Black Music Directors

Long ago, you never saw a black music conductor tv. Well, not so long ago really. When I was a little kid, there were a few variety shows, chief among them was Ed Sullivan's Toast of the Town. Accoring to Cornelius Grant, esteemed source of lots of things music, the only person of any color that the musical director of that show would give up his podium for was Maurice King. "Pops" as he was affectionately known was an elegant old man when I met him, still full of music and stories. All about the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, little Gladys Knight, of course, those Motown memories and a lucky few of us got to hear him talk. Well on Wed. June 8 at the California African American Museum, there is a program called "Shaping the Sound of Television," the Black Music Directors. Yep, there's enough for an actual panel. Moderated by sweet, supertalented Patrice Rushin, the panel of Michael Bearden "Lopez Tonight," Ray Chew, "American Ido," Rickey Minor, "Jay Leno," Greg Phillinganes, "Surprise Oprah!" Harold Wheeler, 14 years on Dancing with the Stars and James "Big Jim" Wright from the Mo'Nique Show and now a whole bunch of people are going to get to hear them. Lucky you if you got a private invitation. Come by and listen right along with Ruth Adkins Robinson