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Page 13 The Panther September 19, 1980 room, the Commodores are presented a proclamation from Dorothy Carr King Of The Commodores William King proudly display Tuskegee Institute T-shirt. BY SHERRY JONES Entertainment Editor Relaxing in the Omni Hotel following another unforgettable Commodores concert, William King related his view of the role of colleges in regards to its students, the group’s history and their latest album. “College is much like your parents,” stated King. “Its role is to guide and try to prepare its’ students for the future.” However, he related that by no means is the college obligated to aid its students after they graduate. It is up to the students to determine what is to become of their lives. The group has taken their future into their own hands and have proven that college is what you (the student) make it. While at Tuskegee Institute in 1967, Thomas McClary decided to perform at a freshman talent show. He later met Lionel Richie and William King and called themselves, “THE MYSTICS”. Naturally, the group turned the talent show out. And as a result, they attracted Milan Williams, a member of another campus group, “THE JAYS”. King, Richie and McClary (all business majors) talked about being "Bigger than The Beatles.” But King recalls doing more than talk about their desire. “I did a paper for the group on The Beatles and the group concept in 1969,” related King during an earlier interview with Bill King. "It was 275 pages.” "The most interesting thing I came up with was you can’t have a group succeed in the bigtime without business and music be ing equally important," stated the trumpeteer . Coincidentally, the group is known in Europe as "The Black Beatles.” Their records and audiences proved that much like the Beatles, they are very versatile. The Commodores are the only group that has touched every (Photo by Kevin Johnson) phase of music and has done it well. They have been on the chart in the Rhythm and Blues, Ez Listen, Jazz, Pop, and Soul categories. While their earlier hits were black ■ oriented, “Easy” and "Still” have attract ed whites and foreigners. During the month of October, Country and Western star, Kenny Rogers is scheduled to tape “The Kenny Rogers T.V. Special" with the group in Tuskegee, Alabama. Their latest album, "Heroes” features two religious selection entitled, “Mighty Spirit” and Jesus Is Love". Backed by the fabulous St. Louis Gospelets, Jesus Is Love, was cut on a Sunday night,” stated King. Why is the group turning to Gospel Music? The group strives on doing things differently. But most important, “Jesus has created allofthisanditisupto us to use it correctly, continued King. Since attending Tuskegee Institute, the business majors took the bachelors of business and economics degrees that they earned and used it to enhance the Commodores Entertainment Corporation. The Commodores partnership also owns major interests in 20- unit and 31-unit apartment com plexes in Los Angeles, as well as a 258 unit housing development in Houston, Texas. How did the group come up with the name The Com modores? The group decided to change their name from The Mystics after Minan Williams joined the group. In his honor, “I threw a dictionary in the air, and when it landed I pointed to a word and the word was com modore”, recalls William King. The Commodores are not presiding officers of a yacht club, as defined in the dictionary but one thing is for sure, they are the hottest and most versatile act to ever hit entertainment. commodores: (1) A naval officer ranking below a rear admiral, (2) The presiding officer of a yacht club, or (3) The senior captain of a naval squadron or merchant fleet. King performs during Stephanie Mills Concert” ‘The Commodores featuring (Photo by Kevin Johnson) Behind The Stage "The Commodores featuring Stephanie Mills Concert During an intermission, Peabo Bryson and his “lady”, Lisa Morrison chat with people behind the stage. (Photo by Kevin Johnson) Lionel Richie and William King talks to a small fan before the show. (Photo by Kevin Jonnson)