Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Sept. 2, 1993, edition 1 / Page 25
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Entertainment The Steeles Fuse R&B and Jazz with Gospel In rworld in which change and individuality frequently face resis tance, those who step out, risk-tak ers with a commitment to quality and excellence, sometimes have to go that extra mile to stand out. Such is the case with the Steeles, justifi ably regarded as one of the music industry's best-kept secrets. . With the release of Heaven Help Us All, their stunning debut album for Elektra Musician Records, the two-brother, two-sister Mirffteapolis-based team, the secret's out. Given the opportunity to share their awesome musical . gifts, J.D., Jearlyn, Fred arid Jevetta Steele rise to the occasion with a milestone album that stands out as one of 1993's truly thrilling record ing debuts. Initially encouraged by their father, J.D. Steele Sr., (considered the family's musical patriarch and mentor), the Steeles could frequent ly be found on shows in the Mid west with gospel greats like Mahalia Jackson, the Rev. James Cleveland and the Staple Singers. "Our father would get us on every gospel show that came to Gary," recalls J.D., "from the time we were just tots! Having a career in music was like a natural evolution for us." The Steeles moved to Min neapolis in the late 1970s. Word of their dynamic harmonies and dis ? tinctive individual vocal styles^ooiT led to a slew of commercials and ? background session dates. In 1 982, the group became involved with the "Gospel at Colonus," an epic musi cal that debuted at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York and ended with a 12-week run at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1988. 1989 was a pivotal year for the Steeles. Aside from signing with Elektra Entertainment, Jevetta Steele was heard on "Calling You." the haunting theme -from the movie. "Baghdad Cafe." The success of the Island Records' soundtrack resulted in an Academy Award nomination and a gold record in France. Jevet ta's soulful rendition was also heard on the 1990 CBS-TV series of the same name that starred Whoopi Goldberg and Maureen Stapleton and can be currently heard on the AT&T "Calling You" commercial. Jevetta's own solo debut is being released on Columbia Records sum mer of 1993. Heaven Help Us All^learly ful jfills the Steele's objective in putting 'together a debut set. From the har monica-laden, blues-tinged, uplift ing "Tide Keeps Liftin Me" to the track that is a timely, moving, a capella rendition of the Stevie Won der 1970 call for peace and under standing, the Steeles display a diver sity that is breathtaking. Superstar Prince (at whose Paisley Park stu dios the album was recorded), a longtime supporter of the Steeles, contributed the rousing tune "Well Done." "I'd say that 'Heart in My Hand,' the first song we recorded ToMhe album, was really the proto type for the record's direction. It helped us define what we wanted to do as a first recording," says J.D. Jevetta concurs, "After ten years of doingr a whole variety of music, the Icjuestion was how to balance all of it and make one album that can cover The Steeles: (I. to r.) Jearlyn Steele Battle, Jevetta Steele , Fred Steele , J.D. Steele. R&B. gospel, jazz, everything we know -we can do." The Steeles have cut through the boundaries that can often restrict and constrain true artistry. The spine-tingling harmonies that are laced throughout the album from thp emotive opening track "Heart in My Hand" to "Big God." the inspira tional closer, unquestionably comes from years of singing in church. Heaven Help Us All spans the musi cal spectrum and defies strict cate gorization. The album is simply great, great music. < C olumbia recording artist Penny Ford , along with W arner Bros, recording artists, the Jungle - Brothers, took it to the streets at Central Park's Summerstage , where thousands of hyped New Yorkers jammed to their funky sounds. Pictured here are Penny p-rirti p m^rer R^ndy Jackson (left) and from the Jun gle Brothers' Torture, Mike "G" and Rich Mason. <?.) HANESMALL CINEMA 4 STRATFORD R0. I SILAS CRCEK PKWY ?m ? T'x* vMv-l 10 4 15700 9M f *Ur 2 00 4 30 >00 9 35 tmi ste m i rjuux n ? c, 2 15 4 30 M5 9 15 'JtJRAS'SK PAMK* ? PC. Thu>*l0Y 4 00 6 V) 9 X) ? r?S#v 10. ? 10 ??HiAMt A SOU'-Pli-n TNj>?d*y-2 00 4 45 MP 9M I 'tUf-4 45 9 45 T Alt NOAH Glf*.* ? PO- n St?H f ntkiy ? W 4 20 7 70 9 30 RAINBOW JSk. BookstovenCofe RecuNhe ( V ironic/e while you relax on our fhuio A vrt/ovti delbtous meahu ih your h!voritc_ wme 01 -premium beer. Homhow is "l oo,l for Itotly aiuTJlfhil" 712 BP^OOKiTOWN AVC. OPfKI DAIl.V 72V0?5? WAYNE'S Thursday Sept. 2nd \ir Mam ( or/jorate night out Friday, Sept. 3rd Melva Houston Moment's Notice Jazz. Night 9:30-1:30 CowClu 9:30-1:30 Cov. Cli 1 28 N. ( herr\ SI reel YVinslon-S;ilem, NC 27101 Phone: 919-723-1150 l ull loud Sirviii' A\;iil;il>U Live Jazz every Friday and Saturday Weekly Drink Specials \mplr lire l\nkin^ THE SCOOP Is "Roc's" Marriage Steady?: An attractive, aspiring young actress/dancer alleges that "Roc" (Charles Dutton) reported ly made a pass at her recently. The ^oung lady is one of several who often work as a stand-in for Janet Jackson during her video shoots. The flattered starlet claims that she refused Roc's offer because she is very much in love with her long time boyfriend. The actress further alleges that Rock very politely informed her that he may contact her again at another time, and maybe by then, she won't still be in love. Now, all of these allegations are rather brow-raising because there are rumors that Mr. Dutton and his actress wife Debi Morgan are supposedly having marital problems again. They reportedly sepwated. So "The Scoop" asks: Is their marriage actually on the "rocs?" Sade Does it Her Way: Sade was in concert in Dallas recently as she tours the U.S. While visiting "Bid D," one of the hotel workers where Sade stays reports that one [ of her assistants had the hotel maids strip the beds completely of its sheets then replace them with more sheets. This was to insure, without a shadow of a doubt, that Jhe sheets were indeed clean before Sade slept on them! By the way. this hotel is a very, very ritzy place, the kind that you'd see on "Lifestyles of theRich-^Famotts." Fresh Face on Fresh Prince: Actress Daphne Maxwell Reid is supposedly joining the cast of "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Daphne is the wife of actor/producer Tim Reid. So does that mean that Janet Hubert-Whitten definitely, once and for all will not be returning to the show? To further speak of Fresh Prince, Warner Brothers records top executive Benny Medi na, who's also one of the creators of the NBC hit series, has an uncle who teaches art to supermodel Christy Brinkley and her daugh ter. The elder Medina is said to be an outstanding artist. Cutty Cuts a Deal: Interna tionally acclaimed Dance Hall DJ Cutty Ranks has signed a deal with Priority Records. Cutty, along with Ninja Man and Supercat. pop^ ularized the hardcore, dance hall style famous for its reality lyrics and serious Jamaican ghetto topics. Cutty's current single. "Limb by Limb" is climbing the charts in Jamaica. London and New York. His first album for Priority is set TTor release during the first quarter" of 1994. Magic in the Movies?: For mer L.A. Lakers superstar Magic Johnson is reportedly purchasing a multi-screcn movie theatre in the Baldwin Hills section of Los Ange les. Big Brother is Still Watch ing: Super/Scooper/Sources in Moscow, as in the former Soviet Union, say that "Poetic Justice" has already hit the movie screen in the American Embassy, along with "Jurassic Park" and other Ameri can box office busters. But. if vcAi're just a regular "working Joe." they're still watching "Gone with the Wind." which sources say there are long lines of moviegoers who can't wait to see the film! PEOPLE WHO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. 1 hrough the nrv\ loader ship of Dr. Chavis. the NAACP is now making the needs of young people a priority. It's the organiza tion's mission to ensure the future of Black America h\ giving our youth the atten tion th? \ need today (.ang violence, leen pregnancy I nemployment. Substance abuse. I ack of education. These are tin issues most relevant to young African Americans. And Benjamin ( havis and the NAACP are working hard to address them. That's why Anheuser Busch supports the work of the NAACP, just as we sup port other educational and social programs, commu nity projects and minority businesses. At Anheuser-Busch, we're committed to a better quality of life, lor evervone. ? ANHEUSI R BUS< H COMPANIES C 1903 ftuV h
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Sept. 2, 1993, edition 1
25
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