European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 18, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                The Queen of soul branches out by Michele Digirolamo United press International look out Hollywood. Watch out fashion world. The legendary Queen of soul is about to  Franklin the Golden throated owner of 24 Gold records and 14 grammy awards is branching out. And there s Little doubt the lady from Detroit will command re up to in her new careers in film and fashion. But fans of the Sassy songstress who has immortalized such Mega hits As think Chain of fools natural woman and freeway of love can relax. Aretha is not giving up her singing. She s just going to slow Down a Little to have time for some other avenues she has wanted to pursue but never had a Chance to get around to. What i do now mostly is mini Tours said Franklin in Atlantic City new Jersey recently to perform a rare two concert event at Trump Castle where she belted out a Medley of her hits As Well As some Broadway aretha Franklin has new careers in film and fashion. Show tunes including selections from Les miserable. I be done the 20 and 30-nights years ago and i Don t have the slightest intention of doing it again said Franklin 46. I can be More selective now fortunately. It gives me More of an Opportunity to get into other  Franklin who got her Start As a child singing gospel tunes at Church services conducted by her Baptist preacher father is actually somewhat of a Recluse despite her popularity. She performs live concerts infrequently in part because of an intense fear of flying and rarely gives interviews. But Franklin said her recent trip from Detroit to Atlantic City in a customized luxury bus May change All that. I was a Little concerned about the ride but i found that it was quite comfortable said Franklin who said she passed the time Reading and playing cards. Now that the travel Barrier has been broken Franklin said she ordered her agent to Book her in a mini concert tour next year and will perform in new York City Philadelphia and Washington d.c., in june. In the meantime Franklin is turning her attention to threads and celluloid. Her passion for fashion emerged Early this year with the opening of a Chic women s fashion Salon in Detroit named the Royal  the Salon features evening Wear european imports and ready to Wear from american designers. It s just something i wanted to do said Franklin. If i do not take the time out to do it now i la never get to do it Between recording sessions and concerts. I love fashion. I m a big Reader of All the Glamour magazines. I study fashion. I d love to do some designing. I know that i can be Good but it s not an easy Field to break  what kind of clothing would the Queen of soul design casual very Loose pieces stressing Comfort and easy care she said. I think if i can find a name designer that will do this line for me i would like to have some of my own things in the Salon Franklin said. Franklin is also looking to re enter the film Industry. She made her motion picture debut in 1980 in the blues Brothers burning up the screen with her version of the song think. I m really looking for a Good script Franklin said. I d like a Good starring part in either something dramatic or romantic or a romantic comedy. A Good follow up to the blues Brothers. I have an agent that is looking at different things for me but i have not seen anything that i feel is appropriate  sex Cream drummer starts Over by Dennis Hunt los Angeles times Ere is the Gist of a startling and that has been running in the session players portion of music connection Magazine s classified Section Ginger Baker instruments Drums All types styles Rock african jazz pop blues. Qualifications 33 years pro. Acknowledged worldwide As the top. Credits include Cream and Blind Faith. Yes it is that Ginger Baker the percussion colossus who was a key member of the legendary 60s band Cream with Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce Man whose Power playing inspired a generation of drummers. Why would he have to resort to placing an and to get work it s like i m a newcomer said Baker 49, a droll affable candid englishman. I m starting Over  Baker spent most of the 80s on an Olive ranch in Italy dabbling in music while kicking the heroin habit that contributed to the downfall of his career. After the Baker Gurvitz army albums of the mid-70s he did nothing substantial in the studio for the next decade. Then producer Bill Laswell talked him into doing some session work on a Public image limited album called album in 1985. That was followed by an obscure Solo album on tiny celluloid records horses and Trees featuring Eclectic percussive instrumental sprinkled with assorted african influences. Those sessions whetted his appetite for playing live. Recently anxious to work again he moved to the los Angeles area. Baker said sheepishly that it was his agent who placed that infamous and. I was t too keen on it. That s not my style. I could do of without  but that strategy worked. Baker has been Able to assemble a band that has played los Angeles clubs. But this unit he insisted is just temporary. I want to get the feel of playing live again and to let people know i m Back on the  for this talented musician who has sampled super stardom and basked in the acclaim associated with being the Best scrounging for decent musicians to work with and playing clubs must be humiliating and embarrassing. But if Baker believes that he never let on. No amount of prodding would make him say what he really thought about his situation. His Only comment what happened to me that s just life. It s up and Down up and Down. I Don t get sentimental about it and i try not to look  Baker whose real first name is Peter began As a trumpet player. But while immersing himself in the 50s jazz scene he discovered his real calling. Drumming he explained while tapping out an Impromptu Solo on the table is in his blood. Baker worked in jazz bands before investigating blues in the Early 60s, which eventually led him into Rock. In 1966, he formed Cream with Clapton and Bruce. We wanted a band that would be popular and have no. 1 records he said. But still it was t really a Rock n Roll band. There was tremendous jazz feel in Cream. It was 80 percent improvisation. We weren t into straight Rock none of the real jazz musicians in London were. Jazz musicians thought the beatles were rather funny. And the stones real musicians used to laugh at them. It was simplistic  the three musicians finally split up in 1968 after recording such classic albums As Disraeli gears and wheels of fire and the top 10 singles Sunshine of your love and White room. The band was such an influential Force in Rock that Cream fans began circulating reunion rumours almost As soon As the group called it quits. After 20 years they still have not died Down and Baker thinks it is possible that Bruce and Clapton Are thinking about working together again. But no one has spoken to me about them he said. I have Little Contact with them. The last time i saw them was 2vz years  after Cream Baker s bands were Short lived and definitely not commercial blockbusters. Blind Faith with Clapton and Steve Winwood lasted Only three months in 1969. The next group air Force lasted just two albums. In the Early 70s Baker spent a few years in Nigeria exploring african music before joining the Baker Gurvitz army in the mid-70s. After that one marched into oblivion Baker grew even More disenchanted with the music scene and dropped out. Baker waged a constant Battle in the 60s and 70s with heroin addiction. The first time i used smack i thought it helped me play better he said. People i admired like Charlie Parker were using. But i soon found out it did t help me play  during the next 20 years he suffered through the Nightmare of addiction. He moved to Italy in 1980 because wednesday january 18, 1989 top pop singles 1. Two hearts Phil Collins 2. Don t Rush me Taylor Dayne 3. Armageddon it def Leppard 4. My prerogative Bobby Brown 5. When i m with you sheriff 6. Every Rose has its Thorn Poison 7. Smooth criminal Michael Jackson 8. The Way you love me Karyn White 9. When the children cry White lion 10. Put a utile love in your heart a. Lennox & a. Green top up s 1. Don t be cruel Bobby Brown 2. Appetite for destruction guns n roses 3. Open up and say Ash Poison 4. New Jersey Bon Jovi 5. Hysteria def Leppard 6. Giving you the Best that i got Anita Baker 7. Travelling wilbury travelling wilbury 8. Cocktail soundtrack 9. Rattle and hum u2 10. G n r lies guns n roses top country singles 1. She s crazy for leaving Rodney Crowell 2. Deeper than the holler Randy Travis 3. What i d say Earl Thomas Conley 4. Song of the South Alabama 5. All the reasons Why Highway 101 6. Burnin a Hole in my heart skip Ewing 7. Hold on a Little longer Steve Wariner 8. Big wheels in the Moonlight Dan seals 9.1 Sang Dixie Dwight Yoakam 10. Life As we knew it Kathy Mattea top Black singles 1. Superwoman Karyn White 2. Roni Bobby Brown 3. Can you read my lips z looke 4. Pull Over Levert 5. It s my party Chaka Khan 6. Can you stand the rain new edition 7. The Lover in me Sheena Easton 8. Baby doll Tony Toni Tonel 9. Take me where you want to Gerald Alston 10. So Good Al Jarreau he wanted to escape London s Junkie environment. He said that he has been clean for seven years despite innumerable opportunities to backslide. If i had problems i used to use it As a Crutch he said. Get stoned no feeling no worries no problems. I knew i was cured because during the past four years i be been through so much crap. I be had various family problems. I be been married twice and i have three children. The breakup of my second marriage was horrible. Thank god i was Able to get through All that without getting stoned. I have a few drinks but nothing More than  Baker insisted that neither Long layoffs nor age have eroded his skills. I m better than i used to be he said. When a Good drummer does t play regularly he loses Speed. But that comes Back. And you Don t lose technique. That s part of you. When people who really know music hear me play they know it s Ginger  the stars and stripes Page 17