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Leslie Uggams recently won $25,000 on a quiz show and
donated the winnings to a parochial school in Texas. That’s
the type of person she is.
Leslie is being carefully supervised by Mitch Miller, who
took over her career on records.
She appeared on the Jack Paar Show, The Ed Sullivan Show and
various other tv programs.
Miller was determined to have her career in easy stages,
rather than thrust her into situations for which she was not
prepared.
Leslie’s parents (her Father is a former member of the Hall
Johnston Choir and her Mother was a dancer at the Cotton
Club) enthusiastically endorse this slow but sure approach
and saw to it that she broke into the night club field by
slow stages and followed Mitch’s advice on her recording
career.
In the summer of ’63, she made her big time nightclub debut
at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, for which period Mitch
released her from her duties on “Sing Along With Mitch”,
since the show taped right through the summer.
Leslie is a student during the winter months at the Jilinard
(sp?) School Of Music in New York where she studies
sight reading, conducting, composing and arranging.
She is not working towards a degree, but intends to be
thoroughly grounded in her profession so that she can
comment intelligently on the arrangements she uses and be
able to spot difficulty before it arises.
Leslie, single, lives with her parents in a new apartment
block in New York, close to the hub of things, so that she
can travel at ease to rehearsals, to school, to acting and
dancing classes and costume fittings.
She still finds time for an active social life and one of
her favourite activities is reading her large amount of fan
mail.
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Some of the participating guests at the forthcoming Gospel
Convention are the Mayflower Baptist Choir, Inspirational
Choir of 12th Street, New Bethel Adult Choir,
Holy Cross Youth Choir, Mrs Jeanette Smith and singers from
King Solomon Baptist Church.
Also slated to appear are Bailey Temple Youth Choir,
Metropolitan Church of God Young Adult Choir, Mt Zion Mass
Choir, Springhill Choir, Northwest Church of God in Christ,
and New Jerusalem Church of God in Christ Choir.
Described by night lifers as one of the most exciting revues
on the current scene, the entertainment package headed by
Baby Jean Ray has been attracting capacity throngs to the
colourful Parizian Show Bar.
Featuring laughs, dance thrills and excitement the
all-female impersonator revue has won acclaim from patrons
and musicians alike.
Showcased on the agenda are Sonja Devine, captivating song
stylist; Valerie Compton, dancer; Lyn Palmer, exponent of
the exotic; and Sondra Gail, song specialist.
Music for the revue is presented by Baron Lea and his
orchestra whose tasteful arrangements give added sparkle to
the joy bill.
A special matinee for youths accompanied by their parents is
offered from 6pm to 9pm at the Davison-Linwood fun spot.
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The controversy over processed hair continues. Eighteen year
old Jesse Colquitt, who attends the Radio, Electronics,
Television Institute considers a process an asset to one’s
appearance and feels that many boys are misjudged because of
the way they choose to wear their hair.
One student gave another opinion. “It gives the school a bad
name when a number of students engage in a fad that’s
publicly unacceptable” asserts Cynthia. “The effect is quite
hoodish.”
Fourteen year old John is sort of in between comments on the
process as many of his friends have one. However he is
positive he will never make the transition.
“I’ve seen guys with infection caused by a process”, stated
John, who also listed his parents disapproval as a factor,
“and I also know of fellows who had to be hospitalized for
treatment.”
William Myers, also of Pershing approves of the process, but
won’t obtain one because the chemicals used have a tendency
to change the texture and color of one’s hair. Then, too,
there is too much procedure involved with the upkeep.
“If you go swimming, or get caught in the rain, that’s four
or five dollars lost. If you sleep wrong all the waves fall
out. And you can’t even scratch your head for fear of an
infection.
Fannie Evans of Cass Tech, doesn’t even bother making an
acquaintance with a fellow who wears a process.
“I know it isn’t fair”, she stated, “but I naturally assume
the boy is hoodlum.”
Nineteen year old Thelma Waters of Highland Park Junior
College feels that a boy with a process is trying to create
a false image.
“They seem to be trying to compensate for something they
lack, good looks, a better grade of hair, or attention.
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