Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 23, 2000)
Page 8 August 23, 2000 The Focus -< Focus ------------------- (The J|nrtlanì» (©bseruer Earth, Wind & Fire from page 2 later, that I’d still be doing this, I age and culture. w ould have th o u g h t th at that Q: On this new project, you’re go statement was crazy. People have ing to be working the hip-hop bad/ truly em bracedEW F andourm usic group The Roots'! W hat has this and that’s what truly keeps us going. been like? As long as people want to hear the A: Correct. Their one entity. Others music, then we will be out here would be W yclef Jean, Eric Benet, Angie Stone. Yeah, w e’ve got a performing it. Felicia: Well on behalf o f your fans, g o o d m ix tu re o f w rite rs and we thank you. I look forward to producers having m y children experience working on this project, but Maurice W hite is still the head producer. EWF as well A: Thank you. I can’t tell you how Q: I know that in my strong inter good it sounds and how often we est in hip-hop as well as R&B, I’ve attended two Roots concerts, and I hear people say that they’ve introduced know comparatively speaking if I their children to EWF and they love may, The Roots, as an all-out hip- it. It’s wonderful to hear that you hop band, have honorable similari and other people embrace the EWF ties w ith EWF, instrum entation legacy like that and want to pass wise. The Roots are very much rec their music down to their kids. It’s ognized as live hip-hop band play a tremendous feeling to know that ing their own instruments. you ’ ve created a sound that actually And I say this to mean, there are so many groups/bands out there that transcends all ages and cultures. Q: I’ve enjoyed some o f your re are trying to make a name for them cent perform ances, specifically selves, but I many o f them rely so speaking o f Sinbad’s annual HBO heavily that every member o f the Groovefest. The one EWF per group wants to sing and just sing formed at was in Aruba and just alone. But when you can fuse dif looking in the audience, the wide ferent talents together as the Roots variety and spectrum o f people and do with rappin, singing and play ages was wonderful. 1 enjoyed see ing their own instruments, it’s defi ing a kaleidoscope o f people en nitely something to roll with. joying your music. Did you visual A: You are so very correct. And ize and experience that as well for those who do play, I think that the you? quantity o f musicians has slightly A: Yes. The demographics at our deteriorated in that some are not concerts are very broad in terms o f really taking the study o f their chosen instruments seriously. It’s like this: everybody in EWF can play all styles o f music. And that’s what you’ll hear when you come to our show because it’s a very musical show. Q: I’m also a fan o f Mint Condi tion and in a lot ways, they remind me a lot o f your style and format o f musical instrumentation. Are you familiar with Mint Condition’s style o f R&B? A: Yes, very much so. Great band by the way. I greatly agree. I have told others in interviews that the only group out there now that comes close to EWF is Mint Condition, figuratively speaking. Q: Please give me some insight on your tour that starts this November with Mrs. Patti Labelle? Are you looking forward are you looking to this and is this your first time on the road with Mrs. Patti? A: Actually, large scale tour wise, it is. We did do a date with her a couple o f months ago, which was really nice. That date was really what gave us the idea to do the tour package. W e’ve been working on this for a while and it’s finally coming together and EWF is very excited about it. RJ: EWF is just happy to be able to do this, still. When you start this thing, you never know where it’s going. To even get one record out, let alone 20 or 25. We stay blessed. Q: W hen did you receive the Hollywood Walk o f Fame Star? A: That was in 1996. The most recent was the induction into the Rock n ’ Roll Hall o f Fame. That was in March o f this year. Walk a Mile to Save a Mind CO NTR IB UTED STORY for T he P o r i land O bserver The United Negro College Fund (UNCF) will be holding their 6th annual W alk-a-Thon to raise money for minority students to attend college. The benefit will be held on Saturday, September 9 at Peninsula Park and registration is required. Join in the team fun. To be a leader and form a walking team, round up a minimum o f 2 other teammates. Fill out a registration form and mail it back or phone UNCF at 503/223-8890. Set a fundraising goal and sign up sponsors on the enclosed sponsor sheet form. Be sure to collect donations from your sponsors as you go along. Register for the walk between 8 a.m.- 9:15 a.m. Turn in you sponsor sheet, checks and cash at the registration table. After the Walk-A-Thon, please notify your sponsors that you completed the walk and make arrangements to collect any outstanding funds. You have until Friday, October 13, 2000 to turn in all funds to qualify for prizes. Post-walk refreshments and raffle will be provided at 11:30 a.m. UNCF is the nation’s oldest and most successful minority assistance organization. Their mission is to provide affordable access to quality higher education and the financial assistance needed to ensure that deserving students can achieve their academic goals and earn the college degrees that will prepare them to function successfully in an increasingly complex world. Almost 90% o f the students attending UNCF member colleges require some form o f financial aid in order to attend college. They have found that federal and state educational assistance programs have not kept pace with rising college costs. Against this backdrop o f need, UNCF helps thousands o f deserving students achieve their academic goals, but for everyone we help, there’s one we can’t. Not without the funds. You participation in this year’s walk-a-thon will help to ensure that everyone who should go to college does. A rt Galleries Show case: Paintings, Scu lp tu re & Fabric RED EAGLE GALLERY 1034 SW Taylor (comer o f 11th & Taylor) downtown Portland 503/827-8551 www.redeaglegallery.com A kt Q uilt 2000 A J uried S how of C ontemporary A rt Q uilts Red Eagle Gallery on the south side o f the Central Library, brings you authentic museum-quality stone sculpture, in the Shona tradition from the beautiful land o f Zimbabwe. Couples in Unity by Wilbert Mudonha 2000 Stone - Soapstone Height: 11.5"&8" ONDA S tudio & G allery 2215 NE A lberta S treet P ortland , OR 97211 • 503/493-1909 A ugust 31-S eptember 26,2000 O pening and A rtists ' R eception : A ugust 31,6-9 PM W ebsite — ondagallery . com
