Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 6 August 1999 — Page 19

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 6,1999 ■ PAGE Cl

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Who says you can’t go home? Returning to HBO for his first hour-long special on the network, hit comic D.L. Hughley takes a raucously funny journey back to his childhood when the exclusive special D.L. Hughley: Going Home debuts Saturday, Aug. 7 (11:05 p.m. -12:05 a.m. ET). Other playdates: Aug. 10,15,20,26 and 30. Check your local television listing for times.

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Combining an all-star cast, comedy, action, adventure and cutting-edge special effects, Mystery Men taps into dreams of comic book heroes, villains and the triumph of good over evil. The film features Pras (right), formerly of The Fugees, Eddie Izzard (left), as the disco boys, who assist serial and supervillain Casanova Frankenstein (Geoffrey Rush, center) with plans to drive Champion City crazy. The movie opens nationwide on August 6.

Balladeer Keith Washington is scheduled to perform August 7, at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, along with Con Funk Shun, during the WTLC-FM Free Gala in honor of the urban radio station’s 31st Anniversary. The gala is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., and the only way to get tickets is to win them on the air or receive them through a gala sponsor.

Mablean Ephriam presides as judge jjver real-life feuding couples on “Divorce Court,” the new half-hour relationship- • oriented courtroom drama from Monet Lane Productions, Inc. in association with Twentieth television, Inc. Ephriam is a nononsense, but compassionate family law attorney, Who will mediate 4ach case covering • variety of iasuae. ^ _ _ mm aware win [perienoetht drama firsthand as husbands and wives take sides in real•fe courtroom

E C T ION*PEOPLE & TRENDS

Maxwell shares ‘A little sumthin sumthin’ about himself

By LA WANZA SPEARS NNPA National Correspondent As I sat in my living room waiting for the phone to ring, a thousand thoughts crossed through my mind. “What will he be like?” “Will he be as deep as everyone thinks?” “What if he’s not talkative or won’t respond to my questions?” “Hello, LaWanza we have Maxwell on the line for you.” “Thanks.” Silence. “Hey LaWanza, How ya doin’?” Just like that. With the ease of every rhythm he has ever sang. Maxwell started our inter-

view.

The Brooklyn, New Yoric native began mesmerizing audiences in 1995 when he debuted with his first album, “Urban Hang Suite.” His wild hair and dreamy eyes left women breathless. And, his smooth style made brothas give him props. Maxwell followed up that debut with a sold-out concert tour with Zhane in 1996 and the 1998 release of his latest CD, “Embrya,” which is being heralded as a musical innova-

tion.

“I’m amazed it took off,” said Maxwell regarding the album’s success. “Actually it has surpassed my expectations because it’s incredibly un-R&B. It’s a departure from the original.” Departure is an understatement. Fans who got comfortable with the groove of tunes like “Sumthin, Sumthin” on his first project were probably shaken by the psychedelic energy of this latest release. Ironically, Maxwell said his musical diversity' has been both a blessing and curse. “In entertainment you become a creative being,” he said. “The public makes you into something, and when you deviate, you’re not always accepted.” Fortunately, ticket sales for this tour — scheduled to begin Aug. 6 in Houston — indicate a wide acceptance. “I can’t believe how people are buying tickets,” Maxwell said. Always “amazed” or “unbelieving” of his status in entertainment, I had to remind him of his first concert’s success when he hypnotized and romanticized audiences across the country. His sexy dance moves and seductive vocals have even been compared to that of the legendary Marvin Gaye.

“I’m flattered beyond belief, but I think it’s interview, premature,” he said. “I’m only four-years deep While he likes to maintain his privacy, into this. I’ve got a lot more living to do.” Maxwell acknowledges that he has to give Maxwell said he will build on the reputation the public what it wants ... him. ofhisfirstconcertforthiscurrenttour.“There’ll “I like my privacy, but sometimes you be some surprises. You’ll just4ttve.to wait and. Jiaveiu do ‘staoime.’ So,I try to maintain a

see,” he laughed. “There’ll be something funny, sexy, cool, sad and spiritual. “A good concert makes you feel it all,” he

said.

In addition to the tour. Maxwell says he is constantly writing. “I did three songs on the [soon-to-be-released] ‘Best Man’ soundtrack, and I’m just gathering more ideas.” But, don’t try to time when the next album should be released because he doesn’t work on an “album cycle.” “I don’t work for results,” he said. “I work off of faith. It’s my love for music that motivates me.” It’s also his love and passion for the music that has every woman 18 to 36 wishing he was her man (sorry, he’s dating someone special) and every magazine publisher calling for an

cool balance,” he said. What would he be doing if he weren’t making beautiful music? “That’s unimaginable at this point,” he said. “This is always what I wanted to do. . This is me.” And, what would we — Maxwell fans everywhere — do if he weren’t doing what he does so well? I shudder to think. His long-awaited tour will begin Aug. 6 in Houston, Texas. The other 14 “Fortunate” cities on the schedule are: New Orleans, Sacramento, Oakland, San Diego, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., New York, Boston and Atlanta.

Black-owned radio trio favorites among Black listeners

By AMOS BROWN III Special to the Recorder For the first time in history, WTLC is not the most popular radio stations in America’s 16th largest African-American community. WHHH 96.3FM; WBKS 106.7FM and W YJZ 100.9FM,the trio owned by Black-owned Hoosier Radio and TV, now gamers the largest share of Black radio listening, according to the Spring Arbitron radio ratings released last Thursday. At any given time during the week, according to Arbitron, more African-Americans listen to the trio of WHHH/Hoosier 96; WBKS/ Kiss 106.7 and WYJZ/Smooth Jazz Y100.9 than the duo of long time Black stations WTLC-( 1310)AM/

(105.7)FM, owned by Emmis Communications. Arbitron reports that WHHH, WBKS and WYJZ together command 39.9 percent of Black listening. WTLC-AM/FM 35 percent. The Black-owned trio showed their greatest audience gains among African-American adults. Over 40 percent of Black adults surveyed in age groups 18-49, 25-49, 25-54 and 35-64 regularly tune to the stations. The WHHH/WBKS/WYJZ combination ranks first among Blacks in 21 out of the 30 key age groups in our Black community! Individually, WHHH, WBKS and especially WYJZ showed significant gains in Black radio listening. While WTLC-FM suffered the lowest share of Black listening in it’s 31-year history.

WTLC-FM has 28.1 percent of the Black audience; down 5 percent from the Winter survey; down 25 percent from 1998. Hoosier 96/ WHHH has 17.5 percent of Black listening; up 30 percent from the Winter; and 19 percent from a year ago. Kiss 106.7/WBKS is next among Blacks with 11.8 percent of Blacks tuning in;up9percent from three months ago. One year after debuting as Indianapolis first 24 hour jazz station, Smooth Jazz Y100.9/WYJZ has vaulted into fourth place among Blacks with a 10.6 percent of listening. Up a whopping 96 percent in three months; up a from a year ago! WTLC-AM captures fifth position in Black radio listening with a 6.8 percent share. Up 26 percent from the winter and 13 percent

Tony Lament from a year ago. With it’s strength, not in its new syndicated gospel format, but in its live programming Saturday morning and all day Sunday. See WTLC, Page C3

Labor Day weekend Jazz & Art Festival

By LILLIE WALKER Spaulding, and local artists including the Special to the Recorder Michael Brown Jazz Quartet, Sancocho, and Sabor Latina. Late summer at Maurwood Lake will be the The estimated 3,000 visitors will stroll setting for an inaugural festival of a cultural through the park-like setting with diverse art kind. The North Bank Jazz & Arts Festival will displays while enjoying a variety of ethnic take place Saturday and Sunday, September 4 foods and drinks. Visitors are welcome to aotf Aatf aeHbnkm aMgmmRifmk hrawlawn chain or blankets for conceit seatJiMrllltoiilhrton u'ggiii’iw38585* W^ ' ' rurally diverse booths selling aits, crafts, cloth- The weekend event was established to suping, and ethnic foods. port the educational and programming efforts This maiden voyage will set sail with a at the Urban Arts Consortium of Indianapolis, musical spectacularon the lawn featuring well- Responding to declining academic achieveknown artists Norman Conners and Angela ment, decreased art programming in public Bofill. Others expected to perform are national schools, and increasing juvenile crime among recording artists Pharezz Whitted and James the jnner city youth, the Urban Arts Consor-

tium of Indianapolis, Inc. is designed to enhance the arts to residents of urban Indianapolis through education, training and programming promoting cultural awareness and appreciation. The North Bank Jazz & Arts Festival is supported by corporate sponsors WBKS 106.7, The Indianapolis Recorder, and Mars Music ftaiWrFestival hours will be Noon to 8 p.m. Admission is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Children under 12 will be admitted free. Tickets are available at X-Pression Bookstore, 5612 N. College Ave., and the Urban Arts Consortium, 2800 N. Kenwood Ave. For mpre information, call 927-7260.