Vol. 2 No. 6 Dick Gregory and Cannonball Adderley To kick off Black Weekend, April 28-30 Cannonball Adderley and to the crest of life's highest pur- and other clusters of people pose—singular and complete devoted to human liberation. And Dick Gregory will be the devotion to serving one's fellow though, ironically, the doors he featured guests at the man." Dick Gregory has ardently had opened in the entertainment "Longest Weekend Ever," pursued his definition of industry began to slam in his face, April 28-30. This event is "championship" by doing the he did not compromise with his sponsored by the Black things he does best—making ideals and his vision of a liberated Student Union. people laugh, making people humanity living together in peace. listen, and ultimately, helping His participation in the struggle them understand one another. for human dignity cost him over a FRIDAY Dick Gregory chose a career in million dollars in cancelled Starting off the weekend of comedy at a time when Black bookings, travel expenses and activities will be an All-University comedians received bookings only legal fees. He found himself Convocation at 1:00 p.m. in Black clubs and theaters. In behind prison bars many times, presenting the noted lecturer Dick 1961 he was called as a last-minute twice serving 45-day sentences— Gregory. replacement at Chicago's Playboy once in Chicago as a result of his It is difficult to label the prolific Club. He was an immediate daily demonstrations protesting activities of Gregory. He became sensation. He soon appeared in all de facto segregation in the famous as a professional the top clubs in the country and on Chicago public school system comedian. Today he is a recording major network television shows, during the entire summer of 1965, artist, author, lecturer, actor, and consequently became the man and again in the state of human rights activist, social who opened the formerly tightly Washington as a result of his satirist, critic, philosopher and closed doors of the white- demonstrating with the Niqualy political analyst, who combines dominated entertainment in- Indians in their demand for full all these roles to serve the cause of dustry to all the Black comedians participation in American society. human liberation and to alleviate who followed his breakthrough. Dick Gregory fasted during -both human suffering brought on by Having opened the doors of the periods of confinement, taking ignorance and apathy. entertainment industry, Dick only distilled water for nourish- Why is Cannonball Adderley Gregory began knocking on other ment. such a success? Obviously doors. He used his fame as an In 1967, Dick Gregory formally because he has a great deal to say entertainer, and whatever fortune entered politics, but typically in musically and he says it in a way that fame would bring him, to his own way and on his own terms. that has won the avid approval of Cannonball Adderley—Jazz Artist open the closed doors in the He ran as a write-in independent thousands of listeners. Obviously, American system which barred candidate for Mayor of the city of too, because he loves what he is love, teaching; and through a the example his family has given the entry of any man or woman to Chicago. The following year he doing and works very hard at it. series of jobs that supported him him, plus his own inquiring mind the guarantee of full freedom. was a write-in independent But there are other talented and his family during the and the wish to communicate his During the civil rights candidate for President of the people who work hard without necessary schooling, became a observations and ideas to others, movement of the 1960's, Dick United States of America. He lost gaining the kind of landslide drama and speech teacher in a Cannonball has become a young Gregory participated in every that election, but on March 4, 1969, public approval that has been Tallahassee high school, and a giant in his personal life as well. major (and most minor) in Washington D.C., his sup- Cannonball's. civic leader in the community. He recently married talented and demonstrations for human rights porters inauguarted him Perhaps it is a question of But he couldn't entirely abandon vivacious actress, Miss Olga in America. He devoted his time President of the United States In personality. In the words of his horn and, when his sons were James. and talent to giving benefits for Exile, in a ceremonial which Riverside Record's Orrin old enough, he bought them in- Later in the evening, jazz artist civil rights groups, peace groups, Keepnews, "Cannonball, in ad- struments and gave them their and saxophonist Cannonball (Continued on page 2) dition to his truly awesome ability early instruction. Nat shared his Adderley will be in concert at 8 as a jazz improvisor, possesses father's preference for the cornet, p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets for one of the most naturally warm, but in college Julian decided in the performance are $2.50 and articulate, and appealing per- favor of the saxophone. He spent $3.00 and may be purchased at sonalities in or out of music. It can several years as music director at Conde's and in the Union Forum be heard in his playing and is, I a Fort Lauderdale High School Hall between 9:30 and 3:30. think, one key to his vast success. before coming to New York in Adderley is the creative And it has also caused him to 1955. Two years with his first pacesetter of modern music. He is become a truly daring innovator group brought Cannonball to the a disc jockey, a free lance jazz among band leaders: He talks to realization that, although the writer and he is deeply concerned the audience, lets them know what publicity and accalim that ac- with the narcotics problem. His is going on and makes them feel companied the group's advent on time and opinions are frequently welcome." the jazz scene was formidable, his sought by experts who are at- This outgoing attitude, experience in running a band was tempting to solve this perplexing somewhat rare among jazz not. In 1957 the group disbanded problem. musicians, is one of Cannonball's and Nat and Cannonball tem- Dick Gregory was born in the strongest characteristics, and no porarily went their separate Black ghetto of St. Louis, mere theatrical front. He is, first, ways. Nat first joined J. J. Missouri. While in high school, he interested, and second, a highly Johnson and later Woody Her- became a state champion in track expressive communicator. man, while Cannon spent a year and field, and later expanded his In terms of his background, this and a half as a featured member honors on the track at Southern is not surprising. Both his musical of the Miles Davis Sextet. It was Illinois University in Carbondale, ability and vital involvement with an extremely profitable period for Illinois. He entered the en- his world are practically Ad- the Adderleys. tertainment field and rose quickly derley-family trademarks. Julian When Cannon organized his new to the top, once more becoming a "Cannonball" and Nat, his band in 1959, they had both taken "champion" in American society. brother and cornet player with the giant strides in musical maturity But society's definition of "suc- sextet were born in Tallahassee, and were ready to take the place cess" was not in line with Dick Florida. Their father began his waiting for them among the top Gregory's moral passion. As he career as a cornetist, but found jazz performers in the country. has described it, "The real the economic pressures too great Musically, Cannonball Adderley champion, I have come to un- to go on. He turned to his other is a young giant. And, because of derstand, is the man who has risen Dick Gregory UHURU, April 24, 1972, Page 2 "WHICH WAY BLACK AMERICA" Black Weekend What about Chisholm? Starts April 28 By JOYCE TARBERT Plans for other primaries in- share of successful legislation in- When Shirley Chisholm clude North Carolina, New York, cluding a bill to give unem- (Continued from Page 1) spoke at K-State last year, and California. Mrs. Chisholm ployment insurance to domestic may enter the primaries in workers. included the oath of non-office, an are providing most of the fashions she said nothing of running Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Of particular disgust to Mrs. inaugural address and two to be modeled. Admission is 50 for president of the U.S. but Concerning Mrs. Chisholm's Chisholm has been the Seniority inaugural balls. cents for students and a dollar for her fiery eloquence and candidacy, most pros on the System or as she calls it, the adults. determined look suggested subject don't seem to think she "Senility System" of Congress. SATURDAY Other plans still in formation she had the spirit to do so. has any chance of winning. Few During this campaign period, are to have a "soulful Black Today officially, Shirley Anita Black politicians have promised Mrs. Chisholm may find herself The "Soulful Black Breakfast" Breakfast," a jazz workshop and St. Hill Chisholm is running for the support for her campaign and fighting a battle between the white will be in the Union rooms K and various after parties. democratic nomination of many women's groups as one male power stucture in the U.S. S. The menu includes grits, fried For further information contact President of the U.S. She is in authority said, "seem more but in looking back at her previous yams, biscuits, muffins, sausage, Black Student Advisor Julia essence, testing the "bias of confused than elated by her out- records, it will be a fight to the ham, buttermilk and orange juice.