C^jarlott* $05t
-Thursday, February 2,1989
FNTPRTAINMENT
Page 9A
Break's Editor A Dynamo
In High Heels And Fuchsia
By M.L.LaNey
Post Entertainment Editor
'■[ The young woman parked and
got out of her car. Smartly
dressed In a fuchsia sweater
dress and cream-colored
shoes, she stepped quickly and
gracefully toward the front door
of McDonald's Cafeteria on
Beatties Ford Road.
She had Just completed a very
long day, yet the alert eyes and
subtle smile betrayed no hint of
fatigue. She Is, as It turns out,
Constance Simpson and she Is a
very busy woman.
Her business keeps her mental
wheels turning and represents
the fulfillment of a Ufe-long am
bition as well.
Simpson Is the editor-ln-chlef
of Charlotte's Break Magazine.
As editor of Break she has an
Immense responsibility, which
she finds Immensely rewarding.
She shared her thoughts
through an exclusive Charlotte
Post Interview covering a wide
range of topics relating to her
work.
This Is the editor's first full-
fledged Interview. It Is a portrait
of a modem woman on top of the
moment.
Originally from Columbus,
Georgia, Simpson has been In
Charlotte for almost four years.
The 28-year-old Georgian Is a
collegiate product of the Univer
sity,of Georgia. She received an
BS degree In public relations In
1983.
Long before college, Simpson
recalls that during her youth, "I
always liked English, writing
and reading. It seemed quite nat
ural for me to go into a field
where I could use those interests
to their best advantage."
She maintains she was not fol
lowing In anyone's footsteps.
Tve thought a lot about role
models. My family have always
been my role models," Simpson
admits. "But, honestly, I can't
think of anyone that really
stood out as an Influence In my
career. There was no one In jour
nalism that I looked up to when
1 was growing up.
"It was Just that 1 liked It and
did very well In It. Everyone ex
pected me to pursue It as a ca
reer."
Quite naturally, Simpson was
seriously involved with the pub
lication of both her high school
newspaper and yearbook.
Before coming to Charlotte,
Simpson worked for her home
town newspaper. The Columbus
Enquirer, which Is part of the
Knight Publishing empire. She
covered metro stories and Inter
national articles for 18 months
as a copy editor.
In 1985, when the chance for
a transfer to The Charlotte
Observer came up, Simpson was
eager for the opportunity.
She was hired at The Observer
as a lay out and headline writer
for the features department.
She remembers this period as
" A time I spent perfecting lay
out techniques and doing every
thing you need to do with a news
page.
"Basically, I did that for about
18 months. Then I worked on
the main copy desk for about a
year. Just editing stories and
writing headlines."
By 1987, with her talents for
layout and her enhanced skill
for editing stories and writing
headlines, Simpson found her
self in possession of the very
skills she needed to have when
the editor's position at Break be
came available.
Break Magazine is the enter
tainment tabloid, published
weekly by The Observer. It de
buted in March 1987. Simpson
became the publication's editor
in November 1987.
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Photo/LaNEY
i
FREE GUIDE FOR YOUR FREE TIME
" This is a diverse publication. What I
want it to be is diverse."
Constance Simpson,
Editor, Break Magazine
Since taking over the position,
Simpson has firmly, but gently
established that she can handle
all the requirements that go
with the territory.
She maintains complete edito
rial control over what goes In
the magazine and what doesn't.
Personally responsible for the
magazines entire layout, she re
lies on only one assistant, Ka-
thle Glmla. Gimla Is the compil
er of the Break's listings and she
also helps with about five pages
of the layout requirements.
But the gist of the Ideas are
funneled directly through the
mind of Simpson. She takes a
professional and personal pride
In some of the covers she has
conceived , such as: the Tracy
Chapman cover as well as the
JazzCharlotte special.
She believes she has the hu
man resources to whip out Just
about anything that could possi
bly be dreamt up and there are
plenty of suggestions forthcom
ing.
After praising the fine technl-
clfms who assist her as free
lance photographers and writ
ers, Simpson reflected on the
other aspects of her work.
She has a clear vision of how
Break will be seen by it's read
ership. 'This is a diverse publi
cation. What I want It to be is di
verse," she begins.
"It has got to represent a multi
tude of various musical taste,
since It Is very musically orient
ed. I may not like a this or that
form of music, but this Is not all
about what I like.
"This Is what our readership
expects and any other conslder-
mvm
W
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^1
Gospel Stands Tall With Clark
Sisters' Album, "Conqueror"
ation Is wholly besides the
point."
Basically, says Simpson, "I'm
a behind-the-scenes person. I
don't want to be out In front of It
the magazine. I'd rather have It
out in front of me. 1 want It to
speak for itself."
She plans to further her Jour
nalistic alms by doing more
challenging types of writing.
Simpson points out that it Is
very important to appreciate the
Job from the reporter's perspec
tive. 'The beat on the street," as
she puts it, " shows which direc
tion we need to be going In."
Asked what she considered the
most important thing that she
has learned about herself, Simp
son smiles momentarily.
Then with purposeful intent
she declares, "I learned that I
could work effectively under
pressure and perform in such a
way as to get the Job done.
"I can do things that 1 didn't
know I could. There are so many
intangibles involved, things
that I never dreamed of.
"But still I have managed to en
counter things for the first time
and stUl come out on top. I don't
panic as much."
After some thought, Simpson
remarked," If I really thought
about here 1 am, a black woman,
responsible for getting these
40,000 magazines out, there
might be some days that I
wouldn't get out of bed in the
morning."
Then she concluded, "I still
panic, but 1 can produce despite
the anxiety attacks."
By M.L.LaNey
Post Entertainment Editor
What has become of gospel's
standing In the music industry?
Have you been listening more
and enjoying It less?
Well, fear not for relief Is more
than at hand. Sit down with a
copy of The Clark Sisters' new
album, "The Conquerer," for
some real satisfaction.
If you are looking for the true
gospel sound. The Clark Sisters
are the number one gospel group
In America today. They have the
power and the talent to deliver
undiluted, the messages of the
true gospel music.
The Clark Sisters are: Jack,
Twinkle, Dorlnda and Karen.
Originally from Detroit, Michi
gan, the girls are the offspring of
the renowned Dr. Mattie Moses
Clark. The elder Clark has been
known as a dynamic force In
moving gospel music for years.
The Clark Sisters exude the be
lief that the world needs to take
heed of the ministry of God's
music. On "The Conquerer" they
let the music come across for
maximum effect.
On side one, the quartet
launches a Joyful noise with
"More Than A Conqueror."
There Is a very pronounced Afri
can sound to this number, but
also present is the distinct Ca
lypso Joined to a light Jazz treat
ment.
The song "Take Me Higher"
catches the attention of the lis
tener with It's African rhythms
and It's scripture-based lyrical
content.
The remainder of the first side
maintains a mixture of Jazz,
classical and contemporary
sounds that typify what The
Clark Sisters do best.
The second side of the album
has three particular pieces that
are outstanding.
"1 Won't Let Go 'til You Bless
My Soul" uses the carefully
crafted words of the writer to
convey the desolate condition of
a lost soul and the the only hope
of redemption.
"So Much Joy Inside Of Me"
forms the third cut on side two.
It takes the form of a danceable
piece with a powerful sense of
devotion to the Joy of religious
conviction.
Finally, "Jesus Forever
More" has a softer, more tradi
tional sound than the rest of
this fine album. There Is a sweet
octave change found In this
song that begs for a second and
third hearing.
Overall, "The Conqueror" Is a
fine example of gospel music In
the 1980s. The engineering is
brilliant and the quality of the
arrangements and the produc
tion are superb.
The themes the Clark Sisters
deal with on this album are sec
ular enough to be accessible to
most people. Their approach to
the material Is dynamic.
The style of the delivery ex
plains how the sisters have de
veloped and retained a national
following.
The group will provide first
hand proof of their performing
prowess In a Charlotte concert,
which will be held on Sunday,
Feb. 12 at Ovens Auditorium.
Rock Hill Host Young, Matthews Show
ROCK HILL, sc - The Rock
Hill Fine Arts Association and
Wlnthrop College will present a
concert February 16 by soprano
Eddye Pierce Young and bass-
baritone Benjamin Matthews.
The singers' program will in
clude numbers by George
Gershwin, operatic pieces, and
more.
The program will begin at 8
p.m. Thursday, February 16, In
Byrnes Auditorium on the Win-
throp College campus. Tickets
are $12 each, or $6 for non-
Winthrop students and persons
over age 65. Tickets are availa
ble from the Rock Hill Arts
Council, 803-328-2787, or from
the Byrnes Auditorium box of
fice on February 15-16.
Soprano Eddye Pierce Young
has appeared in recital, opera
and oratorio throughout the
Young CL) and Matthews
United States and Europe. A na
tional finalist In the Metropoli
tan Opera Auditions and rvlnner
of the San Francisco Grand Fi
nals, she made her New York de
but to fine reviews and audience
acclaim.
Young earned her bachelor's
and master's degrees In voice
performance from the Universi
ty of Colorado, and currently Is
a member of the faculty at Penn
State University.
Bass-baritone Benjamin Mat
thew has appeared In operas
and as soloist with major or
chestras throughout the U.S.,
Europe, Canada and South
America. He has received
awards from a number of impor
tant organizations, including
the International vocal Compe
tition in Vercilli, Italy.
Matthews received his musical
See Rock On Page lOA
Museum Of York County Presents "Africa Alive! ’89"
With its International ac
claimed African animal and
enthnographlc collections, the
Museum of York County Is a
natural setting for a festlved cel
ebrating the rich, cultural heri
tage of African Americans.
"Africa Alive! '89" is Just that - a
celebration highlighting the di
verse traditions of African peo
ples.
In Its third year, "Africa
Alive! '89" will be held at the
Museum of York County Satur
day, February 11, 10 a.m. - 5
p.m., and Is being underwritten
by Rock Hill National Bank and
the Rock Hill Arts Council
Small Grants Program. Other
support Is being provided by
the NAACP, and the Advisory
Committee on Multi-Cultural
Arts Development of the Rock
Hill Arts Coimcll. All events and
entrance to the Museum are
free. The Central City Optimist
Club will provide transporta
tion to the Museum on the WBT
Fun Bus. The bus will leave the
library each hour beginning at
9:30 a.m. and from the Museum
each hour at 10 a.m. The last
bus will depart from the Mu
seum at 4 p.m.
The day will begin at 10 a.m.
with a quilt registration of Afri
can American quilts and a quilt
ing demonstration by Mozell
Berison, one of the artists In the
10 Afro-American Quilt Show.
The exhibit, on loan from the
Center for the Study of South
ern Culture at the University of
Mississippi features quilts
created by 10 black women
from the Southeastern United
States. Ms. Benson will be In the
Alternate Gallery throughout
the day demonstrating the tra
dition of Joining strips of cloth
to form a quilt, a technique
which Is clearly associated with
African textile designs.
The quilt registration, 10 a.m. -
4 p.m.. Is an effort to document
quilts made In the African tradi
tion before 1960. These quilts
are recognized as a vital and
beautiful tradition, distinct
from European or white-made
quilts and characterized by us
ing strips of bright cloth to form
the patterns. Each quilt will be
photographed and any Informa
tion concerning the maker will
be catalogued. This will be filed
at the Folks Art Resource Cen
ter at McKlsslck Museum for
reference and research.
Lively performances by the Ilu
Drum Ensemble and the Nubi-
ance Dancers will be held in the
morning and afternoon.
The Ilu African Drum Ensem
ble takes their name, "Ilu," from
the Yoruba word for drum. Their
dynamic performance at "Africa
Alive! '86" had the audience
clapping their hands and danc
ing to the chants and rhythms
of the Yoruba Culture. Back by
popular demand, the Ilu African
Drum Ensemble will perform at
11:30 am. and 1:15 p.m.
The Nublance Dancers, per
forming at 12:30, 2 and 3 p.m..
grew out of the Afro-American
Children's Art Program in Char
lotte, a cultural group started to
expose Inner city children, ages
8-16, to African culture and
their own African heritage. The
12 dancers have been together
for two years, performing tradi
tional West African dances In
costume and accompanied by
musicians.
Other "Africa Alive! '89" activi
ties Include an African Cultures
Presentation with Berta Day at
11 am. and 12:30 p.m. Ms. Day, a
retired elementary school
teacher and a Museum docent,
has studied African art, history
and culture and made several
See "Africa Alive! Page lOA