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Black Recording Artist Fights Sickle Cell Anemia With Song A native Texan who was a member of the late Otis Redding’s group and says he is now “rooted'in Georgia” has taken up the battle Billy Young, former member of Otis Redding’s group and now composing and recording his own songs, is shown with his daughter, Avill. Young’s latest release is his own composition of a song with a message about sickle cell anemia, made in an effort to help those afflicted with the incurable disease. Patkßis put in suits In addition to shape and style, suits have a lot more going for them this season ... they’ve got more color and pattern variety. It’s just the kind of colorful lift your wardrobe needs. And there’s won derful new lightweight comfort in the new knit and woven fabrics. So put some zing in your wardrobe with a new Curlee suit! Edwards-Harper Downtown Perry, Co. CLAIMS YOUR ATTENTION i"the[^Ss| By Maxine Thompson against sickle cell anemia through a media long associated with black people - song. Billy Young of Macon started writing songs 14 years ago in California and was with Otis Redding until the death of that Macon superstar. Young decided to stay in Macon and try for a career as a recording artist. “Sickle Cell Anemia... Just how much does it take...For a black man to wake up?...1 guess maybe an ear thquake.” Those are some of the lyrics of a recording released about two weeks ago on Young’s own Joyga label by the composer producer. Since love, slavery, loss, and heaven have been com municated in song by black people from the beginning, Young felt that many who, like him, had never heard of the dread disease called sickle cell anemia, might hear in song what they would never see on a printed page. “I became aware of the disease only recently,” Young said. “The second verse tells of its having been kept hush-hush for over 50 years, and just now reaching the black man’s ears.’ Those ears are mine, too.” Young also said that if black people, who are the ones almost exclusively affected by the disease, had been doing something about it and helping themselves it wouldn't have been hush hush. Now that the seriousness of the situation has been faced, there are many problems that must be worked out. For one thing, funds are scarce. Volunteer groups are doing their best to spread information. Young’s recording about the disease will be controlled and distributed by the Macon based Georgia Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) Com mittee. It won’t be sold on the open market. The bearded black man cut the record at the Billy Smith Productions studios on Millerfield Road in Macon. He sang the lyrics, with assistance on the refrains from religious singer S. C. Lundy. Backing him is a four-man group consisting of Calvin Arline on bass, Charles Burns on trumpet, Tommy Goodwin on piano, and Jai Johnny Johnson on drums. All persons involved are professionals in the music business. Burns is a recording vocalist, Johnson plays drums with the Allman Brothers, Arline and Goodwin are record producers. “I ought to mention the sound engineer too,” Young said. “He was just great; a real help to us. He’s a Caucasian, but we called him ‘the Soulful engineer.’ He’s Mike Goodrich.” Young plans to travel with the recording to other Georgia cities to promote the song, perhaps starting "Sickle Cell Sing-a-longs” to raise funds few the SCA committee’s work. SCA chairman Herbert Dennard said the one dollar cost of each of the 45 rpm records will yield 60 cents to the group’s drive to raise funds for research, prevention, information and legislation. After the death of Red ding, Young wrote and recorded songs. When you get your phone from us, you get more than a phone. mJ And updated equipment. Including the latest I "Tni devices for business communications, every- I Wm thing from automatic dialers to data phones. I And as new changes and improvements come I WM& I along we will make them available to you, I GEHERAL TELEPHORE I The people you can talk to One-to-One. s. “I began to write effective songs about three years ago,” he said. “I try to write songs with merit, with meaning, in the rythmn and blues idiom. I hope that sooner or later I’ll be recognized.” Billy Young wrote and recorded the vocals on his Joyga label for “What is Christmas?”, ‘i Wonder What She’s Doing,” and “Still My Life Through.” He has also recorded "I'm Available” on the Shout Label in New York City. And that’s what Young is now-available to help fight the disease that brings in tense pain and death to many of his race. He is between recording contracts and will promote the sickle cell anemia record. He is married to the former Patricia Wilburn of Macon and they have two daughters, Avill, age 3, and Taci, 6. ‘‘Sickle Cell Anemia... Portrays the life a black man lives;... He works hard to sup port... Other people’s cause.. But when it comes to his...He has nothing left to give." Young’s song begins that way, but he hopes the song will help change the condition it tells about. He says that he is not militant except in the sense PAGE 11-A that he intends to try to arouse black people to help take care of themselves. He feels that if they had tried they could have done something about this and other problems long ago. Young’s sickle cell anemia recording can be obtained in Perry from any member of the Harambee Club at Perry High School, or by calling 987-1879. Mahalia Dixon, Director of the Neigh borhood Service Center here, is working with the club members to coordinate efforts to distribute the record. CARD OF THANKS May we take this method of thanking our neighbors and friends for their kind expressions of sympathy in our bereavement. These expressions have been deeply appreciated. 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