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Western Carolinian (Volume 36) Extra Edition

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Item 1 - Western Carolinian (Volume 36) Extra Edition
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Western Carolinian (Volume 36) Extra Edition

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Western Carolinian (Volume 36) Extra Edition

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Western Carolinian (Volume 36) Extra Edition

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Western Carolinian (Volume 36) Extra Edition

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  • 2 CAROLINIAN EXTRA Monday, October 26,1970 The fall magic begins on Monday The Friends of Distinction THE FRIENDS OF DISTINCTION Kenny Rogers and the First Edition Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, a beautifully bound group whose music goes straight to the heart and mind of today, wUl perform on Mon- day October 26th in Reid Gym for a blanket concert The roots of the group's music goes down deep into the rich soil of folk melody, blues, jazz, hard rock and the clas sics. But the catalyst of their sound is a blending of the in dividual talents of Kenny Rogers, Terry WUliams, Mary Arnold, Kin Vassy, and Mickey Jones. Shortly after the First Ed- ition was formed, they were signed by Tom Smothers for the "Smothers Brothers' Comedy Hour," and given a party on stage at CBS to introduce them to the press. Not long after, they cut an album called simply "The First Edition." One of the songs "Just Dropped In To See What Con- dition My Condition Was In" was released as a single and the group had its first hit More major hit records followed. These included "Something's Burning," "Reuben James," "Just Remember You're My Sunshine," and others. The honesty and energy with which the group entertains has made them a favorite on coUege campuses across the country ~ where they never faU to establish instant rapport They have appeared on net- worth shows that have included The Tom Jones Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, Tonight Show, Jonathan Winters Show, and the Red Skelton Show. The First Edition has also caught audiences in the chemistry of their performances in the country's top night clubs. They have appeared at Francisco's Hungry I, The Bitter End in New York and the Troubadour in L, A. Yes, and the First Edition is coming to Cullowhee on Oct 26th. Admission is free with an ID and a Student Activities Card. Those interesting, contemporary harmonies wafting in from the West Coast by way of RCA Records belong to Vic- tor's unique new group, The Friends of Distinction Having made its debut during the summer of 1968 at the Daisy, one of Hollywood's top discotheques, the group was brought to the attention of the RCA executives by the Friends' nu= mber one fan, actor Jim Brown, who had signed them to his management firm after hearing them sing at their first professional date. The Friends of Distinction are HARRY ELSTON, FLOYD BUTLER, JESSICA CLEAVES and BARBARA JEAN LOVE. Harry James Elston of Dallas began singing as a youngster in the local church choir with his older brother and younger sister. They soon be- gan performing as a trio, and when Harry was fifteen, he left to join the Johnny Otis Caravan. Following a two year hitch in the U. S. Air Force and after a fling at professional baseball in which he made the first team of the Los Angeles Angels, he decided to make a career out of singing when he drifted into a rock group in the early sixties, The group, in turn, signed with the traveling outfit of soul singer, Ray Charles. It was here he ment Floyd Butler and the nucleus of The Friends of Distinction was formed. Harry is the group's writer, and it was he who composed the lyrics to the Hugh Mase- kela hit, "Grazin in the Grass." The song was the initial RCA single for the quartet and is included in The Friends of Distinction's debut Victoralbum, "Grazin" (LSP- 4149), scheduled for AprU re= lease. Floyd Butler is a native of San Diego, California, and grew up planning to ba a jazz saxophonist He thought less of playing and more of singing when he fell under the influ- ence of the records of Jesse Belvin in the late fifties. He was also encouraged by his cou sin who sang with BUly Ward and the Dominoes. After spending four years in the Marine Corps, he, like Harry Elston, joined the Ray Charles group. He also attended San Diego City College, was assistant project director for one of the agencies of the Los Angeles Urban League for two years prior to the formation of The Friends of Distinction. Jessica Cleaves of Beverly Hills was singing as far back as she can recaU. Both of her parents sang, and her mother played piano, Jessica's ambition has always been for a show business career, and, to this end, she debuted in the church choir at the age of tea She bagan taking voice lessons when she was fifteen, and she received scholarships to both the University of South- era California School of Music and to the California Institute of the Arts. She was brought into the newly forming Friends of Distinction by Floyd Butler whom whe met in the Urban League. At twenty, she is the singing group's youngest member. Barbara Jean Love also comes from Beverly Hills. She is the daughter of West Coast disc jockey, Reuben Brown, and has lived and was schooled in the Los Angeles area, and attended Los Angeles City College , as did Harry Elston. She joined The Friends of Distinction about six months before the group debut at the Daisy. Since the Friend's Daisy appearance, the group has appeared at The Factory, Hollywood's other 'in' discotheque, as weU as the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles and Mr. D»s in San Francisco. On Wednesday, Oct 28th, they wiU appear in Reid gym at 7 p.m. Really. No kidding. In Cullowhee. KENNY ROGERS AND THE FIRST EDITION
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Western Carolina University Publications

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University’s student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolin...

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