Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / March 3, 1988, edition 1 / Page 20
Part of The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
P«ge 4B - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Thursday. March 3. 1988 LICKS Not Bad, Mike! And The Winners Are. By Pauline Barfleld Special To The Post New York. — Two Art Blakcy jazz disciples and a 19-year-old rhythm-and-blues artist are Sony Corporation of America's 1988 Sony Innovators. Terence Blanchard and Donald Harri son, who perform under the name Harrison-Blanchard. and AJ B. Sure/ will accept their Sony Innovator Awards from Masaakl Morita, chairman of Sony Corporation of America, at the Sony Innovators Awards Ceremony at The Pierre In New York on March 1. Renowned musical artists Quincy Jones and Herbie Han cock. Sony's 1988 Master Inno vators. personally selected A1 B. Sure! and Harrison-Blanchard, respectively. In this first year of competition for the new awards program. Mr. Jones and Mr. Hancock will Join Mr. Morita In presenting the Sony Innovators Awards at the March 1 ceremo ny. Grammy Award-winning art ist George Benson and 1984 Miss America Suzette Charles will host the Sony Innovators Awards Ceremony, which will feature Itve performances by the Sony Innovators. Sony Corporation of America established the Sony Innova tors Program to recognize Black performing artists on the brink of national prominence who demonstrate unique and daring qualities In their work. For 1988, ^ny Is honoring artists In the field of music. To help further the careers of the Sony Innova tors. the company Is providing them with a collection of profes sional electronics equipment. The Sony Innovators will also be seen and heard In Sony ad vertising. Ai B. Sure! Is a keyboardist, vocalist, composer, lyricist and producer who knew at age 16 that he was destined to be a pro fessional musician. The former rap singer ultimately turned down a football scholarship to Iowa State University to focus on his new career. Mr. Sure Is recently signed with Warner Bros. Records, and his first album Is expected to sweep the nation once It Is re leased In March. His single "Nile & Day" from the album will be available In French as well as English. He describes his cur rent style as a little bit of the old mixed with the new. citing Quin cy Jones. Johnny Mathis and Michael Jackson among the art ists who Influenced him. Says Quincy Jones of his Sony Innovator; "Al has a talent that's hard to come by. As soon as I heard him. I knew he was some thing sp>eclal. He has a fresh at titude. He uses today's technol ogy to break new creative ground." Both Terence Blanchard and Donald Harrison were featured soloists and comp>osers with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers be fore forming their own group. They released the album Nas- ccnce on Columbia Records In August of 1986. In that same year, they became the first Jazz act ever to be featured at the re nowned New Music Seminar. They are currently working on their next release. Both musicians are New Or leans natives who studied at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts under Ellis Mar salis and other accomplished artists. Mr. Harrison, now 27. began playing the saxophone In 19'74 at the age of 14. He attend ed the famed Berklee School of Music, working weekends with drummer Roy Haynes and or ganist Jack McDuff. T\venty- flve-year-old Mr. Blanchard first played piano and then switched to trumpet In elementary school. While attending Rutgers Univer sity, he played with Lionel Hampton's band for two years. "Finding young artists who demonstrate a real appreciation for great Jazz Isn't easy," says Herbie Hancock. "Harrison and Blanchard play with an emo tional style that comes from a deep understanding of tradi tion." Mr. Jones and Mr. Hancock se lected the Sony Innovators from two separate groups of finalists Identified by a panel of three Judges representing the music Industry. The Judges selected the finalists from a field of nom inees solicited from the nation's major recording companies. The three Judges were: Debra Cain, membership representa tive with ASCAI’, Nelson George. Black music editor. Billboard Magazine and popular traveling disc Jockey Tom Joyner of WGCI In Chicago and KKDA In Dallas. The Sony Innovators Program, created by Mlngo-Jones Adver tising, Inc., reflects Sony Corpo ration of America's own tradi tion of Innovation In the development of professional and consumer electronics. For further Information about the Sony Innovators Program, the public may write to: Sony Innovators ETogram, P.O. Box #4454, Grand Central Sta tion New York. NY 10163. Michael Jackson was named "Best International Solo Artist" of the year at last night's sixth annual BPI Awards, winning over contenders which Included such talent as Whitney Hous ton. Madonna. Prince and Lu ther Vandross. Jackson's BAD LP. released only four months before the year's end. was Brit ain's best-selling LP of 1987, currently standing at 6X plati num (1.8 million). The "Brits" Awards, as they are called, are Britain's equivalent to the American Grammy Awards. Last night's presenta tion was seen by approximately 300 million viewers In the U.K., Europe and the Soviet Union. The Soviet broadcast, which was seen by 50 million, was the first such transmission of the awards to that nation. The "Blits" will be broadcast In the U.S. within the next several weeks (specific date and net work are unknown at this time). In acceptance of his honor, Jackson stated: 'This Is a very short sp>eech, but straight from the heart. I am very honored and very happy. I love you all; thank you very much." Jackson will be enthusiasti cally welcomed by 360,000 Brit ish fans In his, unprecedented, 5 sold-out Wembley Stadium con certs In July. "Bad" Man, Good Deed By Maureen O'Connor Special To The Post The United Negro College Fund announced that Michael Jackson will be honored at a special dinner celebrating UNCFs 44th anniversary In New York on Thursday. March 10th. The Epic and CBS Records recording star will receive the organization's "Frederick D. Pat terson Award'" named In honor of UNCF's Founder and hono rary president. Liza Minnelli, Yoko Ono, Whit ney Houston. Quincy Jones. Ste phen Spielberg and other close friends of Mr. Jackson will also participate In the festive occa sion. Each of these Individuals has agreed to be a vice chair man for the dinner. Nell Vander Dussen of Sony Corporation of America, Walter R. Yetnlkoff of CBS Records Inc., and John S. Spencer of Barclays Bank of New York will serve as honorary chairmen. William E. LaMothe of the Kel logg Company Is the dinner chairman. Supported by major underwrit ing from Sony Corporation of America and CBS Records Inc., the dinner Is expected to attract a sell-out crowd and should raise substantial funds for UNCFs 42 member colleges. The "Frederick D. Patterson Award'" Is given In recognition of distinguished public service. Michael Jackson began his In volvement with the United Negro College Fund In 1984 when he contributed half of his "Victory Tour" proceeds to the formation of a scholarship program. Since then, 97 scholarhips have been awarded to students enrolled at UNCF colleges. Known by the motto: "a mind Is a terrible thing to waste.," the United Negro College Fund Is an umbrella organization, repre senting 42 private historically black colleges and universities. Since its Inception In 1944, UNCF has raised more than $400 million for black higher education. For additional Infor mation. write: Unit -J Negro Col lege Fund, 500 Blast 62nd Street, New York. NY 10021. A NEW ORLEANS RESTAURANT & BAR Daryle Ryce Appears Mondays 9-12 Redflsh, Crawfish, Shrimp, Hurricanes. Bread Pudding, Nightly Specials 1800 E. Seventh Street • Charlotte, NC (4 Blocks South of Independence Boulevard) Open 5:30 Every Night 377-901 7 Alllfejor Credit Cards Accepted vjode« fie© fCi0g ro > "GOOD FOOD AT A GREAT PRICE" All You Care To Eat For Our Low Price (Includes Drink) LUNCH. $3.79 DINNER. $4.69 3251 Freedom Drive Opening Next Week At 4635 N. Tryon Street. DON'T MISS IT!
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
March 3, 1988, edition 1
20
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75