Brook Benton - Kim Weston Jimmy Wilkins Orchestra

Kim Weston's Detroit

continued from page 11

...fore, so I just did it real slow. It apparently went over quite well, so when I was recording my next album they asked me to do "The Star-Spangled Banner.' So, instead, I said no, l'd rather record 'Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing.' I go back with the song to Brownson Elementary School in Detroit, where I was taught that in kindergarten."

SUN: Following your departure from Motown you certainly used the opportunity to spread out - you toured, got into network radio and TV, did a musical. And there was the move to California. Why did you come back to Detroit?

"In travelling I have never wanted to live anywhere else. Never. Moving to California was a part of my gig. but Detroit has always been where I wanted to live. "If I had to sum it up in one word, if it possible, I'd have to say the people are what is so attractive about Detroit. Of course there are always some jackasses, but I feel that Detroit has 80 or 85% really beautiful people. And in travelling, when I'd run into people from Detroit, we'd automatically seem to be drawn to each other. So I've always wanted to be living here, and to get involved in the city, and I just decided it was time to do it.
"When I started the radio show on WCHB my last record on Stax had been called 'Beautiful People." which expressed an important part of my personal philosophy, and it's what I've been operating off of since I've been back. My thing is, since we were always being told about all the negative things, like the homicide rate going up, people just came to have a really negative outlook on what's happening here. So I started dealing with. Hey. we're not as bad as we're made to think we are, you know. We're bad, but we're not all that bad, and if we start emphasizing and working with one of the positive like all the people and energy that exist in such beautiful proportions in Detroit - then I'm sure that will, you know, help to bring about a positive change.
"When you deal with negative, things all the time and talk about how bad things are and don't deal with any of the things that are good, the things that are healthy for the mind, then, automatically. that's what you attract. I believe in, you know, what goes around comes around - what you send out is what you get back. So I try to focus on the positive things about Detroit and especially the positive movements in the arts, which are growing all the time - in order to get a positive response from the people, so we can get something going on a really positive level here."

SUN: Your work at the Langston Hughes Theatre with "Little Red " is apparently quite a success. How did you get involved there?

"Well, Val Benson, who is the same young lady who wrote the song 'Detroit' with me, was inspired in the writing by Ron Milner. Ron got the concept of children's matinees at the Langston Hughes together. and Val wrote the play for him. This is actually the third property that Val has done with me in mind.
"It's funny, but 'Little Red' reminds me of that play, 'Hallelujah Baby.' Especially the lead role.which is played by Lisa Stone, who's only nine years old. I remember I had to leave the road to do 'Hallelujah Baby.' I was touring with Harry Belafonte and was chosen for the lead in the play only ten days before it was supposed to open I had to get a release from my contract with Belafonte five weeks early. Well. Lisa Stone and myself, we're born on the same day (December 20th). and I just think about the changes that I went through in my first play, because she's literally changing in the wings, and that's what I had to do."

SUN: How did you get involved hare at Lowman 's Westside?

"One of the girls that I sang with in The Right Specials had a wedding reception here. I came in and Mr. Lowman found out I was there so he invited me back to his office and we talked. He later asked me to perform in the club, to bring in New Year's 1975, and that's actually the last time I performed as a singer until now.
"Anyway. we got to talking about the club as he came closer to getting his liquor license in May so he could open, and we agreed that what was needed was a talent coordinator. Of course, I don't really know that much about it, although I've learned quite a bit since I got the job. But my thing was, if I went after the pros like ferry Butler and Brook Benton, I couldn't go too far wrong."

SUN: Why the return to singing, and why did you stop in the first place?

"I left the stage for the purpose of finding out what I really needed to make me do what I need to do as an artist on the stage. And I've found out many of the things I needed to know. so I have to go back on to see if I'm right. I'm really enjoying it too. and I'm ready to start recording again as well."

SUN: Are you currently under contract to anybody?

"No, I'm under contract to Kim. I plan to release 'Detroit' as a 45 on my own label, which will be called Rah Kim. As far as my singing career is concerned, I would like to do concerts rather than nightclubs, but I must say that Lowman's is the kind of place I enjoy working. And I do intend to keep working. now that I've made my return."

Frank Bach and Edwenna Edwards are associate editors of Kulchur. Bach's writing appears here regularly, while the Kim Weston assignment marks Ms. Edwards debut as an interviewer. They were assisted in their discussion with Kim by master asker Ken Kelley, whose work appears frequently in Penthouse, Playboy, and Rolling Stone, among a great many other publications.

Detroit

(Kim Weston-Val Benson)

I could tour the whole wide world
See many a flag unfurled
Land on many a shore
Fly to places I adore
Or I could travel everywhere
And check out each town with care
See all that I could see
But my home would still be dear to me

And that's Detroit
That's my home town
Detroit
And I think I 'II stick around

The birthplace of superstars
Home of the motorcars
Cars made with sweat and pride
So all the world can ride
People of tolerance
Involved in renaissance
Schools and churches everywhere
So many beautiful people

In Detroit
That's my home town
Detroit
And I think I'll stick around

Coming up from the bottom
You know it was hard
But I made it this far
With the help of God
And I'm proud to be part of
A city like "The Big D"
And no matter where I roam
My heart will always be

With Detroit
That's my home town
Detroit
And I think I'll stick around

- Rah Kim Records -