Big Hits No Easy Road To Riches
minougn tame ana fortune have
attended many who reach the top
oT the recording buslnessrthose
starting out should be aware that
the money doesn't come in cas
_cad<g_wiUijh£Jir*t few hits.
‘‘It’s getting better,” says
Sharon Bryany of Atlantic Starr
about their fourth A&M album,
"Brilliance.” “But we’re not rich -
yet."" - - ...
Because record companies in
vest major sums in launching acts,
they have what are called ‘recoup
able’ expenses in the contract. The
acts must repay these from royal
ties before enjoying the cash flow.
These days, it can take an act three
or four hit albums to repay the
~ levui'd'Lumpany before achieving 1
nnanciai independence.
Bryant and Jonathan Lewis, two
of Starr’s nine members, shared
with me some of their experiences
in reaching their current chart
topping and headline tour status.
-"■We literaHy kved together in
the beginning,” adds Sharon. "We
left White Plains for Los Angeles in
1976 and spent the next three years
trying to get our breaks. To sur
vive, we all lived together like
family. I think that has added a
closeness that keeps us together
now 7*
Lewis, who pjays trombone,
explains that all decisions are
“Very democratic. We vote on
everything. It keeps everyone’s
head level. We all grew up in the
same town and went to the same
high school.” The group ranges in
age from percussionist Joey Phil
lips, at 33 to sax player Koran
Daniels and guitarist (and heart
throb) David Lewis at 23. The third
Lewis brother, Wayne, is 25 and
plays keyboards. David and
by Tim Walter I
Copyright © 1982. TSI Syndicate Features
Wayne write many of the group’s
tunes and, with Sharon, provide
most of the group’s lead vocals.
David and Wayne wrote number
one hit single, “Circles."
Lewis relates the group's plea
sure at hooking up with producer
James Carmichael. Carmichael
_had a finer in the success of both
the Jacksons and the Commodores
and nuances of both groups can be
detected on “Brilliance."
“James is a genius at what he
does,” agrees Bryant and Lewis.
“In the studio, there’s a lot of give
-and take, we learn from each
other.”
.Carmichael once related to me
advice that he had given the
Commodores about staying to
gether, how adversity is adhesive
and money and fame split the best
of friends. Since then, Michael and
Jermaine Jackson have establish
ed solo careers and Lionel Richie
Jr. is well on his way with a solo
album due from Motown this
month. It’s too early to predict how
Atlantic Starr will manage at the
top.
Lewis says the groups left New
York because of pressures of other
jobs and family ties prevented
adequate closeness for develop
ment. “In L.A.,” he says, “we
didn't really know anybody. With
out outside influences, we just
worked on our music and it paid f
off." After Herb "Alpert (a co- i
owner of A&M Records) heard the
group in 1977, it took him less than
20 minutes to decide to sign the
group.
Atlantic Starr is now on tour for
the summer; they broke in as
headliners in Washington. DC.
witn Motown s Jean earn as ‘an
opening co-star. My assessment?
Their stage show confirms what I
hear in the recordings.. a bright,
talented "house band" that repre
sents A&M’s answer to the Jack
sons and the Commodores...but
"they’re noT really cutting any new
ground. Perhaps their creativity
will be more apparent in the
future; just now they're just pro
duct for the dealer’s shelves.
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By
tne
way...
By Joe Black
President Franklin I). Roosevelt, in
an effort to uplift the morale of America's
citizens during World War 11. said: "We have
^nothing to fear but fear itself' But nothing
stays the same and today those words have
little meaning for many who are- approach
ing the age for retirement.
Senior Citizens have many things
to fear: insufficient funds, robbery, loneli
ness, poor housing, inadequate nutrition,
and plain ol" indifference from society.
But we should not let it belike that in these
United States of America. Because through
the years the older citizens have worked
hard on many jobs: weathered t lie storm of
bias and hatred: paid taxes to support
this nation: fought in wars to preserve*
democracy: and endured the slams of bias
as they struggled to open doors so that
Blacks coming behind them c ould work at
new and better jobs.
And yet many of us stand by silently
and watch them struggle to live their
remaining years wit h some dignity and
pride.We can help by writing our political
representatives and telling them that
the Social Security laws must be amended
so as to l>e relevant to today's economic
requirements.We can alert the police about
hoodlum elements that steal Soc ial
Security checks, snatch their purses, or
..break into their homes because, they are
old and defenseless. And we can take
the time to extend the hand of friendship
and a friendly hello, or an offer to run
an errand.
The suggestions are simple, eco
nomical, and real, and mv friends, don't ever
forget that the hands of time continue
to move, and soon they will be you.
Joe'Bfack
o Vicb PiesiUent- -
~ The Greyhound Corporation