Entertainment
Singer Band Leader Billy Eckstine Died at Age 78
Billy Eckstine
PITTSBURGH < -\P , - Singer
bandleader B 1 1 1 \ Eckstine. whose
warm baritone graced a string of
? ' and '"50s hit* vuch a* "Fools
Rush In" and " Everything I Have
Is Yours." died Mondav. a spokes
woman said. He was 78.
Eckstine died at Montefiore
Hospital in Pittsburgh. He had suf
fered a stroke last year.
Known as "Mr. B." Eckstine
sang romantic ballads in a strong,
vibrant baritone, with impeccable
1 diction. He was America's most
popular vocalist in 1949 and '50.
and the first black singer to make
the cover of Life magazine and to
become a national sex symbol.
His hit records between 1945
and 1951 also included "A Cottage
for Sale." "Prisoner of Love." "I
Surrender. Dear." "Everything I
Have Is Yours." "Blue Moon."
"My Foolish Heart." "Caravan."
"Body and Soul" and "I Apolo
gize." His last big hit was "Passing
Strangers," a duet with Sarah
Yaughan.
In his band at one time or
another were Dizzy Gillespie. Fats
Navarro. Miles ^ Davis. Gene
Amnions. Dexter Gordon. Charlie
Parker. Sotins Stilt. Art Blakes.
Lucky Thompson and Vaughan.
Unlike the kind of accompaniment
most swing bands had provided
singers, the Eckstine band played
powerful, thi^rk chords and rhythmi
cally complex figures behind Ecks
tine and Vaughan
William Clarence Eckstine. was
born July 8. 1^14. in Pittsburgh. He
grew up in Washington. D.C.. and
attended Howard University. He
won an amateur show b> imitating
Cab Calloway, singing a nursery
rhsme lsric with interpolated scat
ting. Eckstine taught himself to play
trumpet and valve trombone. He
recorded as vocalist on two blues
hits. "Jelly. Jelly" and "Stormy
Monday."
In 1943. spent a year as a solo
nightclub act before founding his
own big band, which featured the
then-emerging bebop style.
The band uas actise only three
years. 1944 to 1947. because of eco
nomic difficulties but had pivotal ?
influence on bebop. He took up
singing of the love songs that
pushed him to wider stardom.
"They weren't ready for black
singers singing love songs." he said
in a 1984 interview. "It sounds
ridiculous, but it's true,
Brown Releases New Album (
Mr. Dynamite, "The Hardest
Working Man In Show Business".
Soul Brother Number One. "The
Godfather Of Soul" or "Hie Minis
ter of the New. New Super Heavy
Funk". Whichever nickname you
prefer, the influence undeniably
remains the same James Brown has
surpassed the status of living leg
end.
.The Godfather of Soul is the
legend that provides the inspiration
for many of the musical influences
o'f today. Thrugh his roots lie in
gospel. Brown's work, most often
described as funk/R&B/soul.
remains at the forefront of every
musical genre: pop. rap. urban. and
dance. His style has come to sym
bolize a precursor tor all that has
followed, with proof of the James
Brown influence witnessed in acts
ranging from Prince to The Rolling
Stones. The Beatles to Ice Cube. No
form of music has escaped the
influence of the Godfather.
With a lifetime goal aimed at
creating a universal, feel-good sense
of mutual love. Brown's history has
come to define all stvles of music
*rJ *
and his words have ignited a multi
tude of steps towards social reform.
His distinctive vocal quality, leg
endary dance moves and message
centered lyrics have had an altering
effect on our entire culture for over
three decades. Brown has success
fully crossed the boundaries of race,0
age. gender and musical styling and
has come to symbolize universal
acceptance. As his' new Scotti
Brothers album defines, he is the
Universal James.
On his 79th record, the Godfa
ther of Soul brings his message to
greater mass appeal than ever
before. Universal James is a musi
cal collaboration with some of
Brown's favorite and most respect
ed producers: Robert CJivilles and
David Cole (C&C Music Factory)
and Jazzie B (Soul II Soul).
From the opening song, the
C&C produced "Can't Get Any
Harder." James Brown brings the
funk into the '90s with a slamming,
dance/rap extraordinaire. When the
Leaders of the New School and
Duran Ramos of Trilogy tear
c/ J
through the tracks with their uplift
ing raps, the tone is set for the rest
of the album. Throughout the fol
lowing six Jazzie B-produced track>
and three James Brown-produced
songs, the groove builds on.
A mesh of classic James
Brown funk and *90s-flavored soul,
the Jazzie B produced cuts broaden
the universality of the James Brown
message while it keeps feet tapping
and body shaking. On tracks like
"Just Do It." "Mine All Mine" and
"Show Me." the Jazzie B groove is
a soaring compliment to the distinc
tive Godfather funk, and the smooth
feel brings forward the positive in
James Brown's universal message.
Mr. Dyrfamite returns to his
roots on tracks like "Make it
Funky" and "Everybody's Got A
Thang." These James Brown pro
duced cuts are straight forward funk
classics - primed for the funk pow
ered. groove-centered musical cli
mate of the '90s.
Each of the ten songs that com
prise Universal James stand true to
the James Brown legacy they are all
?-J&
James Brown
timeless classics ready to excite the
longtime tan and convert the new
listener. With I niversal James, the
Godfather has again reached into
the future of music by combining
his enduring message of unity with
his soulful devotion of the past.
IgEl Boys Choir
mmof Harlem
From Broadway to Epcot Center.
Kg After celebrating its 25th year
JR. with a recent run on Broadway ,
the Boys Choir of Harlem stopped
by the American Adventure pavil
ion at Epcot Center on Saturday
to perform for Walt Disney World
I guests. Directed and founded by
I Dr. Walter J. Turnbull , the choir
I also seized the moment for a rap
I session with Mickey Mouse.
Arts Council Has Ticket Program
The Arts Council is happy to be
able to continue its ticket program
into the spring and summer. This
program provides tickets to per
forming arts events and art activities
for low income families, children,
senior adults and the mentally and
physically challenged.
Donated by local arts organiza
tions, tickets will be dispensed
through the council to designated
community agencies for distribu
tion. Our goal is to provide access to
arts events for people that would not
be able to attend due to economical
or physical disadvantages.
Through this program, local
agencies have been provided tickets
to events including: Preservation
Hall Jazz Band; A Christmas Carol;
the Charlie Byrd Concert; the Win
ston-Salem Symphony Concert fea
turing Maya Angelou: the Chil
dren's Theatre presentation of "The
Emperor's Nightingale;" and the
Lollipops Concerts by the Piedmont
Triad Symphony.
Upcoming events in the pro
gram include "1776.' the Secret
Garden. Carlos Rodriguez and the
Symphony Chorale. KISMET and
Music Art Sunset.
For more information concern
ing the Arts Council's Ticket Pro
gram. call 722-2585."
Taking place in July and
August. Cartwheels is a unique pro
gram that brings visual arts to the
neighborhoods of Winston-Salem
and Forsyth County. The program
enables children 12 and under to
learn about the visual arts through
hands-on experience and introduces
to area residents throughout the
summer. These concerts provide an
opportunity for families to attend
"performing arts happenings" in
their own neighborhoods and serves
as an avenue for local performers to
showcase their talent.
Aside from some technical
details and manpower needs, both
these events are terrific "free" activ
ities for children and families that
you can present to your community
ArtsR EACH
By REGGIE JOHNSON
the children to a variety of artistic
disciplines.
Also taking place in July and
August - "Evenings in the Neigh
borhoods." brings jazz, bluegrass,
country, gospel, R&B and beach
at little or no cost to your organiza
tion.
Take advantage of the program
and call the Arts Council if you are
interested in co-sponsoring an
event.
Injured?
We can help.
Were paid only
if you collect.
LEWB<v
DAGGETT
ATTORNEYS XT LAW. P. A.
Michael lewis
David D Daggett
Cerfeste Harris. R.N., J.D
ATTORNEYS At I V* P(
Michael Lewis
David D Daggett
Celeste Hams
765-7777
Phones answered 24 hours
285 Executive ParV Blvd
Winston Salem NC 27103
A HISTORY OF
HELPING PEOPLE
Cafety 1
w first ' m
Do you suspect fire, safety,
health or other hazards in
your workplace? Call us toll free.
Calls will be answered by the Governor's Office of Citizen Affairs.
You do not have to give your name.
1-800-662-7952
WAYNE'S
I .online
ihm sriaw March I lilt
Ml I \ \ IIOl S I ( > \
\ i r \iairr
5: JO - S:JO
/? ridaw March IJlli S d/.% March IJ/h
I urn In \ Hun IHii\nm
I :.W -I:.W
I 2N N. ( hrn \ S| i i l l
\\ insl nit -S;ilc mi, \( 27 1 01
Hume: I ?>-723-1 150
I nil I immI Sv i \ K ( \\ . 1 1 1 . 1 1 > 1 1
l ive Jazz every I riday and Saturday
Weekly Drink Specials
\mplt- I r< r l';irl\in^
Ashe Film & Lecture Series
DIGGS GALLERY at
WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY
?resents
Lecture: " 'The Wood Will Tell You What TO Do'
ROOT SCULPTURE
By A Dozen Self-Taught Artists'*
A lecture
by Brooke Anderson
Director of Diggs Gallery
Where:
When:
Diggs Gallery at WSSU
Thursday, March 18th
7:00 p.m.
Free & Open To The Public
In conjunction with the exhibit:
Ashe: Improvisation ft Recycling In African -American Art
Call Digfe Gallery for more Information
750-2458