Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, March 11, 1998, Page 11, Image 11

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    Page B3
MARCH 11,1998
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ENTERTAINMENT
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01 S ko o l
O l Skool Oli mb "Eke ¿Skar+s
Multi-platinum balladeer Keith Sweat has struck gold again with his newest proteges Ol Skool. Since its release two
weeks ago, 01 Skool’s reinterpretation
ofthe classic romantic tune, “ Am I D ream ­
ing” is climbing up the charts. Thesong,
which features the vocal stylings o f Sweat
and the multi-platinum group Xscape, is
■ J
currently in the #5 position on Billboard'sR
& B Singles Chart. “ Am I D ream ing”
is the first single release from the group’s
self-titled debut album which will be in
stores next Tuesday, February 24th.
Ol Skool first came to national atten-
tion with their eye-catching all-star video
clip featuring Sw eat, Xscape, and Lisa
“ Left Eye” Lopes o f TLC fame. The
video, directed by Keith Sweat, is the
fourth most requested video on BET, and is
a Top 10 requested video on The Box.
■
The song is also generating a buzz at radio
as it is a top request on over 80 urban
\
1 W
stations in the country including WGCI in
Chicago, W ZAK in Cleveland and
WPLZ in Richmond. Additionally, the
group has made numerous national tele-
1
vision performances which include The
Keenan Ivory Wayans Show, Vibe TV
1
and Soul Train.
Ol Skool members Bobby, Tony,
Curtis,andPookie,arethefirstartistssigned
to Keith Sweat’s newly-formed music
label Keia Records, a new joint venture
with Universal Records. Sweat was so impressed with the St. Louis based group, that he signed them on the spot after
they performed for him “live” in his Atlanta office. Prior to their signing to Keia, the group toured with Dennis (“Don’t
Look Any Further”) Edwards o f the Temptations.
When it comes to entertainment,
there are few challenges that Jamie
Foxx will back away from. Whether
it’s starring in his own successful
sitcom, playing a leading man on the
big screen, consistently selling out
venues on his stand-up “Unleashed”
tour or recording top 20 albums,
Jamie Foxx is on the fast track to
super stardom.
In its second season, “The Jamie
Foxx Show” is one of the highest rated
programs on the WEB network (Sun­
day @ 8 :00PM). Foxx portrays Jamie
King, a young man who comes to
Hollywood seeking the elusive “big
time.” In the meantime, though. King
works at his aunt’s aging hotel in order
to pay the rent and to take advantage of
the hotel’s cocktail lounge, where his
character hones his skills as an enter­
tainer. but with his positive attitude
and endearing perseverance, the ques­
tion isn’t //h e ’ll make it, but when?
Foxx not only stars in the hilarious
sitcom, but is the co-creator and pro­
ducer.
Jamie was no stranger to televi­
sion audiences before launching his
own series. For three years, he co-
starred with Jim Carey, Damon
Wayans and Tommy Davidson on
the hit FOX series, “ In Li ving Color.”
Foxx’s characters were amongst the
most popular on the show, including
h is bri 1 liant portrayal ofW anda.w ho
was always ready to “...rock your
world.” Foxx also had a recurring
Jamie Foxx
role on the critically-acclaimed FOX
show, “Roc,” in which he played
Crazy George.
Already an established television
star, his movie career is beginning to
blossom as well. Next spring, Jamie
will be featured in Ice Cube’s directo­
rial debut, “The Player’s Club,” from
New Line Cinema. Most recently,
Jamie starred with Tommy Davidson
and Vivica A. Fox in Sony’s “Booty
Call,” a “hilarious and irresistible
(movieand the) year’s first fall-down,
bust-a-gut laughing comedy,” accord­
ing to CBS Radio. Daily Variety
called Foxx “...a charismatic lead.”
The Holly wood Reporter added, ‘ ‘Foxx
is perfect...” and the New York Times
concluded that, “The movie( was) cus­
tom made for Mr. Foxx.”
Currently, Jamie is performing his
“Unleashed” tour across the U.S.,
which will take him to over 30 cities.
He is especially looking forward to
March 7th when he appears in New
York and March 27th when he per­
forms at the Universal Amphitheater
in Los Angeles. The tour follows the
tremendous success o f his first HBO
special, “Straight From theFoxxhole."