Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 29

lb insids this scctisn LI Mike Duffy, left, says Martin Mull is going home to Ohio for HBO. 12C. Friday, kly 24, MOVIES 24 SEEING DOING 8 mm Imvmm FAMILY FARE 9 DETROIT FREE PRESS pages 13-15 11-12 Call Entertainment: 222-6828 tail 1 TELEVISION catspcf 'Collision Course' film crew packs up It's a wrap. "Collision Course," with Jay Leno and Pat Morita, finished 5 xi weeks of filming in Detroit Thursday, with only some voice dubs and editing to complete, said publicist Kim Garfield. She added that the entire crew is tired and ready to go home.

"But we've had a great time," she said. "Everybody's bent over backward for us here and we appreciate it. The Sound track creates real feel for '50s By GARY GRAFF Free Press Music Writer I oel Sill remembers the first music i a KWi Dii' -1-" -i iwKr fefe lS J0 (t'd -khl 4 I meeting for the film "La Bamba" as beine "kind of like a paiama party, except with euys." Morita mayor's office and the Michigan Film office have just been great assistance to us." She said the film is slated to be released around Christmas or early next year. "Tentatively, we're planning on having the world premiere in Detroit, too." Who's who, sort of It's called the "Sixties Superfest," at 7:30 tonight at Pine Knob, but seasoned concert-goers know that the bands that perform are not always what's advertised. In the interest of consumer awareness, here's a guide to who's really who at this show: The Turtles: The lead singers are originals Howard Kaylan and Mark Volan; the band is one they assembled three years ago for the "Happy Together" tour.

The Byrds: Original member Gene Clark will be joined by latter-day bassist John York and an assortment of sidemen. The Grass Roots: It's actually just Rob Grill, who sang most of the group's hits. Tommy James the Shondells: It's the real James, but not the real Shondells. Mark Lindsay: He's for real, but without Paul Revere the Raiders. Teenarama flashback How about these memories? The Music Dome, a fabled '60s teen dance hall in Port Huron that played host to the MC-5, the Bob Seger System, Glno Washington, the Rationals, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels and others before burning down in 1971, will live again this weekend at least in spirit.

A nostalgia-laden tribute and dance will be held at Port Huron's McMorran Arena from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday. CKLW-FM deejay Dave Shaf er, one of the boss jocks during CKLW-AM's glory days, will spin the oldies. There will be raffles, prizes and dance contests.

Admission is $5. All proceeds go to the Blue Water Center for Independent Living, an organization that funds programs for the Port Huron area's handicapped citizens. Sill, the executive music producer for the film, was at a table in producer Taylor Hackford's Los Angeles home with director Luis Valdez, his brother, Daniel, the film's associate producer, and stacks of old 45 r.p.m. singles. "Each of us was trying to knock the other guy's record off the stereo by coming up with a better choice," Sill, 40, remembered.

"We had old Coasters albums, all kinds of Lieber-Stoller stuff, (LaVern Baker's) 'Tweedlee (Little Richard's) 'Rip it There was never anything other than this common bond about the quality and type of music we wanted to put in (the film)." Which is what makes the music of "La Bamba" the story of Ritchie Valens' rise to rock 'n' roll prominence in the late '50s so striking. There's a degree of care that's rare in the film industry, which in recent years has slapped pop songs by current artists into sound tracks without regard for mood and musical quality. FOR "LA BAMBA," said Sill, who ran the studio music departments at Warner Bros, and Paramount, "we were very protective of the music in the picture, in terms of accuracy and authenticity and portraying the music in a way the music community would appreciate it. On the music end of a film, you seldom have a chance to get into that realm of history and accuracy." Added David Hidalgo of the rock, group Los Lobos, which performed the Valens songs used in the film (star Lou Diamond Phillips mimes them), "We love this stuff so much that we wanted to be very careful about how we presented it. It wasn't just a matter of playing the songs note for note.

There was a feeling there. Valens born Richard Valenzuela is generally considered one of rock roll's great lost talents. He died when he was just 17, in the Feb. 3, 1959, plane crash that also took Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper. In his brief career, he had two enduring hit singles "Donna" and "La Bamba," a rocked-up rendition of the traditional Mexican song and a handful of others that became more popular after his death, such as "Come On, Let's Go" and "Ooh My Head." More importantly, his energetic performing style and knack for catchy guitar chord patterns influenced generations of rock 'n' roll performers.

"Led Zeppelin, John Fogerty, the Beatles they copied a lot of his licks See SOUND TRACK, Page 6C Luis and Daniel Valdez talk about the making of "La Bamba," Page 4C. Lou Diamond Phillips, as Ritchie Valens, mimed the concert scenes in "La Bamba." Sweet and serious tribute to Valens I mmmmimmmtm LA BAMBA Area theaters Over eight months in 1958 and 1959, Ritchie Valens, a 17-year-old Hispanic kid from Pa-coima, rocketed to fame with three hit i i JiJ songs on the rock charts. mil in i Ritchie Bob Connie Rosie Donna Lou Diamond Phllllpt Eui Morales Rosana Do Solo Elizabeth Pan Danielle VonZerneck Maranall Crenshaw Brian Seder Howard Hunttberry men uv tiasncu, unig in the same plane accident that killed Buddy Holly and the Big Bop-per. It's an American Kathy Huffhines movies Buddy Holly Eddie Cochran Jackie Wilson genuinely good kid who loves his family, pursues his music and automatically does the right thing. His half-brother Bob (Esai Morales) automatically does the wrong thing.

He's rowdy; he drinks; he deals drugs; he starts fights at Valens' concerts; he mistreats his pregnant wife. THE PLOT of "La Bamba" follows the love and rivalry between the two brothers and Ritchie Valens' rise to fame from California farm fields to Pacoima's American Legion Hall to his first recording sessions in the basement of the Del-Fi president's house to his three top 40 hits. It's a '50s success story, following the tune of those melting pot songs that made rock stars of black kids from Brooklyn, Italian kids from Philly and the Irrepressible Ricky on "Ozzie and Harriet." Little Anthony and the Imperials' "Tears on My Pillow," Frankie Avalon's See TRIBUTE, Page 4C A Columbia release. Directed by Luis Valdez. Produced by Taylor Hacktord and Bill Borden.

Written by Luis Valdez. Valens songs performed by Los Lobos. Original score by Carlos Santana and Miles Goodman. PARENTS GUIDE: PG-13, mild profanity. He's back, almost Yes, that was you-know-whose voice on the radio this week.

Michael Jackson's new single, "I Just Can't Stop Lovin' You," with vocal work from Quest Records' Siedah Garrett, hit the airwaves this week. It's scheduled to be in record stores Monday. If the single's out, the album can't be far behind; "Bad" is expected to be available Aug. 31. It includes the Detroit gospel group the Winans on one song, "Man in the Mirror." dream, followed by an American tragedy.

And "La Bamba" sweet and serious, a fine little movie that accomplishes just what it sets out to do is a lot like the flip sides of the old Del-Fi 45 that was Valens' biggest hit. Like hundreds of '50s songs, "Donna" follows the four repeating chords backing tunes that today sound like the essence of unphony innocence. That's Valens. As played by Lou Diamond Phillips, he's a The good times are free at Hart Plaza A major mile If fairs are your pleasure, then take a nice, long walk down the Warren-dale Mile Long Street Festival, today through Sunday on.W. Warren between Evergreen and Southfield.

Things kick off with a parade at 4:30 today; the festival will run 'til midnight each day. A number of musical acts will perform, including Mitch Ryder, the Laredos and the Blue Pigs; there will also be dancing, pony rides, raffles, bingo and lots of food. For information, call Rugger's Pub at 271-8227 anytime. 6:30 p.m. 8 p.m.

v. jP 1 I mm TODAY Mitch Ryder Smokey Robinson SATURDAY Johnny Rivers Jerry Lee Lewis Fats Domino 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 9 p.m. CWW There'll be a whole lotta shakin goin' on this weekend and you won't have to shop around, climb Blueberry Hill or sail into the mystic to find it.

We won't keep you on needles and pins-uh any longer. The second annual Bud weisei Motor City Music Fest, at Hart Plaza, runs today through Sunday, it's free and it features (among others) the performers who had the aforementioned hits: Jerry Lee Lewis, Smokey Robinson, Fats Domino, Johnny Rivers and the Searchers. Not to mention Mitch Ryder, Harold Melvin the Blue Notes, Gary Puckett and a host of local musicians. Last year's event, which was called the Motor City Music Celebration and featured the same kind of across-the-board pop-rock-soul lineup (Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Martha Reeves, the Turtles, Blood, Sweat Tears, et drew 750,000 lovers of music and good times to the downtown riverfront. Organizers of 1 this year's fest expect similar crowds.

SUNDAY 5 p.m. The Searchers 6:30 p.m. Harold Melvin Blue Notes 8 p.m. Gary Puckett In addition, other bands will perform at Hart Plaza each day beginning at noon. Friday's performers are Miami, People of Borneo and A-Men.

Saturday's lineup features the Gypsies, the Shake, Last Sunday and American Gems. Sunday's performers are the Class, Tightrope, Feral, Dennis Vernier, and Lamont Zodiac and the Love Signs. For information, call 548-9662 anytime. er.3 to Anita Baker, the TT Grammy-winning Detroiter, will fill Pine Knob with her ol sweet sounds at 8 "3 Saturday, NJJr Sunday and Mon- I day. Call 423-6666, Baker 9-9.

1 JOHN COLLIERDetrolt Frw Prtsj New spot in Flint San Antonio Cafe serves what it calls "cuisine of the Great Southwest" in Water Street Pavilion. And the early word on it is promising. Molly Abraham's review is on Page 10C. for Smokey Robinson is on the roster Hart Plaza tonight. I.