66 Lote General News MERCER ELLINGTON BOOKED $25,000 Grant To Ensure InsideTrack George Wein still hopes to open an innovative jazz then went on sale. The entertainers appeared before an Duke's Music At Newport showcase in New York similar to his successful Boston estimated 62,000 persons -most of them getting their Storyville jazz club of the 1950s, but the planned Feb. 28 first taste of country music. NEW YORK -Audiences at this George Wein has been able to sal- bow may be delayed. As a place where musicians could AI Bramy, San Francisco distribution pioneer, is con- year's Newport Jazz Festival will be vage at least some of the concerts for meet, jam and try out new ideas, it was to be housed in valescing at his home from a minor heart attack. He will treated to a series of concerts cov- Newport with relative ease. the basement of Frank's Place on East 48th St. in Man- return to Eric Mainland as general manager in about ering the early works of the late The first of the four concerts will hattan. four weeks. Duke Ellington, thanks to a $25,000 cover Ellington's music during the At midpoint of Bette Midler's four -month national W.F. "Jim" Myers, SESAC vice president and di- grant from the National Endowment 1920s, and the second and third will tour, gross is reported as topping $1.2 million, including rector of international relations, returns to the U.S. the for the Arts. follow his growth and style through a record $403,000 for six days at Los Angeles' Chandler end of the month following visits to Paris, Helsinki, The concerts were originally the 1930s and 1940s. Pavilion and $210,000 for five days at Chicago's Opera Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen after MIDEM in scheduled as part of a 12 -show series In the final concert of the series, House. Cannes. Joining him at the National Religious Broad- to be staged this year by the New Ellington's son, Mercer, who now Moodies drummer Graeme Edge sailed the Atlantic in casters convention, Feb. 22 -25 at the Shoreham Ameri- York Jazz Repertory Co. However, leads his father's band, will perform. his 70-foot Delia, landing in Barbados. ... The Ray cana, Washington, D.C., will be SESAC staffers Norman the plan fell through when an ex- There will also be a complete per- Thomases welcomed a girl, their second child, as an early Odium, vice president /director, copyright administra- pected grant from N.Y. State Coun- formance of Ellington's first ex- Christmas present. tion, and Jim Black, gospel music director. The trio also cil on the Arts failed to materialize. tended composition, "Black, Brown Big 3 Music Corp. is expanding its marketing push for will attend the Gospel Music Assn. board meet, March 1- As both producer of the Newport And Beige," by the Jazz Repertory Bruce Springsteen's "Born To Run Songbook" from na- 3 in Nashville. Jazz Festival, and director of the Orchestra. The composition was first tional chain rocks to bookstores, at $5.95 retail. ... The Paul Simon has gotten farther than ever in his latest New York Jazz Repertory Co., performed in 1943 at Carnegie Hall. Three Degrees (CBS Intl) will be featured entertainers at attempt to get permission for a concert tour of the Soviet Mexico's El Heraldo Awards (similar to U.S. Oscars), Union.... John Denver gets a full 90- minute segment of Feb. 20 in Mexico City. ... Telly Savalas, joined by Merv Griffin's syndicated tv show and will introduce the BBC In U.S. To Film Blues guests Diaharn Carroll, Barbara Eden and Cloris Leach- tv debuts of Starwood and the Starland Vocal Band from man, makes his tv musical -comedy special debut in his Windsong label.... Sam Pruitt back at Sapphire En- Continued from page 55 "Blues has always been the music "Telly ... Who Loves Ya Baby ?," Feb. 18 on CBS -TV. of the poor, the downtrodden and tertainment of New York after recovering from a near - lector. The Missouri city also deliv- * * * complete physical breakdown.... Anson Williams of tv's ered James DeShay, who operates those who aspired to raise them- selves above their environment Mainstream pop acts that have enjoyed heavy tele- "Happy Days" series opening for Tanya Tucker dates. the Santa Fe Bar on Martin Luther Rick Derringer has a new band of his own, named King Dr. didn't want any part of it," Oakley vision exposure dominated the third annual American 31 ABC -TV. Derringer and featuring two lead guitars. ... Another Oakley says he titled his blues declares. Music Awards, presented Jan. on For the second year in a row, Olivia Newton -John was musician associated with the Winter Bros., Dan Hart- book "The Devil's Music" because Oddly, the BBC team has not in- the top winner, determined by polling the American man, is working on his first solo LP. As for the Winters many persons, particularly religious cluded New Orleans in its schedule. public. She repeated as the favorite female vocalist in themselves, Edgar is doing his next LP with the Philly fanatics, disapprove of the music. "Down there," Oakley says, "the pop and country, and won the pop album award for production kings, Gamble -Huff, while John starts a tour. They regard the blues as sinful and emphasis is on r &b, not blues. It's "Have You Never Been Mellow." ... The Bally pinball company has sold 9,000 units of its gutterish in appeal. also Dixie Land country." John Denver also won three awards, repeating as the new "Pinball Wizard" model with Roger Daltrey's pic- favorite male vocalist in pop, as well as taking the coun- ture. try male artist and country album prizes for "Back Home Upcoming Mac Davis tv series will have weekly seg- Again." ments of Mac performing a new song from an amateur Execulive Turnlable Glen Campbell, with Newton -John one of the co -hosts writer.... Arlo Guthrie, Hoyt Axton, Ronee Blakely and of the program, won two awards for "Rhinestone Cow- Doug Dillard raised $10,000 for the Sierra Club with two from page 6 Continued boy" as the pop and country single of the year. Aretha shows at the Rose Garden Ballroom in Pismo Beach, Corp. ... Arnold Thaler promoted to vice president, product design, from di- Franklin, the third co -host, was named favorite female Calif. Ace for Hi Records for 14 rector at Topp /Juliette Electronics.... Wilbert Roth promoted to general vocalist in soul. Cannon, saxophone stylist Billy manager, New York, from operations manager at Teletronics International. Gladys Knight & the Pips, who won four awards last years. cuts his first gospel album this month.... Adams, president of Memphis Artists Attractions book- * * * year, repeated in only one of those categories, for top soul group. ing agency, put together a roster of talent for an April 11 Mel Price has left Phonodisc, where he was national sales director, to be- * * * benefit at Mid -South Coliseum for St. Jude Children's come director of sales at ABC Records. Also ankling Phonodisc for ABC is Bill Max Morath interviewed fellow ragtimer Eubie Blake, Research Hospital. Already committed are Jerry Lee Grady, who becomes director of branch operations and production. Grady was who was 93 years young Feb. 7, for American Heritage Lewis, Ace Cannon, Ray Price and Jerry Wallace. Goal is vice president of operations at Phonodisc. At the branch level, Art Miller, who magazine.... 12- year -old Jimmy Osmond makes his live $500,000. was vice president, sales and marketing, Warner's Special Products, takes over solo debut as special guest star in "Pufnstufs Bicenten- Is Rick Nelson going to Warner Bros. from MCA? .. the ABC Los Angeles branch, while Shelly Rudin assumes New York branch nial Show," Feb. 12 -22 at Madison Square Garden's Felt Northwest Releasing of Seattle celebrated its 25th anni- reins and Bill Shaler becomes ABC San Francisco branch chief. ... Joe Car- Forum. ... The Hutchison Bros. was to make its first versary by scheduling 32 spring concerts.... Nat Freed- bone, must recently product manager with ABC Records, shifts to Western re- Manhattan appearance Feb. 8 at O'Lunney's Country land, Billboard talent editor, guests at Songwriters Show- gional sales manager for United Artists Records. Also at UA, Larry Friedman Music City.... Jazz pianist Billy Taylor, with doctorates case Los Angeles rap session Wednesday (I 1) at the moves from the New York promotion staff to East Coast publicity coordinator. in humanities and music, has become a contributing edi- Improvisation.... Minnie Riperton debuts in Las Vegas * * * tor of WNBC -TV's "Sunday" program.... With a one - at Riviera next Thursday (19). Robert Curnow, general manager and director of artists & music for Stan day sellout of his March 13 show at New York's Lincoln The Gold Record Room dinner theater opened in Kenton's Creative World Records, has resigned. He is a former music educator Center, Paul Anka added a second performance for Av- Panama City Beach, Fla., with Paul Delicato and Sean and composer. ... Herman Spero, formerly executive producer of the syndi- ery Fisher Hall that night. Morton Downey.... Chelsea Record president Wes Far- cated tv contemporary music series, "Upbeat," has been appointed deputy di- Jim Fragle, lyric writer, disk producer, former Bill- rell and Steve Bedell, WFO Music Group publishing rector of special projects for the four music and concert facilities operated by board writer, has an article on how to break into song - chief, returned from London meetings with their U.K. li- the city of Cleveland.