and May 31 o f each year, for promotion and/or programming by organizations and individuals. Participants in a ll competitions, except the project Service Award, must present or sponsor during Feb­ ruary 1994 at least one program o f high caliber music by qualified U.S. composers. According to Newton, previously unrecorded fo lk music re­ ceives high rating,and fo lk music re­ search is recommended to enrich N FM C and Library o f Congress A r ­ chives. Special awards are also given for exceptional fo lk music programs F or in fo rm a tio n p ro gram re ­ q u ire m e n ts and e n trie s , c o n ta ct M y rle a n n N e w to n , c h a irm a n , N F M C D ep artm en t o f A m e ric a n M u s ic , 39 S. James R d., C o lu m ­ bus, O h io 4 3 2 1 3 -1 6 2 2 , (6 1 4 )2 3 1 - 2815; o r the N a tio n a l fe d e ra tio n o f M u s ic C lub s, 1336 N o rth D e la ­ w are S t., In d ia n a p o lis , IN 46202 (3 1 7) 6 38 -4 00 3. For aid in program building, write the Am erican M usic Center, 250 W.54th St., New Y o rk, N Y 10019. The National Federation o f Music Clubs supports and develops A m e ri­ can music and musicians. One o f the w o rld ’ s largest music organizations, N FM C was founded in 1898 and w ill celebrate its 100th anniversary in 1008. N FM C has ju n io r, student and senior members in over 5,400 organi­ zations, as well as individual mem­ bers nationwide. The organization awards a broad range o f scholarships annually for study at summer music camps and in universities, colleges and schools o f music throughout the United Slates.