DETROIT
NATHANIEL COTT
SI!IT'" ,
DETROIT-Mattie and the Angel
of Joy are indeed a joy to watch,
ccording to their fans. By no stretch
of the imagination can anyone con­
fuse what they are: a go pel group
that ings "traditional gospel music."
The group realizes that there are
other kinds of gospel, such as "con­
temporary," but their forte is tradi­
tional.
As a group, they are relatively
young. The group w formed in
1986 but individually, they have
many years of go pel inging ex­
perience.
It is not altogether clear who,
how, or what initiated the idea to
form the group but Mattie Moore, the
lead singer on most of the ongs, is
given credi t for being that person.
Moore '5 style il matter-of-fact
style. She moves out into the
audience with purpose. Her voice i
strong, demanding, but enjoyable.
And the ingers, all women, drive her
U t
lied orS tu y
K de h B pti t church, 14500
Greenfield Ro d d eghi. 0
invited, did not t nd. Th the
demo tration, which t one point
eemed de tined to explode into
violence, too pI ceo
ACO R ' demo tration t the
ice cream company w in full force
when S deghi arrived and fier or­
dering everyone off hi property, he
agreed to m t with the medi .
S deghi id he le e his true
nd cannot be held po ible for
whatever illicit ctivity may take
place off of hi premi
with an urgency that often tim
elici houts of "Amen," hand clap­
ping, foot tomping and, in the words
of Reverend Wilmore Allen, "Cut­
ting a.step for the Lord."
Moore, like mo t Blac from
that yesteryear era that i fastbecom­
ing a memory, was "brought up in the
church," singing gospel inee the age
of ten.
THE ANGELS OF Joy have
performed in various state , includ­
ing Arkansas, where Moore was
born, in the city of Crawfordville.
The group will be in Craw­
fordville on September 22 for the
37th anniversary of another gospel
group, the Go pel Wymics' 37th An­
niversary. Moore's brother, Clyde, i
. a member of that group.
The Angles of Joy are also in the
proce of recording an album.
which should be released within two
months.
The philC' ophy of the Angels of
Joy is simple: "We are carrying the
HYMAN
contlnu d from B·1
via albums like Somewhere In My
Lifetime, You Know How To Love
Me (also the title of one of her big­
gest hit singles) Can't We Fall In
Love Again?, and Goddess of Love
contributing her burgeoning
songwriting talents to cuts on several
of these records.' Phyllis was also a
guest vocalist on albums by Pharaoh
Sanders nd McCoy Tyner during
this period. She also performed on
the soundtracks for The Fish That
Saved Pittsburgh, Children of
Sanchez and TOQ Scared to Scream.
IN ADDITION TO enthralling
listeners with her recorded work,
Hyman has performed consistently
during the last twelve years. She
starred on Broadway In Sophisti­
cated Ladies, the widely acclaimed
tribute to Duke Ellington. She has
averaged 120 live performance dates
per year in concert (incl uding special
jazz and Quiet Storm packages), at
clubs, colleges and venue in Atlan­
tic aly and Lake Tahoe.
A much-loved and respected
entertainer in Europe and Japan,
Phylli has appeared on numerous
international TV specials. Her
American film and television credits
i de the Barr¥ Manilow CBS
SpeCial, "Swing Street, "Spike Lee's
School Daze, in which she gave an
on-amera performance of the song
"Be One, "which w also one of the
bighlights of the film's soundtrack.
Her most recent film appearance on
screen i as a nightclub singer in the
Fred Williamson film, The Kill
Relex. '
In 1986, she igned withPhiladel­
phia International Records and cut
the hit album LivingA llA lone, which
lnchlded a pair of Top 20 R&B hits:
the title cut nd the first single "Old
FrleluL" Continuing to be an in­
demand live performer, Phylli as
pent much of the past five years
touring. as well recording material
for this album.
With Philadelphia International
Records completing i distribution
pact with ZOo Entertainment at the
eod of 199(}, Prime of My Life I
fitdngly the fintalbum to be rele cd
through the new arrangement. "Yes,
it' taken a whilt between records
but I'm aware tha t I have an audience
that' made up of pecial people who
have never stopped showing me their
support and their love. Hopefully,
they'll feel that it's been worth the
wait."
About the album, Phyllis notes:
"The title track is just one of the most
positive lyrics I've heard in a long,
long time. It's really for everybody,
and I can definitely identify with it at
this point in my life as well. 'When
You Get Right Down to It' is a story
about a relationship that isn't work­
ing. I've learned that you can't make
people love you and when love isn't
there anymore, you can only move
forward. 'I Found Love' - well, I
recorded that ong when I wasn't in
love, 0 I just had to remember how
it felt, and honestly, it was very hard,
to do that song.
"DON'T WANNA. Change the
World" I considerably different
from anything Phylli has done
before - she even gets the oppor­
tunity to rap on it! "Hey, It's cute, it's
new and it's fun. I really wanted to
do something that was up, that was
slightly different for me. And al­
though I-didn't think I could rap, I
didn't do too badly!" .
On a more serious note, Hyman
tates that·"1 Can't Take It" ("about
a guy who's a major jerk"), written
for her specifically by
producer/songwriter Nick Martinel­
li, reflects her attitude that "no one
has to be abused in a relationship."
"Walk Away" i "a song that
makes me cry. I recorded it after a
relationship ended because neither
one of \II communicated openly and
honestly with each other, and that
j tdoesn't work."
She refers to "Meet Me on the
Moon" as "my masterpiece, a· real
tear-jerker," and concludes that her
late t album contains "songs that
reflect where I w emotionally at
the time I recorded tbem. I can
honestly y that I thought about
what these songs meant to me; I real­
ly felt them."
Stronger than anything he has
done up to thi key moment in her
career, Phyllis Hyman' latest work
reflects, in her own words, "the
piritual, intellectual and creative
growth I've been experiendn ." In­
deed, Prime of My Life i n't j t
another great � lli Hyman album,
it' a personalte timony from a 1 dy
who can only ing straight from the
heart.
ceo DI G TO Karla
Brintley, a con ct person with the
We t Side b nch of ACOR , he
nd Uoyd W tley will meet with
S deghiSeptember21.Atth tm et­
ing, she id, they ill ttempt to
reach mutual understanding.
me ge."
The group believes that "� .... ,,.,
sion of "carrying the age"
been a . e And that, in
their approach to singing, there is
purpose.
Mae Nesbitt, who is, in addition
to Marcus Devine, a musician with
the group, seeks out information,
particularly from the youth, to incor-
I
porate into the n h write . The
words of one song about "children
going tray" were particularly poig­
nant: "It' 0 d to ee our children
going tray/lt' mighty d to ee
our children going a tray/little
children itting all alone, they are
being misled in their hom ... " along
with the graphic and illuminating,
"teenage girl walking down the
treet/they don't even know the
tranger they meet."
The group i ddened because at
mo t of their concerts there are far
too few youth. But they aid that
youth" ee 0 much wrongdoing" by
people who do attend church and
religious festivitie that they are
turned off.
ANGELS OF JOY-(I-r), front row, In ers Tynette Willi m Mattie Moore, Azelia Nesbitt, Linette N bitt
ad CamUie Moore. B ek row, (l-r), musicians Re Ie Moore, Francois Moore, Marcu Devine nd Ynonne
Randolph. (photo by N. Scott)
stitute for Social Studies, 2641
W Grand Blvd. Questions &
comment invited. All welcome.
(875-5790)
SEPTEMBER 23rd
MAP XV: THE CHALLENGE
OF THE CHAIR - 16 modern
chairs designed & built by
Michigan artists is the focus of
this everyday object. DIA, 5200
Woodward (833-7963)
SEPTEMBER 24th .
FORUMS - In celebration of
Black Reading Month (which is
crucial for our S4:Jrviva�, we will
present book, magazine &
newspaper reviews. Guest
Speaker-Malik Yakinl. Malcom
X Center, 13206 Dexter (883-
3312).7pm.
PUBLIC HEARINGS :- The
Comprehensive Housing Affor�
dability Strategy (CHAS) -
( {24) Central Sector, Joseph
, Walker Williams Cntr, 8431
Rosa Parks Blvd, 6-8pm. &
(9/26) Model Neighborhood
Sector. City County-Bldg-13tn
FL, 2-4pm.
SEPTEMBER 26th
EVEN I G OF ENJOY ENT-
Com Roy Ayes with hi
quintet (8/28 " 9/29) at Baker's
� yboard, the world' oldest
Jazz club, 20510 Uverno (864-
vent
1201)
HOMEWORK -:_ Help with
homework is offered at Knapp
Ubrary (9/26) by Mr. Abdullah
from 4-6pm and (9/28) by Mrs.
Skaarup from 11am-1pm. (876-
0133)
SEPTEMBER 28th
FREEDO SONG - A gospel
musical play. �peclaJ guest ap­
pearance by Witness. 7:30p.m.
at the Masonic Temple. Tickets:
$20 & $18 Group $10 � $9.
(342-6969) .
MOST MEMBERS 0 the An:
gel of Joy are members of the choir,
War On Sin, which h pproximate­
ly 30 members.
, The Angels of Joy will ppear at
the Fall Musical Songfe t Sunday,
September 29, 1991 at Detroit aty
Quartet Union Headquarte , 3222
Purtian Avenue.
The 6 p.m. m ical features the
Mighty Galatian Singers of Detroit
and th New Mighty Wings of Cin­
cinnati, Ohio.
Incl uded in the program will be
the Stars of Faith, Gospel Interrs,
Awakening Singers, Ton of Faith,
Rejoice Singer , the Robin on
Singers and others.
Donations for the Fall Musical
Songfest is $8.
On Sunday, October 13, the An­
gel of Joy will appear at New Bethel
I Baptist Church, 8450 C L. Franklin
Boulevard.
The program will feature the
"God Father of Go pel," Willie
Banks and the Me engers of Jack­
son, Missi ippi and Leornia Boyd of
Aberdeen, Mississippl.
The local groups will be
Reverend Wilmore Allen and the
Victory Five, Marion and the
Galatian Singers, Evelyn and the
Go pel Warriors and Silm and the
Morning Echoes.
The 3:30 p.m. program is $10 ad­
vanced and $12 at the door. Children
under 12 are $6.
Tickets can be purch ed at Hol­
lywood Fashion, 8035 C. L.
Franklin Boulevard,. God' World,
13533 W. Seven Mile Road and
Dexter Auto Wash, 12005 Dexter
Avenue.
Complied .nd Edited
By KASCENE BARKS
SEPTEMBER 22nd
CLARENCE LAUGHLIN:
Visionary Photographer -
This exhibition provides a fresh
perspective on laughlin's work
by presenting his most famous
images along ide less familiar
ones, including many early
vintage prints. Detroit I nstitute of
Arts, 5200 Woodward (833-
7963). .
DETROIT FESTIVAL OF THE
ARTS - In the Univ. Cultural
Cntr. Three day celebration of
the arts featuring performing &
visual artists. Concerts, street
perform ers, artists &
craftspeople, a colorful
childrens' fair & a variety of food
& drinks. 11-7pm (577-5088).
DISCUSSION GROUP - (The
Vincent Chin Case Discussion
Group) meets weekly at my
home to discu how the out­
come of the Chin case will affect
our future. (548-4978), for reser­
vations. No fee & No donations.
Ask for Ben Steinhart. 1-2pm.
Sunday , at 8699 Kenberton
Or., 0 Park, MI 48237.
_ PUBLIC FORU ..- Hear Olga
on "Threats to Our
A t Gains; Are We a Diminish-
Ing Mlnorlty?- at 2pm sharp.
Library of Midwest Labor In-
of the late 19th century. DIA,
5200 Woodward (�7963)
THURDAY LUCHEON -An In­
terview with Yahweh Ben Yah­
weh at 12 noon at the Cotillion
Club, 13221 Purtlan. Yahweh
will be Interviewed from the
Miami jaH. He awaits trial. Buffet
style lucheon
RALLY - ·Economic Develop­
ment In 'Detroit- - 10 am. to
1pm., Kem Block, Woodward &
Michigan (423-6851). Rain
Date: 10/1/91
WITNESS
J.J. TISSOT: THE GOTUEB
COLLECTION - Survey more
than 100 prints of Tissot'
graphic work. Th works iJ­
lustrate French & British society
Send all nnouncement to
Michigan Cltlz n, PO Box
03560, Highl nd P rk, MI
48203 Or c II (313)
869-0033: