Re Kapp Records distributing 'Cooper' disk

way after at the begin- is way above own tried and uscular man- ility captures ns distaffers, above-40 age

ly with a at most of his standouts in "New World "Mary in the ish Eyes," not is vocalog is an easy, con- ityle between and sets up

et too is also name on the old backup of Vitnesses, this e's last Sand- over to the for, a June great lounge over two dec- into the main ck than in In- He has n ball s he moans, Constantly on ts excitement, hotically car- Butera & The rampaging heads up the or Prima and for each Wit- ically. There's dialectics of Rose Garden," anish rumin- chie Varhola's gan arpeggios rk;" Morgan filigree, and ad drumming

& Jerry Vale, Will.

Cast

hn Garcia and been cast by ton and Jim s "Lady Sings Holiday biopic

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... certainly in [obscured] tion. Formerly a blue [obscured] soul dazzler from his bouffant silver- white hairdo to his wildly colored mod threads complete with flow- ing cape, he now looks like a refu- gee from a B-western movie about Kit Carson. His locks are shoulder length and changing color from bleached white to salt and pepper, same shade as his grizzled beard. Whereas he once shouted many tunes in the Otis Redding man- ner, he now preaches long and rab- idly between measures in funky, street language, or sets the preachment to music of his own cleffing and lyrics. The revival method works. He really has a ball responding to his exhor- tations.

Cochran's backgrounders, The C. C. Riders, are solid jazzrock blowers. They also have changed sartorially, in exact ratio to their leader. Once upon a time, the 13 musickers blew in near-formal at- tire, tuxedo derivatives, but are now wildly individual, each with his own style and colors, plus hir- sute adornment from Zappa-like guitarman to a biblical hair-flow on a trumpeter. Their sounds are tremendous.

Thelma Houston is one power- house singer of contemporary lied- er. She holds complete attention throughout her 45 minutes, rang- ing in repertoire from a rocking "Me and Bobby McGee" through gospel-tinted tunes, Carole King medley, tribute to Otis Redding and a couple of blockbusters, deep soul wails of black disenchantment with established precedents in "Blackberries" and "Heaven Help Us All." Her backup quintet is ex- cellent, headed by John Myles con- ducting at keyboard; Ron Feuer, organ; Tom McDermott, guitar; Don Baldwin, bass; and Pete Lulis, drums.

Sami Jo, an exponent of pops to please as many tastes as possible, falls short. Having no solid base to sing other than strong pipes, she is sadly misdirected all the way through her 45 minutes. The presentation is a collection of soft- er rock tunes, belted with little feeling. In a flashback to rock's beginnings, "Hound Dog," "Rock Around the Clock," "Shake, Rattle,

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[obscured] on the [obscured] of genuine stardom. She has a[ll] that it takes — beauty, voice, de- livery, charm, warm rapport with her auditors and "charisma." She additionally brought a joy to her work.

Her voice is clear as fine crystal, and rich as a viola and her charts, which she does herself, are fresh, giving "My Way," "You've Got a Friend," and "Love the One You're With," her own special stamp. She was excellently backed by the Randy Randolph Trio. Nothing yet set to follow. Beth.

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'Promise' For Eastham

Richard Eastham has been signed by producer Jerry Layton for additional segments of Bing Crosby Productions' daytime soap- er, "Bright Promise," on NBC-TV.

Stars are Susan Brown, Gail Kobe, Cheryl Miller, David Lewis, Lesley Woods, Mark Miller and Dabney Coleman.

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Retakes

By Barney Glazer

Hollywood employees don't get fired. They get resigned.

* * *

Service station owner displayed sign reading, "Gas War," but charged 6¢ per gallon higher than his competitors. He had to. He lost the war.

* * *

Pop musical concerts are sched- uled for Fisherman's Wharf, Re- dondo Beach. Don't be surprised if they flounder.

* * *

Remember when we were warned not to walk on the grass? Now[we're] not to walk on the grass? Now[it's] we're cautioned not to smoke it.

* * *

Can't industry members hear op- portunity knock? They can, but they won't get out of bed to open the door.

* * *

Cancelled tv programs are like padded bras. Nobody's perfect.

* * *

Young Detroit actor is back in Hollywood to research studio em-

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By [Beat or Best] Honolulu, Jan. 11 (Airmail) — New Assn. for Hawaiian Music is out after the mainland radio mar- ket to beef up the new island tunes it is helping create along the lines of Nashville's Country Music Ass'n. Exec director Bud Dant is offering all radio 'casters which join AHM aid in getting new or old Hawaiian music, monthly tape service, voice tracks by local talent and other promo help. Association has de- veloped some 40 new tunes in a contest being conducted by Dant, AHM proxy-composer R. Alex "Andy" Anderson, and Cecil Sea- vey, g.m. and program director of KCCN-AM.

* * *

Richard R. Cook upped from exec program and news director of KHVH-AM to general manager by Lawrence S. Berger, president ... Variety Club's Tent 50 spon- soring 11-hour sellathon on KGMB-TV Saturday night hoping to raise $60,000 for Variety Club school for children with learning disabilities. News director Bob Se- vey and deejay Hal "Aku" Lewis will run show with most of town's talent expected to aid.

* * *

KLEI-AM promoting Feb. 15 gig of Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan and Billy Eckstine at HIC Arena- at $6 top . . . Hilo Hattie (Clara Nelson) named "Salesman of the Year" by local Sales and Market- ing Executives . . . Singer Linda Green and ukester Herb Ohta off to Tokyo dates [obscured]

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Kapp Records Distrib Of 'Cooper' Disk

Kapp Records has bought na- tional distribution rights to Tom Bresh's recording of "D. B. Cooper." Where Are You?" from Neal Rush's Kirkwood Corp. Mel Shayne repped Kirkwood's interests in the sale.

Song deals with Nov. 24 skyjack- ing of a plane by man known as D. B. Cooper. He escaped with the $200,000 by parachuting between Seattle and Reno. Tune was record- ed in Seattle and released there on the Thunder Tummy label.

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DN L [illegible] /VARIETY 1/14/71

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SEARCHED _____ INDEXED _____ SERIALIZED _____ FILED _____ JAN 1 7 1972

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