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New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 14

Location:
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Issue Date:
Page:
14
Extracted Article Text (OCR)

PAGE 14, THE COURIER, JUNE 21, 1975 HAZEL I THERE ARE A Very few black stars on television rating their own TV show and still fewer directors. One of the latter responsible for seeing to it that a show is taped and ready for airing each week is STAN LATIIAN, A YOUNG, black director of the ABC TV Network comedy series "THAT'S MY MAMA." WHEN LATHAN WAS in Pittsburgh last year for the world premiere of the late JACKIE "MOMS" MABLEY" movie, "Amazing Grace" which he directed, I had an opportunity to talk to him about his role as director of the PBS old series "SOUL!" which is no longer on the air or if so, it is not aired in this area. STAN EXPLAINED THE difference between the two mediums. According to him, the job of directing a taped show with four cameras is vastly more complicated than directing a film, a scene at a time. He pointed out however, that if you get bogged down in technicalities, "the only thing you're directing is traffic," he said.

HE FINDS WORKING with a large cast such as he deals with in the current ABC TV series which stars CLIFTON DAVIS and THERESA MERRITT, a big challenge. "With so many people to put in a picture, you must not lose the direction of the story while allowing the audience to see all of them," Stan said. 0 UZJ UJ TV DIRECTOR Stan Lalhan, director of "That's My Mama," the ABC TV Network comedy series, is shown at work. In the inset, Lathan (center) discusses a scene about to be played by series star Clifton Davis (in hospital bed, and guest star Richard Stahl, playing an unscrupulous lawyer. At left.

Director Lathan, like a musical conductor, gestures gracefully while orchestrating the movement of players for an effect he wants. At right, Lathan, script in hand, ponders the elements of a courtroom scene is about to direct. Show is aired Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EDT. "THAT'S MY MAMA" is about a middle class black family in Washington, D.C.

A part of Lathan's job is to bring the story to life. As he explains it, "That means that I must understand it fully, see its full potential and, above all, be able to feel it." He went on to add "And then I must be able to communicate that feeling to the actors. Because they are the ones who must make the viewer get caught up in the life of the story to smile, to laugh, to remember, and for the moment, at least, to believe." PEARL BAILEY WHO will be coming to Pittsburgh next week to star in the revival of the all black cast of "Hello, was a guest on "CAPTAIN KANGAROO" "Pearlie Mae" visited the Captain's kitchen to help prepare breakfast. She cooked one of her specialities, Corn Fritters, and sang a couple of songs, "Smile" and "Hello, Bunny." "CAPTAIN KANGAROO" is a morning show beamed to young people but those of us who are "young at heart" enjoy it too. The hour long Monday through Friday series, comes on the CBS TV Network at 8 a.m.

THE SUMMER REPEATS are being aired which gives one an opportunity to see those shows that were missed the first time around. If you missed the April 27 edition of "CHER," which had IKE and TINA TURNER among the guests, you can catch the repeat Sunday, June 22. As you know, "CHER" is on the CBS TV Network and air time is 7:30 p.m. ALTHOUGH "SHAFT" IS no longer on the air as a series, the film starring black actor RICHARD ROUNDTREE which was responsible for launching the former CBS TV series, is still being aired from time to time. It was originally presented on TV Jan.

17 of this year. The film will be repeated June 27 on "THE CBS FRIDAY NIGHT MOVIES" from 8 to 11 p.m. EDT. "SHAFT" WAS THE first of the series of movies which starred Roundtree as a tough, flamboyant street detective. It was also the best, with GORDON PARKS as director.

The film also served to popularize the musical score composed by ISAAC HAYES and helped shoot Hayes to stardom after he won an Oscar for best musical score during the Academy Awards presentation. THE PLOT OF the movie if you recall, finds Shaft freeing the kidnapped daughter of a drug trafficker. In his attempts to do so he (Shaft) becomes involved in a plot to shake New York's Harlem crime syndicate to its roots. Forced to deal with both sides of the law, Shaft is threatened by mobsters and harassed by the police, who are afraid of a racial gangland war. Black youths to fly Bucks of America Banner Lewis: It is the mark of a contemporary artist to remain contemporary, reflecting the environment of his times.

For many, this contempraneity lasts only for the minute they are in vogue, as they seek to revitalize whatever it was that made them contemporary in the first place. Artists such as Ramsey Lewis, however, have learned to maintain a balance between what is going on within themselves and the world outside, without fearing to resurrect the genius of the past. At 40 years of age, then, it's not surprising to find Ramsey touring with Earth, Wind Fire (a group he helped spawn), playing to packed rock clubs and crammed college concerts, borrowing some ideas from Duke Ellington, and picking up his seventh gold record in the process, this time for his latest Columbia album, "Sun Goddess." Although the current Ramsey Lewis resurgence exceeds even his popularity during his mid sixties "In Crowd" successes, the pianist is quick to point out there has been no deliberate change of image. Indicating there are a lot of good piano players around, but few well rounded entertainers today who also happen to play piano, Ramsey states, "I'm involved in other facets of music and life. I'm aware of other people, places and things.

I'm always trying to enlarge upon my musical knowledge." Just as so many other musicians who use their instruments as a voice, Ramsey is "fighting labels and categories, which is what the cultural revolution of the Sixties was all about." Particularly frustrating to him are those who classify him, or any modern instrumentalist, as a jazz artist. "Novelists aren't Rufus, Stop Electric Factory Concerts presents Rufus with Chaka Khan with special guests Funkadelic and Mandrill appeared recently at the Civic Arena on in Pittsburgh. Rufus and their sexy little lead singer, Chaka Khan, first broke on the scene with a gold single, "Tell Me Something Good" and then proved they could do more than "just another cover with different words" with their second Top Ten single, "You Got The Love," taken from their Rags to Rufus Lp. Along with Rufus and Funkadelic, Mandrill is one of the most dynamic musical groups to hit the entertainment industry in years. Mandrill embraces almost every aspect of the musical spectrum rock, folk, reggae, latin, jazz and rhythm and blues.

This universality is a result of the varied backgrounds of the group: Cuban, American Indian, Puerto Rican, Panamanian, Jewish and West Indian. There is apparently no place in the world that cannot relate to the music of fact that has been amply demonstrated during several globe spanning tours. all that labeled Top 40, Hock Roll, Classical or Jazz," he declares. "Artists should be labeled good or bad, according to the RAMSEY person participating in the creative work at that moment. "In his biography, Louis Armstrong is quoted as never recalling a Black man who termed his music Even in the thirties, Duke Ellington said the word 'jazz' had become obsolete.

"This Black folk music, African improvisation and tribal music coupled with Euroean harmonies, which as become known as Jazz is really the truest reflection of the American community," Ramsey asserts. "Although Whites Chaka were attracted to the music's sense of mystery, they were still frightened by it's racial connotations. "Jazz hurt itself by LEWIS simultaneously becoming both conservative and avant he opines. "As the jazz musician saw his music taken away from i a adulterated and relabeled he withdrew and created more complex music which no one else could understand. His music no longer entertained, no longer reflected his environment." Fortunately, however, White kids began listening to Black music during the sixties with no preconceived notions.

This decade has seen Funkadelic, Mandrill Dressed in startling, combinations of leather, fur, beads, chains, scarves and safari hats, FUNKADELIC digs 4 ffg Lih mfTMANDRILL IU it 1 3 Jazz musicians and their audiences catch up with each other. As the listeners became more tolerant and sophisticated, the new musicians looked back at their roots and tried to convey their messages in ways the average person could understand. This new attitude opened the door for innovators like Miles Davis, Hervie Hancock, Weather Report and Ramsey Lewis. A democratic bandleader who allows his musicians the freedom to develop, Ramsey can point with pride to the success of the Young Holt Trio, Cleveland Eaton, and Maurice White, the latter of Earth, Wind Fire for all emerged from his groups. Ramsey's band is currently graced by Tiaz Palmer (bass), Morris Jennings (drums), and the precocious Derfreklaw Raheem, who plays flute and up to twenty drums, some African and some homemade.

This summer he is adding Byron Gregory on guitar and a few human voices. He has learned from Duke Ellington that a complete musician cannot limit himself solely to his instrument. "There came a time when the sounds in my head could be duplicated only by the human voice," Ramsey recalls. "At first I was afraid to add voices because of my reputation as an instrumentalist. But the gold success of 'Sun Goddess' has proven that fear groundless not because of the voices, but because the whole approach of the ensemble worked." Ramsey's fresh attitude is one reason his music has eroded superficial age barriers.

"I try to be sincere with my art and and the way it is presented," he says. That is probably why the children of the people he entertained fifteen or twenty years ago can be found in his audiences todav. sometimes unnerving, 'Ease on Down the Road' by Consumer Rapport hit Don't let the name Consumer Rapport fool you. It isn't a newsletter listing the current price of milk and sugar at your favorite supermarket. Right now it's one of the hottest vocal groups in the nation, who sing "Ease On Down The Road," a tune taken from the hit Broadway show, "The Wiz," recent winner of seven Tony Awards.

The genius behind Consumer Rapport is St. Louis born Harold Wheeler. As the musical arrangec of "The wheeler possesses a musical background that would easily qualify him to fill a dean's chair at any one of the nation's top musical universities. The cumulate graduate of Howard University is a pianist, arranger, conductor and the possessor of a musical ear that allows him to anticipate the sound tastes of the public. People who pin adjectives of praise on many of the newcomers in the musical field have no doubts about Wheeler's talents.

Hit NEW YORK Fifty eight musically talented young Black men and women, between the ages of 18 and 20, are to be selected from subscribers who are bona fide residents of the Original Thirteen States. These 58 young musicians will be formed into a Marching and Concert Orhccstra which will perform under the "Banner" of the "Bucks of The Massachusettes Historical Society, guardian of the banner, has authorized Parallelodrome, a New York based Not for Profit Corporation, who has developed a series of Bicentennial Programs com Bar rW 1 BUCKS OF AMERICA BANNER memorating the support our patriot forefathers of African ancestry contributed to the cause, spirit and ideals which led to the Nation's Independence; some of which were recently endorsed by the Bicentennial Council of the Thirteen Original States, to produce replicas of the "Bucks of America" banner, presented to the 51th Massachuetts Regiment, commanded by Colonel Mid dleton, by the President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock, for its gallantry and valor during the Revolutionary War. The "Bucks of America" will perform a collection of patriot music both created by our patriot forefathers of African ancestry and those songs which spirited the new Nation into battle. "We have compiled over one hundred fifty years of music, which we believe will prove to be of great interest to our young people and the Nation at Sard Mr. Lorenzo K.

Greenwich, Project and Musical Director. "And we Mr. Greenwich deep into a musical groove and becomes one ot the craziest live acts in the music business. A must be seen sort of a group. records often happen by accident and such was the fate of "Ease On Down the Road." Putting together a 00 second commercial to herald Wheeler and Steve Scheaffer liked the sound and the beat of it so much that they persuaded the show's producer to allow them to adapt the commercial for a 1 mm continued.

"That this project could prove to be a wonderful occasion for the participating young people. We can expect, which should also be noted, the Orchestra to travel extensively, thoughout the United States and we are anticipating considerable travel Participation in the program is by "Application" only. Registration for possible participation is now open. There is a "Registration Fee" required of each applicant. The registration fee is nonrefundable and is to be used to help defray the various processing and audition ex penses.

Those persons wishing to obtain "Application Forms" should forward their names and addresses, accompanied with their Cheque or Money Order of $20 for each application to: PARALLELS 177B, Post Office Box Grand Central Station, New York, New York 10017. Ap plicatons will be excepted through June 10th, 1075. All instruments are sought. Of particular interest to those who may be selected to participate in the program is that each member must have an ability to play two ore more musical instruments. The "Bucks of America" will consist of all String, Reed.

Brass and Percussion instruments, except Piano, Vibraphone and other stationary instruments. Specialty instruments, such as Bagpipes and Banjos, arc also sought. Auditions, commencing July 3, 1975, are being scheduled to be held in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, D.C. Atlanta and Raleigh. touring single record.

The list of singers who he arranged for include Lena Home, Aretha Franklin. Nina Simone, Clifton Davis, Grady Tate and many others. Turn on your radio or TV to hear the music created by Wheeler that helps to sell your favorite wine, tea, airline and hamburger. CONGRATULATED Gene McDaniels (center) is shown being congratulated by Soul Train's Don Cornelius (right) and the noted disc jockey, Frankie Crocker of New York at Wes Farrell's reception for Monti Rock III celebrating the debut album of Disco Tex and his Sexolettes. McDaniels new album, "Natural Juices" was recentlv released on Ode..

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About New Pittsburgh Courier Archive

Pages Available:
64,064
Years Available:
1911-1977