Portland has a
new pair of legs to add to the populace! They belong to a very attractive blonde
that just moved here from Chicago to teach dance in our fair city. Her name
is Mary Ann Carter.Mary Ann Carter
Story by Pat Reynolds
Portland has a
new pair of legs to add to the populace! They belong to a very attractive blonde
that just moved here from Chicago to teach dance in our fair city. Her name
is Mary Ann Carter.
One of the things
that Mary Ann shares is that she al-ways wanted to dance. She took lessons and
while still a student, she found that they were short of teachers. She volunteered
her time and talent and that was how she started her long career.
Mary Ann was trained
from the age of 12 when she took ballet, and then ballroom lessons at 18. She
has studied American style ballroom dancing with former U.S. Champions David
Key and Sam Sodano and International style with many top English coaches, all
former World Champions.
Mary Ann owned
and op-erated a studio in Ohio for eight years and then moved to Chicago where
she ran the Classique Studio for over ten years. When asked if she really likes
this career, her answer was a definite yes!
What Mary Ann
likes most about her chosen field is teaching couples and competitors; what
she likes least is some of the couples' fight during lessons!
For her future,
Mary Ann says she would like to introduce International style ballroom much
more widely in the beautiful state of Oregon.
Carter credits
dancing for keeping her in shape and allowing her a flexible schedule so that
she has plenty of time to pursue her other passion which is horses.
So, Portland,
let's welcome this latest addition to our community. Put on your dancing shoes,
kick up your collective heels and dance your way to good health. (See ad
this issue for details.)
Many of you may
remember Shuggie Otis from the '60s. His dad, Johnny Otis, used him on guitar
for many memorable recordings. Shuggie doesn't tour very often, so this performance
will be a special treat.
Another great,
under-appreciated talent is Detroit's Johnnie Bassett and his band, the Blues
Unsurgents. Bassett is a veteran of the same '50s blues scene that John Lee
Hooker came from and was house guitarist for the Fortune record label.
New Orleans' rich
musical heri-tage will be represented by drummer Zigaboo Modeliste, formerly
a member of the Funky Meters.
Traditional Bay
Area guitarist Alvin Youngblood Hart will deviate from his usual solo act to
perform with a band.
Chicago bluesman
Larry Garner will inject a dose of his smooth, even blues. A great singer, Garner
could very well pull off the surprise set of the festival.
Five dynamic electric
guitarists will shake your moneymaker; Roy Rogers, Jimmy Thackery, Bugs Henderson,
Kenny Blue Ray and Junior Watson are considered at the top of their form and
in their prime, so be prepared (Guitar slingers must attend.)
J. Geils will
perform in a duo with his old bandmate Magic Dick on harp. The Boneshakers,
whose members have done time with Coolio, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt,
Iggy Pop, Lyle Lovett and Snoop Doggy Dogg, will absolutely freshen your outlook
on life.
If you wanna get
up and boogie, there's no better music than Louisiana Zydeco. This rollickin'
style will be well represented by Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas. Nathan and
his band copped the Big Easy Award in New Orleans for Best Zydeco Act.
Our "Local
hero makes good," Kelly Joe Phelps, returns to town for the Fourth of July.
Kelly has been on tour with BB King, traveling and impressing music lovers all
over the world. Help welcome him back!
Cascade Blues Association
Hall of Fame drummer Boyd Small has moved to Amsterdam, Holland, and will bless
Portlanders with a performance with The Blues Factory, a Roomful of Blues-like
big band, replete with horns. Only this time, Small is out front as the singer.
Maybe he'll sit behind the drum kit for just one song (please).
Local standouts
Paul deLay, Lloyd Jones, Duffy Bishop, Too Slim and the Taildraggers, Curtis
Salgado, Big Monti (featuring Monti Amundson, John Mazzocco and Jeff Minnieweather)
and Jim Mesi make this one of the strongest lineups the festival's ever had.
Where are you going
to spend Fourth of July weekend? Waterfront Park and the Waterfront Blues Festival,
of course!