MCA recording artist Stephanie Mills is starring in the Broadway musical “The Wiz” from February 10-14 at the Saenger Theater. It is directed by George Faison, who choreographed “The Wiz” on Broadway. The tour is scheduled to hit 26 cities across the country. Mills began her career on the Broadway stage when she was nine. Her performances at the Apollo Theater and on Broadway during the five-year run of “The Wiz” helped launch her recording career. Since then, she has had gold and platinum albums, and in 1980 won a Grammy for Best Female R&B vocalist. MCA recently released her new LP, Something Real.
One of the most requested local songs at radio, record stores and clubs was written by a 17-year-old rapper who made a guest appearance on DJ Jimi’s CD It’s Jimi. Teruis Gray (aka The Juvenile) was approached by DJ Jimi to record the song Gray had been performing at clubs called “Bounce (For the Juvenile).” Radio stations and clubs started playing the LP cut, and it caught on. “We never thought it was gonna go that far,” says Gray, who describes himself as a “street gangsta raggamuffin rapper.” He says he gets most of his musical ideas from the projects, and that he tries to keep an original New Orleans sound. Gray plans to release his first 12” and LP in a couple of months. For booking information, contact Christopher Webb of Clever Entertainment (581-0308).
Ice Mike (Herbert Michael Scott) released his True 2 Da Game LP in January on Yo! Records. The album is mostly rap with some reggae and R&B tracks. Scott’s lyrics are about his real life experiences. “Johnny” is an alias Scott uses to tell the story of a friend who died after turning to drugs to help his family. “Rollin’ on Daytons” is a less serious song about cruisin’ the lakefront in a car outfitted with Dayton rims, checking out girls. On “Good 2 U,” Scott features his dad, Michael Scott, who plays a keyboard solo while Ice Mike raps about male and female relationships. The CD has 21 cuts, including “Bring Da Heat,” a 12” previously released on C&M Records.
Scott, now 22, has been playing music since he was 10. He was a mobile deejay with the Grand Scratcher, who would sneak Scott into barrooms to perform. On his 16th birthday, his mom gave him his first set of Technics turntables. He later joined local rapper Jack the Rapper, and they opened dates across the country for Rob Base and Michel’le. In 1991, Scott released his first 12”, “I Got Game,” with “Doin’ My Thang” on the flipside. That 12” was released on C&M Records, a label Scott co-owns with his partner Chuck Temple. He used the money from the 12” sales to record his second 12”, “Bring Da Heat,” which was released last February. He signed a distribution deal with Dallas-based Yo! Records and released his debut LP in January. His advice to other rappers: don’t be influenced by peer pressure. “In order to do what you want you have to be yourself,” says Scott.
The members of Percussion Incorporated are working on material for their third LP, which they plan to record this summer. ’92 was a big year for Luther Gray, Kenyatta Simon, Aumra Frezel, Lloyd Daly, Perry Dominquez, Rick Nick and Alonzo McAlpine. They were named Best Reggae/African group at last year’s Big Easy Awards. New Orleans Magazine recognized them as one of 50 groups to watch in ’92. They opened for the Wailers and Jimmy Cliff at Tipitina’s, and their CD Congo Square received positive reviews in national music magazines.
“We’re dedicated to preserving the art of percussion and the science of sound,” says Gray. Gray maintains that the group plays positive music to inspire people and to teach them the healing power of drums. Their sound is a mixture of reggae, Caribbean, Brazilian, jazz and R&B. Besides playing music, Percussion Incorporated participates in workshops and community projects to help preserve the history of Congo Square. They’ve organized citizen groups to clean up the Square, and every Saturday between March and December they offer free drum workshops. Over the years, they’ve initiated efforts to have Congo Square recognized as a National Historic landmark.
Rap group Fullpack has been busy in the studio producing local R&B and rap groups Pimp Daddy, Females in Charge, 2 Bad Men, X-cel-n-choice and Lokee. Fullpack members Scratchmaster Fess (Anthony Rout), DJ Don Juan (Don Henry) and DJ C.M.J. (James Joseph) are partners in Fullpack Productions and Pack Records, along with Elray Homes. The group released its first 12” in ’91, which featured “Give You Whatcha Want” and “Fullpack’s in the House.” It was a learning experience for Rout, who says the 12” could have done better if he had known more about the record business. Releasing the record on the group’s own label taught him more about distribution and promotion. He’s applying that knowledge to promoting Fullpack’s music, and he’s trying to help other local groups learn more about the industry. He and his partners bought a house in New Orleans where they operate Pack Records and a pre-production studio.
Rout’s goal for ’93 is “to be one of the top record companies in New Orleans and to produce home-grown artists.”
Look for new releases on Pack Records…Fullpack’s “I Like To” and “Slide Giddyup”; 2 Bad Men’s “U.N.L.V.”; and Pimp Daddy’s “Gotta Be Real.”
On the video scene…Q93 and WNOL Fox 38 have teamed up for New Orleans Jamz, a one-hour music and video show that airs on Channel 38 on Saturdays at 5 p.m. The show is taped on Sunday nights at Club Taboo (1600 St. Charles Ave.). It features videos, interviews and taped footage of New Orleanians dancing to local and national music, and is hosted by Q93 air personalities.
Cox Cable Channel 50 in New Orleans airs Bumrush, a half hour rap show on Sundays and Thursdays at 9 p.m. and Mondays at 5:30 p.m. The show is produced by local college students and offers rap videos, interviews and information about urban communities. For more information, contact Donyell Thomas 944-5927 or 949-8507.
