t • f
tat cjixoiimuui
RAUBOR, N C., SATURDAY. NOVEMBER 25. 1981
16
SINGER SALUTED - Actor- singer Lucia Hawkins (left) signs program for A&T students Miss
Betty J. Harris of Oxford, and Donnie Moore of Thomasville, following Miss Hawkins’ appear
ance In the University's luceum series last week.
AMONG THE GREATS - "Oh Yeahhhh," was Louis Arm
strong’s comment when he received the first copy of his new
biography from Bill ’Parbs, merchandising manager, Chil
drens Press, Inc., Chicago. “Satch” joins such other lumi-‘
nartes as President John F. Kennedy, Leonard Bernstein,
Babe Ruth Gen. Douglas MacArthur, and industrialist Henry
Ford in the initial publishing phase of the 20-book “People
of Destiny’’ biographical series. Each is available in book
stores with the entire series available to school and libraries
on a subscription basis. (NPI PHOTO).
AMONG THE STARS
with LEE IVORY
Singer Johnny Nash is my
friend. Perhaps this is why
Among the Stars is such a
difficult thing to write this week.
I love him as a buddy and I
love him as an entertainer.
But I just can’t seem to un
derstand, though, would make
a completely brand new world.
Maybe it isn’t meant for me to
understand.
Picture this, if you will: The
stage is gaily lit and the an
nouncer has just finished in
troducing "one of the finest
young singers in America to
day, ladies and gentlemen,
Johnny Nash.”
The lights dim and a hand
some young singer--dressed to
the teeth effortlessly glides on
stage and, just as effortlessly,
goes into his first song.
You wonder, as 1 did back in
1963, where has this guy been?
You have never seen anything
quite like him. He ha's the pre
sence of stage that comes with
only years of performing ex
perience; he has a charm that
makes you listen raptly to what
he is singing. He is a pro
fessional in every sense of the
word.
Midway through his act, the
band leaves the stage and this
guy who reminds you of a talent
ed teenager picks up a handy
guitar. He sings such things
as “Scarlet Ribbons” or, an
orginal composition, “Cream
Puff,” arid you find yourself
really knowing how it feels
to be entertained.
And you begin ‘to understand
■What Arthur Godfrey saw in
this kid from a golf course in
Houston, Texas. You begin
to understand why he was chosen
for starring roles in motion
pictures like “Key Witness”
and “Take A Giant Step.” In
stinctively, you love this per
former because he is truly
fantastic and gifted and warm
and human.
You run right out and buy
all of his alburns. You start
talking to your friends about him
and you write reams and reams
Johnny Nash, .. Johnny Nash.”
Then, one day, you hear the
most beautiful album in the
world, “Composer’s Choice.”
And you, know right away that
here is the guy who should be
singing love songs to teenagers
and young people in love.
; Then, you hear your singer
y®ur fantastic singer-in a dif
ferent hag. He’s a pro, so you
can understand his trying to
cover all fields. But, then,
he stops singing the beatific
for the “big beat;” he sings
rock and roll, and nobody is
listening to what he is trying
to say. And you just don’t
understand. You sadly shake
your head because you just
don’t understand.
See you Among the Stars..
Mixed Song
Duo New
York Hit
NEW YORK CITY - Even
story books read by children
in public and Sunday Schools
never had subjects that have
aroused the attention of rec
ord buyers as much as the new
Atlantic record team of Judy
CUy and Billy Vera.
Most record firms shy away
from tunes with social mess
age, prefering to avoid the head
aches they present. But in
“Story Book Children” by the
duo of Clay and Vera, the words
are timely and carry a message
that talks of harmony between
the races and asks the ques
tion of “why can’t people exist
together as children often read
about in picture books.’
To the two singers it doesn’t
matter at all that one is Negro,
Judy Clay, and her male vocal
partner is white, Billy Vera.
“I’ve never given it a
thought,’ said Vera. “Some
people may frown on our being
linked together vocally, but
that’s just their hard luck.”
His sentiments were echoed
by Miss Clay, former gospel
singer, who’s been lifting her
voice in song for the pasttwen
ty years. A one-time member
of the Drinkard Singers of gos
pel game, she’s been singing pop
for the past three years.
Born in Riverside, Calif., as
William McCord, Vera has
worked with many groups but
cut out recently as a single
to seek his fame and fortune.
He wrote their first hit tune
as a result of his concern for
equal rights and opportu-’ties
for all people.
It was by chance that he was
teamed up with Judy. At At
lantic, Vice President Jerry
Wexler, who’s been credited
for the revival of Aretha Frank
lin, the hottest female vocalist
today, chose Judy when she
••••••••••••••••••••*
l Entertainment *
S HUiS mi i
1 CRIES I
M
Bv Negro Press International
TRAMMIST PASSES
CHICAGO - A few hours be
fore he was to perform with
the Ray Charles hand at the Aud
itorium Theatre, Frederick
“Keg" Johnson, 59, was found
dead, apparently of a heart at
tack, in his Pick Congress ho
tel room. Johnson, whose fail
ure to show up for rehearsal
with the Charles’ group led
to the discovery of his body,
had played with such name jazz
bands as Duke Ellington’s, Lou
is Armstrong, Cab Calloway,
Fletcher Henderson, Lucky
MMinder and Benny Carter
during the late 19305.
SENDS ’EM
WESTBURY, N. Y. - Comed
ian Nipsey Russell, famed for
his ability to think fast on his
feet with “ad lib" jokes, show
ed why he is regarded as one
of the nation’s top comedians
as he captivated a throng at
the Westbury Music Fair last
week. The effervescent Rus
sell was featured performer on
the Bobby Darin Show.
“ROARIN’ 20s" SINGER DIES
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Ida
Prather Cox, 78, of Cedartown,
Ga., a popular blues singer dur
ing the “Roaring’ 205," lost a
three-year bout to cancer last
week. Mrs. Cox, who had sur
vived a stroke in 1945, helped
popularized the song “Put Your
Arms Around Me, Honey," and
performed with such jazz lum
inaries as King Oliver, Jelly
Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong
and Lionel Hampton, during her
long career.
“SLOW DANCE ON KILLING
GROUND" TO HAVE
MIDWEST PREMIERE
CHICAGO - “Slow Dance
on the Killing Ground," a play
written by W'illiam Hanley, and
directed by Dick Gaffield, will
have its midwest premiere at
the Hull House Theatre in the
Parkway Community House,
Friday, Nov. 24.
The performing group at
Parkway is known as the "Sky
loft Players,” named after the
once famous theatrical group
associated with the original
Parkway Community House in
the 19405.
“Slow Dance...” examines
the lives endured by three wide
ly diverse individuals brought
together in a grimy, half-lit
store and soda fountain in a
factory section of Brooklyn--a
store owner, who claims to be a
refugee from Nazi Germany;
a young, brilliant Negro fugi
tive; and a pregnant white girl.
In the cast, Jerold Ziman,
a student from the University
of Chicago, plays the refugee;
Robert Curry, an actor widely
known around Chicago, plays the
fugitive; and Vicki Childers, a
young actress from the suburb
of Evanston, 111., plays the young
pregnant girl.
The play originally was pro
duced off- Broadway with great
success during the 1964-65 sea
son. Hanley’s first full length
play, it received high praise
from audiences and critics alike
as an art form. Hanley him
self was also praised for his
great Insight and ability as a
playwright.
Theatre activities of the Hull
House Association was super
vised by Robert Sickinger, The
association is one of the most
active institutions in the city
providing training and oppor
tunities for advancement for
young people interested in the
theatre.
SAM COOKE’S
MOTHER DIES
CHICAGO - Funeral services
for Mrs Annie Mae Cooke,
mother of the late, famous rock
wandered Into his office one day
while he was contemplating a fe
male partner for Vera on his
first record session for the
company.
They both hit it off from the
start, Already they’re working
on another joint wax session,
plus the fact that they'll soon
be kicking off a nation-wide
personal appearance tour at the
Apollo theater. And with the
sure acceptance they're due to
get from the tough, but fair
minded Apollo audience, the
words that they sing should be
come more than a reality for
them.
THEATRICALS
Iho World Os Entei iuinmonf M
Tells The Story Os
How A Retard is Mode
Thus the “groove" in which
a record will be placed, sty
listic “groove," that Is, must
be decided before the arrang
er takes pen In hand to write
for the musicians.
The arranger - after preli
minary discussion --is then
given the green light to use
his Inherent talent to come up
with a unique and unusual in
terpretation of the originally
written song that will, quite
hopefully, enhanced record
sales.
PART 111
The melody has been written,
the lyrics have been added, and
the artist and repertoire di
rector of Chess Records -- Bil
ly Davis -- has chosen an ar
ranger based upon the style of
the song and the artist who will
sing it.
In this case, however, the
“artist” is four girls; four
lovely and talented young ladles
known professionally as The
Vashonettes.
Separately, though, they are
known as Yvonne Maury, the
lead singer, Sonya Marlene
Frank, Ernestine “Ernie" Wil
liams and Bobbie Bester. And
they’re outta sight!
The Vashonettes have long
been noted abound Chicago for
their fantastic dancing ability
and they have studied at the
Sammy Dver School of the Thea
tre under the very dynamic
Shirley Hall.
This series might have been
written about The Dells, The
Radiants, Little M ilton (the
“New King of the Blues,’’) or
Holly Maxwell had it not been
for one of the guiding credos
of the Sammy Dver facility.
Miss Hall, who is as articu
late as she is talented, stated;
“The school’s tradition is
not only to turn out good danc
ers, but to encourage inmate
abilities in our students.
Therefore, The Vashonettes --
who are superb dancers--were
encouraged to sing."
‘n’ roll singer Sam Cooke, were
held at Christ Cathedral Temple
last week, following her death
in Cook County hospital after a
long illness. A native of Shaw,
Miss., Mrs. Cooke came to live
in Chicago in 1934 and with her
husband, the Rev. C. S. Cooke,
now 70, reared eight children,
Including Sam. All sang in
church choirs, but onlySamand
another son, L. C., became pro
fessional singers.
MAKEBA SCORES
NEW YORK - Famed South
African - born songstress Mir
iam Makeba teamed with enter
tainer Mongo Samtamaria last
week to score a big hit in a
pre-Thanksgiving Day show at
Carnegie Hall. Miss Makeba,
famed forher “click” singingof
African songs, featured many of
her favorite tunes.
REQUIEM FOR PIONEER
NEW ORLEANS - Solemn re
quiem mass was offered at St.
Joan of Arch Catholic church
last week for Louis D. James,
Sr., 77, a pioneer musician
well known and respected in
Louisiana jazz circles. James,
who played the violin, clarinet,
saxophone and bass in New Or
leans jazz bands since 1915,
launched his musical career by
playing a comb and tissue pap
er imitating a cornet, while
rubbing his heel on the floor to
stimulate a bass.
HARVEY AND THE 7 SOUNDS - One of the most outstanding line-ups o\ ;
rhythm and blues stars will be at Dorton Arena tn Raleigh on Monday, Nov, 27th, at 8:30 p. rn„
for a big show and dance, Headlining this great show and dance will be the sensational Wilson
Pickett. Also on the show will be Harvey and the 7 Sounds, Carla Thomas, Mickey Murray,
Laura Lee, The Staple Singers, The Esquires, The Exciters, and special added attractions, The
Box Tops, who will be singing, “The Letter” and “Neon Rainbow'.' Tickets are on sale at Thiem's
Record Shop and The Record Bar in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, Harvey and the 7 Sounds
Is a new' and exciting group from Chicago that is causing quite a storm in the music industry
with their latest release, “Get Down." The group Is made up of Harvey Scales, lead singer; Ai
Vance, bass; Billy Stonewall, drums; Randy Jacobs, lead guitar; Mamnie Smith, trumpet; Melvin
Taylor, tenor sax; and Ben Perty, halftone sax.
And, baby, they can.
It has been rumored that they
sound and act like a female
group of the magnitude of the
Temptations. And that, being
complimentary, is saying quite
a mouthful.
The Vashonettes, as dancers,
have worked professionally with
such show business giants as
Sammy Davis, Jr., Count Ba
sie, Brook Benton, Roy Hamil
tqn, the late Dinah Washing
ton and Duke Ellington. And,
of course, they are not as
ancient as their history makes
them seem. They are all In
their early twenties and they
are all cute enough to take home
to meet your parents when vou
know Mom and Dad nave gone
out for the evening!
At anv rate, the song i»
“Love,” and the A&K man is
Billy Davis, and the producer
is Leonard Cast on, former
member of The Radiants, who Is
now one of the brightest young
men in the business. Leonard
not only sings, but plays seven
different instruments and
writes songs in his spare time.
Together, Billy and Leonard
select the band and take them
through several rehearsals be
fore cutting what is called a
band track.
Using the “four-track” tap
ing system, an engineer is able
to record several different in
struments on three of the tracks
while leaving one track open
for the over-dubbing of voices.
An example ot this would be
to have rhythm instruments (pi
ano, guitar, drums and ball all
recorded on Track No. 1; saxo
phones and other horns record
ed on Track No. 2; and, on
Track No. 3, any other instru
ments or special sound ef
fects -- like hand clapping,
crowd noises, etc. Strings
are usually recorded on this
“third track" so to speak.
The recording engineer is
charged with a proper “mix"
of voices and instruments and
it facilitates matters greatly If
he has some degree of control
over separate segments of the
completed recording. He can,
by lowering or raising volume
levels, keep the lead singer
from being “drowned out" by
overly loud accompaniment.
A good percentage of the rec
ords on the market today appear
to missed this vital phase of
the operation 1
Many times, band tracks are
cut on entertainers while they
are touring the country. Since
Billy Davis knows the idiosyn
crasies of his artists and the
keys in which they sing, he of
ten finds a tune for them to
record, has it arranged for
them in their particular musi
cal key, and then commissions
the band to cut ihe tracks with
out the artist having ever heard
the song.
A dub, or vinyl disc record
ing is made of the band track
arid this is mailed - along
with the lyrics -- to the en
tertainers who, in his or her
leisure time, practices the song
until he “feels" it and is read
y for “over-dubbing," or add
ing his voice to the completed
tapes. When this stage is reach
ed, the artist schedules studio
time to coincide with his free
time on the road, fliestntoChi
cago and adds his voice to the
space left on Track No. 4.
The engineer, along with the
producer andA&Rman, goes in
to the studio for the purpose of
mixing and properly balancing
all of the Ingredients of the
r ecord they hope will be a hit.
(To be continued next week)
VIVIAN AMIS
Barber-Scotia Grad In Concert
CONCORD - Barber-Scotia
College will present’ Miss Vi
vian Ayers, poet and dramatic
reader, in recital Friday, Nov.
17, at 8 p. m. in the College
Chapel. Developing the topic,
“Young Americans in the
Arts," Miss Ayers will give
her Interpretation of what is
art, what is new, and what is
American. A special feature of
the evening will be dramatic
reading of her own poetry.
Miss Ayers, a native of Ches
ter, and a graduate of Barber-
Scotia College, is editor and
publisher of Adept Quarterly.
She is a member of the Fondren
Library Staff of Rice Univer
sity and presently is coordina
tor of Volunteers for Houston-
VTVTAJt AYERS
TAKING FIVE - On the set of Stanley Kramer’s Columbia
Pictures release, “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner," Sidnev
Poitier points out some activity to Miss Isabell Sanford, who
makes her motion picture debut in the Technicolor production
filmed on location in San Francisco and Hollywood. Miss
Sanford, who earned'her reputation on the stage, delivers
some of the funniest lines in the picture in scenes with Poi
tier. Poitier co-stars with Spencer Tracy and Katharine
Hepburn, whose daughter, played by Katherine Houghton, tolls
them she plans to marry Poitier. Miss Sanford earned her
important role based on stage ability seen by Kramer without
a screening test or reading.
Drive Safely
Harris County with theO.E.O.
Program.
The Adept Quarterly marks a
.w era in publishing. Notably
for its design, subject matter,
art presentation, and for the,
equality and fearlessness of
its writings, it has been sub
scribed to by a majority of
university libraries in the Unit
ed States. The journal Is in
ternationally staffed.
Vivian Ayers gained a Pulit
zer Award nomination for her
first book of poems, “Spice of
Dawns," in 1954. Since then
she has completed three poe
tic dramas - “Hawk" in 1956,
“Bow Boly" in 1962, and “The
Act" in 1965 which remains
unpublished.
BOSTON ARENA Mon., Nov. 27tli
N. C. STATE FAIRGROUNDS--RALEIGH, 8:30 P M.
Sweet Bob $ Anniversary SHOW and DANCE
' CARLA THOMAS M 1
STAPLE SINGERS jK
“W» what ir* worth-, NK7
WTlk tI
- THE EXCITERS §gg BIG SHOW BANS
A SPECIAL ADDED ATTRACTION
kvfzßOX TOPS
LIMITED NUMBER AOV. TICKETS 53.00-AT DOOR 53,50
On Sale: Thlem’t Record Shop; The Record Sar In
Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill
dames V, Baker wrote In a
critique of the “Hawk” that
Miss Ayers uses the device of
a flight or a journey to make
possible an objective view of
“people" or to engage in a
critique of humanity ... It
says to the bold and seasoned
reader; Ascend to the spiritua’
stratosphere. Endure an ex
pansion of being.
Isabel Sanford
Enters Movies
After Stage
Although Isabell Sanford has
been in Los Angeles, for seven
years, and in numerous plays,
Columbia Pictures’ “Guess
Who’s Coming To Dinner,"
marks her motion picture debut
in a key role incorporating
both comedy and drama. ,
“Guess Who’s Coming To
Dinner, Is a Stanley Kilmer
Production, starring three Aca
demy Award-winners, Spencer
Tracy, Sidney Poitier, and
Katharine Hepburn, and intro
duces Katherine Houghton.
A native New Yorker, Miss
Sanford established her repu
tation on the Broadway stage,
and it was performance in
“Amen Corner," seen by Stan
ley Kramer, that resuited in
her getting the part in his new
motion picture, without having a
screen test or reading.
The effort which Miss San
ford handles her part and her
scenes with Poitier, and Miss
Houghton who sparks the ac
tion of “Guess Who’s Coming
To Dinner" when she arrives
home with the announcement
for Tracy and Hepburn that she
is going to marry Poitier, will
result in moviegoers agreeing
with Kramer that Miss Sanford
could not have made a more
effective motion picture debut.
In the Technicolor produc
tion, filmed on location in San
F rancisco and Hollywood, and In
which Roy Glenn and Beach
Richards have key roles as Poi
tier’s parents, Miss Sanford de
livers some oi the funniest
lines.
Miss Sanford was born in New
York City, August 29, and ed
ucated in that city’s public
schools, at P.S. 81 and Evan
der. Childs High. With a nat
ural bent for words, she was
always outstanding in English
and Drama, and was the “star"
of every commencement exer
cise from the sth grade through
the 9th. Encouraged by her
teachers, she enrolled with the
American Negro Theatre,
where she worked with Harry
Belafonte and then joined a
small repertory theatre in New'
York.
LINCOLN
RALEIGH, N. C.
STARTS SUNDAY. NOV. 26
BLOOD
DRINKERS
Starring
AMELIA FUENTES
plus
2nd Feataz*
FALSE SHAME
STARTS THURS.. NOV. 28
IN THE HEAT OF
THE NIGHT
Starring
SIDNEY POITIER
plus
FINDERS
KEEPERS
—-plas-
CUFF PRICHARD