Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 3, 1995 TAG: 9511030035
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS BANKS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The boogie woogie piano player actually performed alongside the Prez at the 1993 Inaugural Ball.
Davis, who got his degree in music from Howard University, where he was a member of the school's famed choir and jazz vocal ensemble, has hobnobbed with lots of musical kingfish - Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry and The Coasters, to name a few.
Davis was only 27 in 1985 when he was picked by 72-year-old Pinetop Perkins, one of the great blues pianists, to succeed him in Muddy Waters' band. Davis also played keyboards for Chuck Berry for 12 years.
In addition to his singing and piano playing, he's primed on electric guitar, too.
When he's not playing his Chicago-style blues in nightclubs, concert halls and festivals, Davis does acting and writing. He's the author of a book on the Ku Klux Klan and a frequent lecturer all over the country.
You can see him in action on the keyboard tonight at the Cafe at Champs in Blacksburg. The rocking runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. and admission is $5.
The Cafe at Champs is at 111 N. Main St.|
HEAR YE! HEAR YE!Lots of groups are doing fall concerts, but you won't find many who perform at the level of the Blacksburg Master Chorale.
The chorale has twice performed in Europe, including a concert at the International Songfest in Miedzyzdroje, Poland, in 1992.
Craig Fields, music director, started the group in 1988. The singers come from all walks of life and from all over the New River Valley.
On Saturday, they will get together at the Blacksburg Baptist Church for an 8 p.m. concert featuring Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Dona Nobis Pacem" and Anton Bruckner's "Te Deum."
Guest soloists for Saturday's concert are soprano Kristi Pomo, mezzo Rhonda Short, tenor Gary Fulsebakke and baritone Wayne Kompelien.
Tickets, available at the door, are $8 for adults or $4 for students and senior citizens.
REGALEMENT: Scalloped oysters, savory turkey with dressing and gravy, wild rice, green beans, baked apple slices and carrot slaw...hungry yet?
How about homemade bread, spicy pumpkin pie, pound cake and sweet corn candy?
Wash it all down with plenty of tea, cider and coffee and you've got the big harvest dinner at the Wilderness Road Regional Museum in Pulaski County's Newbern.
The annual event, now in its 15th year, always offers elegant dining.
It's happening this Saturday, so you need to get on the ball and make your reservations. Available seating times are at 5, 6:30 and 8 p.m. To make them, call Ann Bailey, 639-0351; Geraldine Mathews, 980-7499; or the museum, 674-4835.
The cost for the buffet dinner is $12.50 for adults and $6.25 for children 12 and under. Carry-out plates are available.
UP-AND-COMING CONDUCTORS: The music department at Radford University is putting on its annual student conductors' concert Wednesday, starting at 8 p.m., in Preston Hall.
Seven is your lucky number because you'll get the opportunity to see seven young music majors wielding the baton. Liz Boyle, Tim Grant, Bridget Alvis, Wendy Cox, Shannon Crowell, Jamie Lawson and Steve Menefee are the conductors.
Wednesday's program includes works that were chosen for their high quality as educational literature for young musicians. Charles Carter's "Symphonic Overture," Ann McGinty's "The Red Balloon," James Curnow's "Nathan Hale Trilogy" and Mike Leckrone's "Correlations" are among the works.
Admission to this concert is free for Radford University students and staff. Tickets are $3 for adults and $1 for children.
LOOKING FOR THE UNIQUE GIFT? Chances are you'll find it Saturday at Virginia Tech's Museum of Geological Sciences.
The museum is having its annual mineral, fossil and gift sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 2062 Derring Hall.
You'll find fine jewelry, a variety of multicolored minerals, real fossils and lots of other items, including rocks.
Yes, rocks. Not ordinary rocks, mind you. These, according to organizers of the sale, are "rocks for the discriminating collector."
All proceeds from the sale help support the Museum of Geological Sciences. For more information, call Margie Sentelle at 231-8826.
WE'VE GOT RHYTHM: Radford University's Percussion and Marimba Ensemble will have us fidgeting in our seats Thursday. It's hard to sit still when the rhythm's in our soles.
Directed by Al Wojtera, the ensemble will play pieces by Dvorak, Bizet, Novotney and other composers.
Thursday's concert starts at 8 p.m. in Preston Auditorium. Tickets are $3 for adults or $1 for kids. Admission is free with your Radford University identification.
by CNB