Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Jan. 19, 1989, edition 1 / Page 2
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tage A2 WimtMhSdkm Qwaaktt Thursday, January 19, 1989 guitarist to perform at Mercantile fey TONYA V. SMITH Ctironlcl* Stall Writer I 1 Strumming the strings of his Mattingly guitar is an art form * Russell Dcnoris Thomas has had jl7 years to perfect i As do many artists who are in feearch of that perfect sound, this -jazz and classical guitarist and Detroit, Mich. "There was such emotional calamity going on in the school system ? racial riots and conflicts between Afro-Amer icans and Caucasians. I rebelled against the system and left and went to Detroit." Thomas' uncle had asked him to move to Detroit and work with him. Thomas had to quit school Thomas readily identifies his music with his faith. "...Christ has invited me to take up my cross in the sense that I should appeal to intellectuals so Christ can prick their hearts. A lot of people are in bondage and they need to hear the gospel/' says Thomas. His religious compositions aren't in the form of traditional gospel, the art form common to most Afro- Americans, but in the - style of the great masters of yesteryear, says Thomas. "I play religious music in the sense of the great maestros of the earlier musical period such as (George Frederick) Handel; it's sacred music but not gospel," says Thomas, One of his original composi tions in honor of his fiancee, ''Sheila's Morning Prayer", is rep resentative of his religious reper toire. "Land of the Lotus-eaters" and "Return of Polyphemus" are other originals in his cdllection of about 80 penned jazz and classical pieces. ? -i? ~ While Thomas is invited often to display his talent, for now, his music will be a part-time endeavor. "I plan to work and pursue my music c&feer, but on a part - ? time basis, because I need to sup port myself," says Thomas. "I'm applying for music therapist jobs. " (A musical therapist) is one who coordinates recreation and musi cal therapy sessions in helping people to overcome their handi caps through music." Thomas plans to marry soon and his ultimate goal is to land a recording contract. "I want to make a living with my instrument," he says. Thomas will be the featured artist during "Music at Mercan tile" Friday from 5:30-8 pjn. The "Mercantile Plaza~1s located at 4 1 1 West Fourth Street, next to the Stevens Center. "Music at Mer cantile" is sponsored by the plaza 's merchants and showcases local talents, giving them exposure and the opportunity to perform before a large audience. All perfor mances are free. ? Photo by Charmana De la vers on S * N 5 "While I was there watching Earl Klugh pick the guitar \with hi fingers, I was flabbergasted and crushed at the \same time.* It seemed to be a heavenly calling and I re - . identified with what I was doing r1 : ? ? : ? r~ ? / ' ** \ ^ ? ? Russell Denoris Thomas ^composer has a meticulous style s unique only to him: He wear* 5 clear nail hardener on the finger > nails of his right hand. ( "It's to keep my nails from ^breaking," says Thomas, adding that longer nails make it easier for him to pluck the guitar strings. A 30-year-old recent graduate of Winston-Salem State Universi ty, the robust Thomas defines i music as "organized sound con gregated to create an aesthetic 3 sense of emotion in people." | "I try to create some beauty, a \ beautiful feeling in people," he {says. Beautiful feelings haven't ! come easy for the performer who | once suffered a nervous break tdown. However, one of the happi er times in his childhood came ? when his mother and uncle bought J him his first guitar. "My dear sweet mother sup sported my musical 'Efforts," ' Thomas ^ays. "She and my uncle : poolea thW resources and pur chased me a $60 guitar when I was 13. 1 just like to think it was i heaven sent" Soon afterwards, Thomas began taking music lessors at Scpark Music Company. Unlike -some children, Thomas' musical interests dies not waver. He eager ly went to his guitar lessons. "I practiced literally every day, all day," only making time for school, says Thomas. The Winston-Salem native attended school in tfte city-county system, but admits his early edu cation did not have many pleasant experiences. "I felt relieved (when I left)," says Thomas who dropped out of school during his junior year at West Forsyth High School to go to and work to help his family make a living. ? .? . v "Money was scarce back then, but I wasn't aware of'it," he says. While'working in Detroit, Thomas, received his G.E.D. (graduate equivalency diploma) in night school. He also had the opportunity to see one of his men tors, jazz great Earl Klugh, per form. "While I was there watching Earl Klugh pick the guitar with his fingers, I was flabbergasted and crushed at the same time," Thomas says, his eyes practically mirroring the memory. "It seemed to be a heavenly calling and I re identified with what I was doing." He worked in Detroit for a while then moved back to his home city, and in 1978 Thomas enrolled in the education program at WSSU. During his freshman year he decided to transfer to Mary Grove College, a Catholic institution in Detroit. Into his sec ond year at Mary Grove, Thomas " suffered a nervous breakdown. "My mother came to get me and brought me back here to get my life back together," he says. Yearning for the pleasure he remembered giving audiences during his early performances at age 15, Thomas re-enrolled in WSSU in 1986 ? this time select ing Commercial Music as his major. "Commercial music is the study of any style of music or any music written for monetary gain," Thomas explains. "Such as pop, jazz, rhythm and blues " A born-again Christian and member and music director of New Birth Church of Christ, The Winston-Salem Chronicle is published every Thurs day by the Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co. Inc., 617 N. Liberty St. Mailing addreaa: Post Office Box 3154, Winston Salem, N.C. 27102. Phone: 722-8624. FAX: (919) 723-9173. Second-class postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C. 271 02. The Winston-Salem Chronicle Is a charter member ot the Newsfinder service of the Associated Press and a member of the Audit Bureau of Circulations, the National Newspaper Pub lishers Association, the North Carolina Press Association and the North Carolina Black Publishers Association. Subscription: $18.52 per year, payable in advance (North Carolina sales tax included). Please add' $5.00 for out-of-town delivery. PUBLICATION USPS NO. 06791 0. ' Now buy any 2 specially marked slightly imperfec bras for only $9,001 ES Mill Outlet STRATFORD RD. 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Dr. Sutcamp decided to focus his practice in 1974 on Bariatric Medicine, the specific treatment of obesity and associated diseases. He became board certified and diplomat to the Board of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians in 1978, and is cun-ently president and member of the Board of Trustees of that Society. He is also board certified and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He served as a voluntary assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Central Psychiatric Clinic Eating and Weight Control Program. You can see why all of us at Physicians WEIGHT LOSS Centers are pleased and honored that Dr. Sutcamp has agreed to assist us in our ongoing commitment to providing the most effective weight toss and weight control program available anywhere. Physicians WEIGHT IOSS Centers, With you even' day, every pound of the way.*M Each center independently owned ai^d operated. f ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 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