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ENTERTAINMENT
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MY TUNE
by
Obataiye B. Akinwole
The arts of mankind art many.
They have been grouped in many
different ways through the years. For
example, there are the visual
arts—painting, sculpture,
architecture—the aural arts—music,
spoken verse—and those which
depend for their effect on a
combination of the two—rhetoric,
theater, opera, ballet. Further
division brings us to the creative or
temporal arts—music, spoken
verse-and those which are created
once for all—sculpture, architecture,
cinema.
The temporal arts have one thing In
common. They all depend in one way '
or another upon visual symbols which 1
convey the artist’s Intentions to the <
performer and, through him, to the '
listener or the spectator. Since we are 1
dealing with music here, we will *
speak of the performer. >
The symbols used by the artist have *
been developing for 1,500 years, they 1
are still unstandardized. One will And I
different idiosyncrasies within a >
country. What effect has this >
arbitrary system had upon the
performer through the years, and «
how will it affect the performer and i
the whole of music 50 years from *
now? s
Prom humble beginnings music ^
has grown into a highly technical tl
field where the performer is given P
little freedom. There are exceptions, c
of course—the mannered music of P
jazz is one, but even here the *
performer’s “freedom” is being v
taken away. The effect is not so *
noticeable because the modern
performer hat been conditioned to
believe that be or she should do no
more than what is written on the
manuscript. The performer of old
was given only a skeleton "harmony”
an which he extemporised freely. The
interpretation of the performer was
if utmost importance. The performer
was expected to know all the
peculiarities of the style in which he
performed. Today, almost everything
son manuscript.
It is quite obvious that the
performer, in the traditional sense, is
incoming obsolete. Even to the point
hat the modern trend is seemingly to
lo away with the performer
iltogether. Modern innovations such
is the computer are the major
•uses. When we walk into any store
hese days, we hear music
background music). This is not live
nusic but music that has been pre
aped and replayed over and over
gain. One might say: "Well, the
•rformer was needed to record the
susic.” That’s true, but let us
peculate for a moment.
The latest innovation has been
lectronically and computer
roduced music that can match the
Mind of most modern instruments
nd more. What happens if this
movation is perfected; where does
tat leave the performer? It would
robably be much cheaper to buy a
smputer than to pay expensive
Brformers, editors, publishers and
> on. What will happen to them?
rith the computer doing all the work,
hat will become of emotion,
feeling,” and “mood” in music?
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Cyril Poitier Older Brother Dies
Of Cancer In Miami, Family Mourns
MIAMI, Fla. (API—Cyril Poitier,
the older brother who helped raise
actor Sidney Poitier, died Nov. 13 of
cancer, his family said. He was 80.
Poitier, me oldest of eight brothers
and sisters, was born on Cat Island,
Bahamas. He moved to Miami in 1839
at the age of IS and two years later
married Albertha Sands.
In 1981, the couple renewed their
wedding vows in an elaborate
ceremony to make up for the brief
wedding they had as teenagers, the
Miami Herald reported last week.
In addition to raising 10 children of
their own, the Poitiers took in Sidney,
a disruptive 15-year-old sent to Miami
by his father to be straightened out by
his big brother.
"He went to Washington Carver
School for a while, but quit and 1
worked in a grill. I was very strict
with him. He’d always look up to me, i
listened to my advice," Cyril Poitier i
laid in 1984 after his brother had
received an Academy Award for his ,
role in “Lillee of the Field.” i
"Once I found him rolling dice in '
the street with a gang," he said. “I 1
walked up to him with a strap in my
hand, but he saw me coming and took *
off like the wind. He could run fast, ‘
that boy. When I got home again, he (
was in the yard playing with the kids. 9
I Just hadn’t the heart to belt him ,
then. But I told him never to do it 1
again. And he never did." “
Over the years, Cyril Poitier held a J
number of Jobs, from handyman to S
bell man to luggage carrier at Miami 1
nternational Airport.
He also got a taste of movle
naking, appearing with his brother
n Let's Do It Again, Piece of the
tot inn and Uptown Saturday Night.
For the past 10 years, Cyril Poitier
worked with another son, Bernard,
'ho runs Poitier Funeral Home in
fiami.
In addition to his wife, daughter,
on and actor brother, Poitier, a
minding member of Holy Redeemer
atholic Church, also is survived by
ons Cyril, Jr. and Anthony;
aughters Ethelyn Hamilton,
•oretha Thomas, Carolyn Upson,
uliette Higgs and Deborah Poitier;
rothers Reginald Poitier and
ackson Burnside; and sisters Ruby
Bars, Delores Poitier and Maude
lamilton.
New Raleigh Laser Art Sculpture Comes
To Life, System Operates Home
wnat type or art moves faster than
a speeding bullet, covers several city
blocks and yet doesn’t weigh an
ounce? People visiting downtown
Raleigh on evenings between Dec. 5
and New Year’s Eve will get a ehfw»f
to see for themselves, when North
Carolina's first laser art sculpture
comes to life.
The specially commissioned
“floating" light sculpture, formed by
two laser beams reflected off mirrors
mounted on the tops of downtown
buildings, is the creation of Chris
Robinson, an art professor at the
University of South Carolina.
The lasers will be turned on at
approximately 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 8, In
conjunction with the lighting of the
governor’! Chrlatmai tree. The
prime viewing arena for the laaer
dlaplay will be In front of the Civic
Center and along Fayetteville Street
Mall, although apectatora will be able
to aee the llghta from a dlatance of
aeveralcityblocka.
Corporate aponaorahlp of the
aculpture cornea from Raleigh-baaed
IllumElex Carp., the nation’! largeat
Independent lighting management
aervicee company, with additional
aupport from the Downtown Raleigh
Development Corp.
In addition to the laser aculpture,
IlliumElex will also provide viauoi*
with an , educational display
illustrating recent advances In
lighting technology, as well as the
impact that energy-efficient lighting
systems have on the environment.
The display will be located inside the
Radisson Hotel, next to the
Fayetteville Street Mall entrance.
"We operate in 31 states throughout
the South and Eastern United States,
but we wanted to do something
special for the people of Raleigh,
since this is our hometown,” says
Harold Chappell, president of
IllumElex.
c«£25toi,*£too»
Imagine the spirit of Mardi Gras or
Disney World's Main Street on
Fayetteville Street Mall and you have
First Night Raleigh, a community
celebration of Now Year's Eve with
performances, visual art,
entertainment and culture In
unexpected places in downtown
Raleigh.
Produced by Artsplosure, First
Ni^it Raleigh will be the largest New
Year’s Eve celebration ever held in
eastern North Carolina, offering
something for everyone—from the
child to the senior dtlsan who wants
to be part of a festive celebration of
the passage of tlma. From Capitol
Square to Moore Square, First Night
Raleigh will offer a feast for the
imagination and serve as a delightful,
alcohol-free alternative to traditional
New Year's Eva Indulgences.
Originating in Boston in WTO as a
part of the nation’s Bicentennial
celebration, the First Night concept
has since been successfully
replicated in more than 70 major
cities across the United States and
Canada and promises to become the
nation's dominant cultural tradition
for celebrating New Year’s Eve by
the year Moo.
All First Night Raleigh activities
will take place in downtown Raleigh
beginning in the afternoon with
children's programming. At dusk, the
many performing and visual artists
participating In first Night Raleigh
will lead a fantastic Peopled
Procession through downtown
Raleigh prior to the evening’s
performances. The night will be full
if the unexpected and the unusual
with visual art and performances
taking place continuously in atriums,
obbies, churches, galleries and
itorefronts throughout the downtown
area. The evening will culminate on
the Civic Center Plata with a
fireworka and light (how that will
mark the beginning of Raleigh’a
Bicentennial Celebration.
Hamdrlx Gets
Star For'60s
Bast Music
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (AP)-ftock
innovator Jimi Hendrix waa honored
last week for hit 1960a psychedelic
guitar pyrotechnics with a
posthumous star in the Hollywood
Walk of Fame.
His father, A1 Hendrix, and
brother, Leon Hendrix, Joined more
than MO fans on Hollywood Boulevard
for the unveiling of the star outside
Book City Collectables, which has a
shrine to Hendrix along an entire
wall.
Hendrix died of a drug overdose in
1070 at age 37.
The star was Imbedded in the coral
and gray sidewalk between stars
honoring actor Art Carney and
director Fred Zlnneman.
“It was a long time coming, but
good things happen to those who
wait,” A1 Hendrix told the fans, many
of them wearing tie-dyed shirts and
rocking to Hendrix guitar riffs
screeching from loudspeakers.
The Hendrix star, the 1,043rd
unveiled along the Walk of Fame,
was sponsored by Warner Records,
which is releasing • boxed set of four
Hendrix compact discs.
His albums included “Axis: Bold as
Love," "Band of Gypsys” and “Are
You Experienced?” He also was
famous for such songs as “Purple
Hase,” “Foxy Lady."
Nonviolent Rap
Group, Leads
In Music World
DALLAS, Tru (AP)—Rap group
Public Enemy wants to be known for
its public service.
Group members Flavor Flav,
Terminator and Chuck D spoke to
teenagers Friday about the dangers
of drug abuse, gang violence, black
on-black crime and dropping out of
school.
"The purpose that we’re here today
for Is that education is way more
Important than me teaching you how
to dance," Flavor Flav told an
auditorium of excited young fans at
Dallas' Lincoln High 8chool. "It all
starts here by respecting your
teachers, because they have the
Information you need to get a
diploma."
According to a U.8. Centers for
Disease Control study, homicide is
the leading cause of death among
black males IB to M. During the one
hour presentation, rap group
members stressed the importance of
avoiding America's violent
subculture.
Public Enemy’s appearance came
only days after Dallas set a record for
homicides, passing the 444 killings of
1B80. Dallas police say 45 percent of
the victims were black.
Strictly Business
Soundtrack Marks
New Superstars
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.-Up
town/MCA Records announcdea the
release of the Warner Bros, feature
“Strictly Business” soundtrack,
featuring new and unreleased cuts
from platinum-selling superstars
Stephanie Mills, Heavy D and the
Boys and L.L. Cool J. The “Strictly
Business” soundtrack is a collection
of 11 fun and memorable tunes
featuring some of today's hottest
Mack talent.
Also Included are songs by Jeff
Redd, Mary J. Bilge, Grand Puba (of
Brand Nubian), Jodeci, Nice A
Smooth, Leaders of the New School,
Rare Essence and La Quan. The
album’s first single is Uptown/MCA
recording artist Jeff Redd’s “You
Called and Told Me,” to be followed
upon the film’s release by L.L. Cool
J’s "Strictly Business.”
"Strictly Business” is a
contemporary romantic comedy
about rising young black executive
Waymon Tinsdale III (“The Cosby
Show's” Joseph C. Phillips) whose
life—a perfect Job, a perfect condo, a
perfect BMW and a perfect socially
correct fiance—Is turned upside
down by the gorgeous, flamboyant
Natalie ("Jungle Fever’s” Halle
Berry), whom he sees in a
restaurant.
Garner Road
Ballet Claes
Moves In Motion
Ua Mondays at T p.m., little
ballerinas can be seen entering the
Garner Read YMCA ballet class.
EAch child gives 110 percent to
become the best ballerina possible.
Instructor Karen Hanks of Raleigh
has studied dance at the N.C. School
of the Arts, Howard University and
UNC-Greeasbero. Karen believes In
having fnaand working hard.
The ballet class is exposing youth to
classical music. The class is also
building coordination, poise, and self
confidence. If you are Interested in
Joining the ballet class, call US-ltM.
Jermaine Tells His Side Of The Jackson Family Fraud
NEW YORK, N.Y. (AP)-Meet the
happy Jackson family: Jermaine
says LaToya is brainwashed, LaToya
says her parents sexually assaulted
her, Jermaine says Michael is a
product of surgery and skin
lightening, Michael rarely* says
anything.
It’s all in the name of publicity:
spell it J-A-OK-S-O-N.
An unreleased version of
Jermaine’s song, “Word to the
Badd!’’ is leaked to radio stations?
And it sets up a controversy with
Michael? And both Jermaine (“Yog'
Said”) and Michael (“Dangerous”)
are releasing new albums?
A mere coincidence—not I
For his part, Jermaine is
downplaying his spat with Michael,
but letting LaToya and her tell-all
biography have it with both barrels.
In a recent interview, Jermame was
fiercely proud and unfailingly upbeat
about his family—until LaToya came
up.
Mention of her much-publicised
book gets the soft-spoken Jermaine’s
voice rising. LaToya accused her
father of physically and sexually
abusing the Jackson children, and
her mother of standing by while it
occurred.
“LaToya is beautiful, but she’s
Drainwasnea. My sister is liuiuencei
by her husband, who would discredl
anyone for his own greed," say
Jackson.
“My mother and father are grea
parents. They did a great Job. It hurt
them. You know what hurts the most
We worked and worfctfcL. trying t
builgl something lor, ourselves. Sh
•wasn’t a part ofthat, and she floesn
have the right ttftfif that down."
* As for brother Michael, Jermain
spoke positively about thei
relationship despite “Word to th
Baddl" and their dueling albums.
“No. It’s great, because he ain
heavy, he’s my brother. It’s one c
those things. Michael’s a tremendou
talent. He’s the greatest out there, a
far as I’m concerned. And that'
speaking as an entertainer, not as ,
brother,” says Jermaine.
Jermaine’s record won’t includi
his controversial version of the som
“Word to the Badd!", which feature*
lyrics questioning Michael’s plasti
surgery and skin lightening. ,
sanitized version appears on th
album.
But Jermaine has some otho
advantages this time around. Big
time producers L.A. and Babyfac
were brought in to work with the :u
year-old Jackson; they’re hopeful ih
i resiui win ue more hits like “Let’s
i Get Serious,” “Let Me Tickle Your
i Fancy," “Do What You Do," and “I
Think It's Love."
i Jackson moved his family from Los
s Angeles to Georgia for almost a year
> to make the album, relocating to his
r producers' home base. While the shift
e south caused some problems, It also
i had several benefits—including new
friendships with the production team.
e “We had all this time. You never
i get a chance like that, to go to games
e together, to work out and train
together, to play basketball,"
i Jermaine said. “We went to some
i Braves games. I became a Braves
> fan before the Series.”
Jackson is joined by Living Colour
guitarist Vernon Reid on one track,
i while the four-man group Color Me <
Badd contributes backing vocals on >
“WordtotheBadd!” I
The latter group, whose debut .
album is a major hit, asked Jermaine
for autographs and pictures when i
i they met—an experience which !
brought Jackson back 3S years to the i
Regal Theater in Chicago. I
“Smokey Robinson was on the i
show. I’ll never forget it. We were on
the talent show part... and we got a I
chance to shake his hand. They I
[Smokey and the Miracles] were i
rearing Hack turtlenecks, and we
took his hand, and wo didn't want to
let go," says Jackaon.
The “we” are the Jackaon Five:
Jermaine, Jackie, Tito, Marlon and
Michael. Their hit “ABC" la freely
lampled on Naughty By Nature’s
raunchy rap hit “O.P.P.," and
Jermaine said he is definitely down
with the record.
“I was knocked out The first time I
beard it, no one had toM me about it. I
was watching MTV, and I said, ‘Wait,
this sounds like our song. This hour
rang! They’re doing am* song!’ and I
sailed up Jackie and told him.”
recalls Jermaine.
Jackie already knew about the hit
rang, which introduced a lot of people
to the Jackson Five.'Jermaine’s five
tids were already hip to the
Jacksons—they'd seen their dad and
tie brothers in a rerun of the old
Jackson Five cartoons.
“They kept on staring at the TV.
ind staring at me-bnck and forth,
>ing, bing, Mag... Than they said, ‘to
hat you?' I said, ’Yes, we did that
rafore you were born,”’ Jermaine
ays, laughing.
“And now I have to hear it in the
louse. ‘ABC.’ ‘I Want You Back.' all
his old Jackson Five stuff. They’re
Bto it."