Kane ~ ' ion:
Ml ' p
Nancy Nelson Pt>oto By c«Mn Fanp—oo
...In The 8tudio
Now Nancy is back In Char
lotte and back doing studio
work. That's what's she has
been doing for the past three
years when a group that she and
Ron formed. True Color folded.
T was commissioned by Stu
dio East to do copy cat work."
Like many famous singers.
Nancy began singing in the
church. For a short peffod she
sang with John Coltrane Jr.
where she gained her first stu
dio experience. Later came Liv
ing Color and then True Cblor.
Unable to pinpoint her style.
Nancy mooesuy revealed mat
she ^ range* from^’aUl LaBella to
least for an hour she takes time
off to listen to material Ron has
written and arranged.
"I've been singing all my life.
When 1 look at a video I say to
myself 'Boy. I can do that. I of
ten tell myself What can she do
that I can't or what does she
have that I don't"’
"What I want Is the recording
contracts, the albums and the
tours. I think that I have earned
It. considering what I've been
through."
Don't be surprised If you see
Nancy on the Apollo stage
again. She likes to win and she
knows that If she's good enough,
hanging In the balance Is a
possible recording contract.
And that's something she craves
as desperately as her need to
sing.
T. J. Reddy's Exhibit Opens Friday
T. J. Reddy
The Afro-American Cultural
Center (AACC) Is pleased to an
nounce the opening of
"Geneology Revisited: 1980
1987," an exhibit of recent paint
ing by local artist T. J. Redddy.
The exhibit will be on display
from December 4 through De
cember 30.
Reddy's paintings Involve a
technique and style that reflects
African and Caribbean Influenc
es on his work. His folk-like im
ages are universal In scope and
j^fo^»Hgbyo<Kcn ofniy youth" j
mosaic In design. They combine
nature scenes, reflecting his
Klugh/Benson
Collaboration
Even Better Live
By Loretta Richardson
Post Staff Writer
Putting the extraordinary tal
ents of Earl Klugh and George
Benson together on was a feat d'
accomplishmente. To have the
masters of their craft, together
on stage In concert was even
ssns:
who were in attendance at Ov
ert* Auditorium last weekend,
tills was the place to be.
When the two hour George
Benson/Earl Klugh set opened,
the two guitarists Jammed play
ing a number from their new lp
"Collaboration".
Then Klugh took center stage,
plucking and strumming easily,
soothingly on his acoustic gui
tar.
Seranadlng the audience.
Klugh masterfully presented
songs, familiar and unfamiliar.
"Wishful Thinking". "Cabo Frio"
and a yet untitled tuned that
spotlighted the talents of the
keyboardist.
Throughout his performance,
interruptions of approving ap
plause were the norm.
Then came Benson. While
Klugh had Indeed warmed up
the audience with his laid back
style. Benson was primed for
the throw down. He and Benson
played the mostly Instrumental
version of "Livin' Inside Your
Love’ with some occasional
scattlng &om Benson.
Like Klugh. Benson took cen
era ted his rise to popularity,
'Masquerade.'" "The Greatest
Love Of All", which brought the
crowd to Its feet. "You Make Me
Shiver", "In Your Eyes and Turn
Your Love Around".
Rejoining Benson. Klugh re
turned to the stage, where both
musicians began playing num
bers from the "Collaboration"
album.
After playing one of the snaz
ziest cuts from the lp. Klugh and
Benson left the stage, only to re
turn when an ecstatic audience
cried for more and to perform
"On Broadway". And on
this number, even the drummer.
Lenny White garnered a well
deserved standing ovation.
This Is one collaboration that
works well on wax and even bet
ter live.
mice Bounces Back With Sign o lhe Times
.-:r £* 'fJmA'* . * .v
f Special To The Post
■ Reprinted Prom
Rolling Stone
Hter the abrupt sinking
Hinder the Cherry Moon." the
Hvte "Sign o' the Times" has
Hne along to restore Prince's
Hter as a formidable blg
Been presence. Moreover.
Bng with the double album
Hit shares Its name, the film
lows away the haze of his last
Bro LPs, "Parade" and "Around
Be World In a Day." and demon
■rates that Prince la still one of
>ck's’ most compelling per
n-men and boldest visionaries.
"Sign o’ the Times" Is a flrst
ite concert film that captures
rlnce and a crack ten-piece
and (including the redoubtable
ihefla E. on drums) at the top of
IhHr form. The thirteen, tunes In
the Dim were culled from con
cert appearances In Holland
and a performance at Prince s
Paisley Park studio. In Mlnnea
polls, with a good bit of over
dubbing added to juice the
sound up evert further. Still, afl
the playing -- especially
Prince s blazing excursions on
Cl tar •- Is Joyous and rich in
ling.
Despite the Inherent limita
tions of concett Dims, "Sign o’
the Times" Is conceptually
strong and visually riveting. The
musical performances are
linked by stylized vignettes that
combine street grit and freaky
surrealism to dramatize a live
triangle Involving Prince, a male
background vocalist and the
lusciously erotic female singer
Cat - who Is aptly summed up at
one point In the proceedings as
“a sweet, sticky thing. ' Admitted
ly. the story line Is loose at best.
But the theatrical pieces - which
take place on a neon-lit film
noir set derived from the hallu
cinogenic "Sign o' the Times" al
bum cover - effectively evoke the
Interwoven themes of love, lust
and spiritual questing embed
ded In Prince's songs.
After an opening skit that de
picts the tension between pos
sessiveness and trust In “rela
tionship*. Prince stands center
stage enveloped In smoke arid
cranks up a brittle vision of
“Sign o' the Times." As Prince,
deadpan, sings his apocalyptic
tale of AIDS, drug abuse and vio
lence, Cat stands enshrouded in
mtst on a pedestal behind him.
echoing his movements in a
grim choreography that binds
them as soul mates amid the
wreckage of modem life. After
the band marches onto the
stage, each member carrying a
drum and rapping out a martial
beat to cloae "Sign." the mood
lifts with a swinging version of
"Play In the Sunshine." Prince re
pairs to the piano for a brief
rendition of "Little Red Corvette
before tearing up the James
Brown homage Housequake"
with a series of splits, knee
clous writhing prompt* Prtn£e
to reconsider that position.
however, and a burning "Hot
Thing" ensues, during which
Prince strips Cat down to a yel
low bikini and the duo engage In
a salacious bump and grind.
Following a lengthy version of
Charlie Parker’s "Now's The
Time" that served as an instru
mental showcase for the band.
Prince and Cat exchange fanta
sy segments. Prince is shown
backstage In a reverie that dls
• solves into the "U Got the Look”
video, and then Cat falls asleep
to a dream vision of "If I Was
Your Girlfriend" that concludes
with her and Prince making love
as the words LOVE and SEX
flash pn signs above them. The
Aim's weakest point - much too
long versions of "Forever in My
Life" and the party raver "It's
Gonna Be a Beautiful Nlghl" -
gives way to a rapturous finale:
Prince's exquisite rendition of
"The Cross."
Unfortunately, although “Sign
o' the Times" is a thoroughly re
warding film. Its ultimate appeal
Is to the large corps of those al
ready converted to Prince's
cause. Prince Is arguably the
finest live rock act In the world
today, and the hard fact Is that If
he's to reclaim the larger audi
ence he gained with "Purple
Rain." he must actually tour.
"Sign o' the Times" captures him
nicely, but many more people
deserve to confront the chal
lenge and the playfulness Prince
embodies In the flesh
NCNB Begins First Notes
Of 1988 Music Competition
CHARLOTTE - Young Tar Heel
musicians will pompete soon for
prizes totaling $24,000 In North
Carolina Sfchool of the Arts
scholarships.
The, first notes of the NCNB
1988 Music Competition will
sound February 20 with regional
/ Auditions in Fayetteville. Marlon,
Wilson. Winston-Salem. Char
lotte. Wilmington. Edenton and
Hendersonville.
Regional winners will be Invit
ed to the finals on March 8 at
NCNB Performance Place In
Charlotte's Spirit Square.
First prize Is a $12,000 schol
arship to the North Carolina
School of the Arts In Winston
Salem. The winner receives
$3,000 annually for up to four
years of study.
The second place contestant
wins a four-year scholarship to
the School of the Arts valued at
$8,000. Third prize Is a $4,000.
four-year scholarship.
In its eighth consecutive year,
the Music Competition Is spon
sored by NCNB National Bank In
cooperation with the School of
Music of the North Carolina
School of the Arts.
Competition Is open to North
Carolina residents who are at
least 14 and will not be older
than 20 at the time of the final#
Entrants must not be enrolled as
a music major at a North Caroli
na college or university.
The contest Is open for strings,
winds, brass, percussion, harp,
piano, classical guitar and voice.
Applications are available
through music teachers or by
writing Ms. Shelby Graham.
NCNB Corp.. T22-1. Charlotte.
N.C.. 28256.
The Music Competition Is part
of NCNB'a continuing support of
the arts, which Includes a corpo
rate art collection, traveling art
exhibits and various perfor
mances.
The North Carolina School of
the Arts is part of the University
of North Carolina. In addition to
music, the school offers Instruc
tion in drama, dance, design and
production. It has a full academ
ic program.
The school awards the bache
lor of music degree, the college
level performance diploma and
the North Carolina high school
diploma.
NCNB National Bank Is a sub
sldiary of Charlotte-based
NCNB Corp.. a $27.9 billion
holding company that owns
banks In six southeastern
states.
fr % ff* > t\. - ■/ -
deep concern for the environ
ment and what he refers to as
"human ecology."
[Pertinence" |
He Is influenced not only by
his constant studies, but also by
the works of Romare Bearden.
Jacob Lawrence, and the Jamai
can Intuitive painter John
Dunkley. He is a student of the
Harlem Renaissance, a cultural
era of the 1920 s.
Born in Savannah. Georgia.
Reddy is a graduate of the Uni
versity of North Carolina at
Charlotte.
USO Tour
To Feature
Lou Rawls
WASHINGTON. DC. Actor
John Forsythe will be the Mas
ter of Ceremonies, and singer
Lou Rawls and comedian Norm
Crosby will be the featured en
tertainers at the "USO Chrlsl
mas Tour in Washington" din
ner. a December 9 black-tie gala
to benefit the World USO. which
serves nearly five million U.S.
military personnel and their
families around the world. The
event will be held at Washing
ton's Grand Hyatt hotel.
The announcement was made
by the Entertainment Chairman
of the gala, Michael J. Roarty.
executive vice president and di
rector of marketing for Anheus
er-Busch. Inc. Roarty Is also a
member of the World USO Board
of Governors.
"Since the first USO Christmas
Tour in 1941. hundreds of U.S.
entertainers have given their
time and talents to help our
American servicemen." Roarty
said. 'The fine entertainers who
will perform at the 'USO Christ
mas Tour In Washington' are
representative of the quality of
those USO performers of the
past."
Forsythe, best known for his
current role on ABC-TV's
"Dynasty" program, is also the
"voice of the USO" on the organl
nation's radio and television ad
vertlslng campaign. Forsythe Is
also well known for his voice
only performances as Charlie
on "Charlie's Angels." and as a
spokesman for Mlehelob beer.
Lou Rawls’ classic songs like
'You'll Never Find (Another Love
Like Mine)." "Natural Man" and
"Lady Love" have become Amerl -
can standards and have led to
one platinum and six gold al
bums, plus a gold single. He has
also won four Grammys.
As a spokesman for Budwelser
beer, Rawls began his associa
tion with Anheuser-Busch In
1976. As Honorary Chairman of
the United Negro College Fund.
Rawls organized the Budwelser
supported "Lou Rawls Parade of
Stars Telethon” In 1979. an an
nual event that has raised more
than $40 million for 41 private,
historically black colleges.'
The comedlc master of the
mala prop. Norm Crosby Is best
known for his most entertaining
use of the English language.