Augusta focus. ([Augusta, Ga.) 198?-current, January 05, 1995, Image 6

Augusta focus., January 05, 1995, Page 6, Image 6

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Newspaper Page Text6 January 5, 1995 AUGUSTA FOCUS ARTI?Cat African Children’s Choir comes to the garden city "B X ) r ~ by | g — ‘ 3 ( L -3 450 R L :,‘3,‘ '; .‘ (’, \ 4 ] Ro 3 . ” :&V : 7- j LO AR [ oIR LT - ' . ] ; R 1 - g B 4, “ E % k- » —~ ] - ~’ " ” s I - : ’;: i i w — ke gi ¥ :" :3 N " > \ T i 6“"0 G 5 ti } : o L o s oy fd ; - [ : - o 4 e % d ; b o 4 : X - b \ ¥ o 8 ; . B £ r-* Y . % ; ; ) 4 4 '\2“ % p : ; ‘ & g ] )'.' . % .’A ,‘ Noo e Q sw4 : :- & "j‘ N 1 % .‘t 4 ; :’W A&24. ¥ 4 % ot t3R, 3 J Y 5 \ B‘g LA " } § 4 b ‘ . i A2} v 3 ; 2 > :A s i § ¥ ] *"\a i 4 by« & i Y &0 B 8 . ! PS ) ! ¥ i E - : " g L . i 8 b ¥ . L L (f £ i ¢ il . g L 0 e e _ Many of these choir children are orphans ,many of thier parents having been Christian pastors martyred for their faith, touring the world, raising awareness of the needs of destitute and orphaned children in East Africa. They are a group of beautiful African children, ages 5 through 12. Many have lost one or both parents. Some are the children of Christian pastors or lay lead ers martyred for their faith. They are the members of the African Children’s Choir, and they're coming to Augusta. The Choir performs a wide variety of songs, including de lightful African tunes, accompa nied by drums and ethnic instru mentation, and well-loved chil Music mogul Charles Underwood: independence is how the game is won ;& ; L A Underwood: “We ... allow the maijors to stay in their Ivory Towers, because we are the ones who discover the new stuff.” So far, 1994 has been one heck of a year for Hollywood music mogul Charles B. Underwood. As the new year opened, Mr. Underwood was rudely awak ened one January morning by the sound of a ratherlarge move ment of the earth. “I believe in God,” he now says with a youthful smile which be lies his 40 years, “but when the Northridge earthquake hit, I was one scared man. We were in bed and it almost destroyed the en tire house. Man, glass was ev erywhere! But again, thanks to God’s help. we did not get a scratch.” Fortunately for Underwood, the rest of the year did not hold the same amount of high drama, just steady progress in his quest to build an independent record and film production company that will one day compete with the majors. The name of his com pany is Records/Records and Filmworks. “It has been much slower than I thought when we first opened our doors in 1989, but when you put togethera multi-layered com pany, some parts work better dren’s songs, gospel melodies and spirituals. The emotionally stir ring concert was musically pro duced by Tom Keene, interna tionally recognized arranger, conductor, pianist and guitarist. The choirs have been applaud ed by more than 1,500 churches since 1984. They have appeared in civic auditoriums, television and radio broadcasts, including CBS This Morning, Good Morn ing America, Focus on the Fam ily with Dr. James Dobson, Hour than others.” For Mr. Underwood, the part that is working best at the mo ment is the publishing arm of his company, G.A.B. Music. He pres ently has a catalogue of over 300 “exceptional songs,” plus he co wrote and published several modest hits this year, including Sweet Sable’s hit “Old Time’s Sake,” which was released as a single on the Scotti Brothers record label. Additionally, it was one of the feature songs on the Deathrow/Interscope label’s best-selling soundtrack “Above the Rim.” InJanuary, he will be heading to France to attend the impor tant MIDEM International Mu sic Festival in Cannes, where he is an invited guest, and where his company, in a real coup, is handling this year’s merchan dising. This means Records/Records and Filmworks will have the ex clusive rights to sell T-shirts, jackets, posters and caps. Mr. Underwood hopes to move over 10,000 units while in Cannes. “The MIDEM Music Festival is for the music world what the of Power with Dr. Robert Schuller. They have performed with the Vancouver Symphony and Bob McGrath from Sesame Street, at Disneyland, Disneyworld, Knott’s Berry Farm. In Europe they’ve sung at the Edinburgh Music Festival, at London’s Festival Hall and the London Palladium and Ul ster Hall in Belfast with Roger Whittaker and for the BBC. This is by no means a complete list ing. Cannes Film Festival is to the film world. Itis abig, big honor to be working with them so closely this year,” he said. In addition to working the merchandising concession, he will also be working hard to put together the framework for an international distribution net work for future products. “Thebiggest problem when you are an independent is that you have to work extra hard to get your product to the market. And these days, your market, nomat ter if your product is Rap or Old School, or whatever, is an inter national market.” Mr. Underwood has been in the musicbusiness all ofhis adult life. He says that, as a young kid in his native Detroit, he hap pened to wander backstage after one of Motown’s famous all-star revues. “That’s when I suddenly saw Berry Gordy, one of my main idols, sitting at a desk with five stacks of money,” he said, his eyes coming alive at the memo ry, “He sat there and paid off person after person. And you know what? After he paid off all of those people, he still had five stacks of money left! I said right then and there, that is the busi ness [ want to be in!” Mr. Underwood started off in the business in 1972 as the man ager of The Dramatics. Under his leadership, The Dramatics became one of the most success ful R&B singing groups of the "70s, with hits such as “What’cha see is What’cha get” and “In the Rain.” Then he started his first record label called T.E.A.I. Records, and met with some success. “But,” he said, “toreally bein this business you have to be in Los Angeles.” So he packed up and left Detroit in 1980 for the music capital. Now, after earthquakes, a very expensive divorce, a serious ill ness, and a few business set art - music literature - theatre The primary goal of the choiris to raise awareness of the needs of destitute and orphaned chil dren in East Africa and to raise funds for the continued develop ment of the African Qutreach Academy/ African Children’s Choir program. The choir will be appearing in concert on Friday, Jan. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary of Trinity on-the-Hill United Methodist Church, 1330 Monte Sano Ave nue in Augusta. backs, Charles B. Underwood is still going strong and making new deals daily from his office in Hollywood. The question is: Why would someone with his vast experi ence want to struggle as an inde pendent, and not run a large division at a major label? “I am not bragging, but at this stage in my career, I could easily run a major division, no question about that. However, I do not like beating someoneelse’sdrum, so it would have to be one heck of an offer. “Being independent is where it’s at for many reasons. One, you are working for yourself and not just making someone else rich. Second, as an independent, you have your ears closer to the ground and can spot the latest trends and new ideas, and not be hampered by bureaucrats and accountants. We independents allow the majors to stay in their Ivory Towers, because we are the ones who discover the new stuff. Rap, Alternative, Punk, you name it, the independents were there first. Weindependents just need to stick together a bit more so that the majors don’t come in and eat us alive with their big bucks.” t When not working, Underwood is a dedicated family man. In fact, his daughter Tiffani Rene seems to be following her dad into the music business. At 14, she is already an accomplished actress/singer and has received honors for her performances. In April of next year, Underwood is holding a grand gala for his mother’s 70th birth day at the Hotel St. Regis in Detroit. “We come from good stock,” he said, smiling again. Good stock, good luck, good talent or the good Lord, some thing is certainly helping Underwood achieve his goals. —By Fred Beauford McNeil new announcer, sports producer for AC basketball Charles K. McNeil, former WJBF-TV, (Augusta) weekend sports anchor/reporter, has joined Sportsßadio 1480, WRDW-AM as the play-by-play man and “Voice of Augusta Col lege Basketball” during the 1994- 95 season. His first game airs Jan. 7 at Lander University. He will also produce and provide play-by-play for a variety of local sporting events and studio shows. “Charles is an organized, knowledgeable and extremely talented television broadcaster who will make a great addition to our staff,” said Betty Beard, Sportsßadio 1480 President. McNeil said, “I feel blessed and I am thrilled to be a part of both the Augusta College and Sportsßadio 1480 families. This position allows me the opportu nity to remain an integral part of the CSRA sports scene. Sportsßadio 1480 gives me the chance to give exposure to local sports without the time re straints of other mediums.” McNeil, 33, joined WJBF-TV in August of 1993, providing fea tures, live interviews, and game stories, serving as Sports An chor on weekends. He also sub stituted as Sports Anchor on the AJP presents Big Band Jazz at the Imperial Theatre Jan. 14 Project It’s that time again. Jazz time with the Augusta Jazz Project as the curtain is set to raise on the second installment of Big Band Jazz, Jan. 14, 1995, 8 p.m. at the Imperial Community Theatre. Ifyou missed the first concert in October, you owe it to yourself to attend this high-caliber perfor mance. If you caught the October show, chances are you've already gottickets for next Saturday. Good for you. The show’s repertoire is a color ful one, consisting of standards including “Misty” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” (the lat ter to be sung by the beautiful and talented Sheri Murray), as well as big band arrangements of “Geor gia On My Mind” and “Save The Last Dance For Me.” And as always, keeping time in % ;}f:: TR T ] | . S s o R Lot F o i L i G . i e Lo R 1. Miles Davis asked this musi ciantotake Miles’ trumpet home to doctor it and enable Davis to play faster. Who was he? 2. What big band leader do we associate Artistry In Rhythm with? 3. What is Down Beat? 4: What instrument does Don Pullen play? 5. What is the name of the jazz show on BET? 6. What instrument does Rodney Kendricks and Joe Sample play? 7. Which type of saxophone is Najee’s favorite? Noon, 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. televi sion newscasts on weekdays and radio sports anchor for FOXIE 103’s morning show. He received the 1993-94 Director’s Award from the Augusta Bowling Asso ciation for outstanding television coverage of bowlinginthe CSRA. Prior to WJBF-TV, McNeil spent two years at WLOS-TV in Asheville, N.C. as a sports re porter. His other television expe rience has come from freelance sports reporter/photographer assignments with ESPN, BET, ABC Sports, NBA Entertainment and Sports News Network. McNeil was play-by-play man for nationally ranked Georgetown University men’s basketball team during the 1990- 91 season. He also provided world-wide radio coverage of the Big East Conference Basketball Tournament in 1991. McNeil has nine years of broad casting experience. He and his wife Zina plan to remain in Au gusta for some time. McNeil joins longtime local radio personality John “Buck” Kelly and former Augusta Tech Basketball Star Scott Alpersas a commentator on Sportsßadio 1480, “The Fan.” front (and—but don’t tell any one—possibly favoring the audi ence with another blazing sousa phone solo) will be the talented maestro himself, Dr. Rudy Volkmann. Augusta Jazz Project was orig inated by Dr. Volkmann in 1986. He hand-picked the finest musi cians from the CSRA—including music educators, members of the Army Signal Corps Band, mem bers of the professional communi ty—and even an import from the North Texas State Jazz Band. Since its inception, the band has played a variety of venues, but it was in 1993-94 that the group premiered a three-concert season of big band performances. It was met with open arms (and ears). The premiere was so successful that a chamber series was added for this season, the first concert having been a fine performance by the Dick Goodwin Quintet at the Unitarian Church last No: vember. : There are four more concerts for your enjoyment this season, two big band and two Chamberjazz shows. The Augusta Jazz Project dates are Jan. 14 and April 1, Chamberjazz will be Feb. 25 and May 13. For ticket information, call 738-3094. Get your tickets, get decked out, and get ready for great jazz. ¢ —Derick Wells : 8. Other than host of BET’s jazZ show, what else does Ann Stribling contribute to the world of jazz? 9. Whatis Rachell Farrell’s claim to jazz? { 10. A young, blind jazz pianist with the initials M.R. [ 11. A saxophonist with the ini tials E.H. who played sax with the president. 4 12. A young, innovative jazz gui tarist. t 13. Thelate, great Wardell Grayi, tenor saxophonist, died in what city? 14. What state was Barney Kessél born in? 3 15. Name the instrument that Howard McGhee and Ernie Roy al play. 16. What is another name used to describe the guitar? : 17. What is the name of the fe male flutist from Dallas? 18. What female vocalist had have both of her legs amputa ed? ; 19. What city will host the 199 National Collegiate Jazz Fes val? ’ 20. Who was the first recipient the First Annual National Asso: ciation of Jazz Educators’ Conz position Contest? ; B Answers on page 18 d