Ted Hawkins was an American singer who died on January lIstasa result of a stroke. After I heard of his death, I pretty much decided to go home to lay on the floor and spin a couple of his records. Typi- cally, | don’t feel much for entertainers. There are far too many of them and most of them don’t seem to have any reason to pick up a guitar other than to receive pity from an audience. Some others, on the other hand, sing because they are com- pelled by a desire to express something real and to uplift the com- munity at large. Ted Hawkins sang asa busker for years on Venice Beach. Last year, he released his record “The Next Hundred Years” on DGC records, the only major label to ever touch his work. As a result of their support, he was able to embark on the only tour he has ever been on. Some friends of mine and I were lucky enough to see him in Seattle last July. The unfettered shock of hearing some- body so real sing their heart out resulted in spasmodic attempts at keeping myself from weeping openly. Seeing real people perform songs that are heartfelt - is an increasing rarity in a music world dominated by college age boys with gui- tars and nothing to communicate other than their fashion sense (or their anti- fashion stance) and a vague hatred for “society.” Hawkins, despite the hellish upbringing that you get if you’re black in America, sang songs of undiluted hope even though they were often graphic documents of a bleak, hopeless life. Ina song called “Sorry You’re Sick” he poses _ the musical question, “What do you want from the liquor store?” The question isn’t a facile condemnation of the devastating effects of alcoholism on the poor but an understanding that some people need a pain killer more than they need evange- lism. His other two records were released during the eighties on Rounder Records (the label of Jonathan Richman, who was also a big fan of Hawkins). A friend of mine insists that “Watch Your Step” is the best record ever made. I don’t see why not. When you’ve heard that record, something like Sgt. Pepper seems pretty boring. The Planet of the Arts is a student publi- cation of the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, funded by the Student Union. We welcome unsolicited contributions, provided they include the contributor’s realname. Articles should be legible, photos and drawings should be black and white (the higher contrast the better). Submissions can be put in the Planet mailbox behind the reception desk or brought directly to the Planet office. The editors reserve the right to edit for clarity and to eliminate sexism, racism, and homophobia. Our mailing address is Planet of the Arts, c/o Emily Carr Institute - of Art and Design, 1399 Johnston St., Granville Island, Vancouver, BC. V6H 3R9. Ph. # 844-3861. Fax #844-3801. Editors: Terry Dawes Carmen Pollard Planet Crew: Kacey McDougall Carmen Pollard Laura Sirmul Mackenzie Stroh Wade Thomas . Contributors: Neomee Allain N. Akin Ling Chiu Sarah Curry Terry Dawes Robert Dayton Phil Dion Micheal Dowad Zoran Dragelt Heather Gatz Ron Henshaw Jonathan Lander Tsyn Low Kacey McDougall Ivan Metropolis Dawn Newton Carmen Pollard _ Timothy Ralphs Celine Rich Heather Shaw Laura Sirmul Mackenzie Stroh Tamara Unroe Paula Vander Alastair Wood Karen Woodman Ted Hawkins was an American singer who died on January Ist asa result of a stroke. After T heard of his death, 1 pretty much decided to go home to lay on the floor and spin a couple of his records. Typi cally, I don’t feel much for entertainers. There are far too many of them and most of them don’t seem to have any reason to pick up a guitar other than to receive pity from an audience. Some other on the other hand, sing because they are com- pelled by a desire to express something real and to uplift the com- munity at large. Ted Hawkins sang as a busker for years on Venice Beach. Last year, he released his record ‘The Next Hundred Years” on DGC records, the only major label to ever touch his work. As a result of their support, he was able to embark on the only tour he has ever been on. Some friends of mine and | were lucky enough to see him in Seattle last July. The unfettered ‘shock of hearing some- body so real sing their heart out resulted in spasmodic attempts at keeping myself from weeping openly. Seeing real people perform songs that are heartfelt is an increasing rarity in a music world dominated by college age boys with gui- tars and nothing to communicate other than their fashion sense (or their anti- fashion stance) and a vague hatred for “society.” Hawkins, despite the hellish upbringing that you get if you’re black in America, sang songs of undiluted hope even though they were often graphic documents of a bleak, hopeless life. Ina song called “Sorry You're Sick” he pos the musical question, “What do you want from the liquor store?” The question isn’t 4 facile condemnation of the devastating effects of alcoholism on the poor but an understanding that some people need a pain killer more than they need evangi lism. His other two records were released during the eighties on Rounder Records (the label of Jonathan Richman, who was Iso a big fan of Hawkins), A friend of mine insists that “Watch Your Step” is the best record ever made. I don’t see why. not. When you've heard that record, something like Sgt. Pepper seems pretty boring. The Planet of the Arts is a student publi- cation of the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, funded by the Student Union We welcome unsolicited contributions, provided they include the contributor's realname. Articles should be legible, Photos and drawings should be black and white (the higher contrast the better). Submissions can be put in the Planet mailbox behind the reception desk or brought directly to the Planet office. The editors reserve the right to edit for clarity and to eliminate sexism, racism, and homophobia. Our mailing address is Planet of the Arts, c/o Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, 1399 Johnston St., Granville Island, Vancouver, BC. V6H 3R9. Ph. # 844-3861. Fax #844-3801 Editors: Terry Dawes Carmen Pollard Planet Crew: Kacey McDougall Carmen Pollard Laura Sirmul Mackenzie Stroh Wade Thomas Contributors: Neomee Allain N. Akin Ling Chiu Sarah Curry Terry Dawes Robert Dayton Phil Dion Micheal Dowad Zoran Dragelt Heather Gatz Ron Henshaw, Jonathan Lander ‘Tsyn Low Kacey McDougall Ivan Metropolis Dawn Newton Carmen Pollard Timothy Ralphs Celine Rich Heather Shaw Laura Sirmul Mackenzie Stroh Tamara Unroe Paula Vander Alastair Wood Karen Woodman