‘AY CARROLL, one of the original members of the 1950s vocal group ~The Platters says he has “nothing left to prove in the “music industry. . He’s turned his energy to “helping up-and-coming young “artists prove themselves. oy For the past few years he has , ‘seen much raw local talent walk- : ing through the doors of his per- forming arts centre, Lorac ’ Productions Ltd. in Vancouver. “Aspiring entertainers come to ‘learn to dance, act, sing, record rand work a stage. Producer-director Carroll . works as a vocal coach at Lorac. © Over the years he’s also kept -alive his version of The Platters, “ These days, the group special- ‘izes in performing or fundraising events, “The two sides. of Carroll. — the performer and the teacher — come one on Saturday, March 19;‘atthe Robson Square Conference Centre. Ballroom, -when The Platters and guest - entertainers perform to raise money for the Hand:in Hand Fine Arts Society. _ - Carroll is‘a director of the society, formed just last month: mt “yee with Bev. Delich’ and Lisa = Holender.: “i’s;in our constitution, to fos-. encourage and develop new .° talent in the performing arts and | ‘0. promote: and assist in the edu- “cation of the performing arts. It ‘came together Feb. 7 of this year. ama call it my own Factor grant. If you're a musician or a writer or something of the sort, to try to pet a grant, i it’ 5 worth your life,” @ said. “Carroll does not forget that” ‘others helped him to:get his. Through Hand in Hand he and fellow instructors at Lorac are offering a helping hand up to - ' struggling artists who show promise. Coupled with Carroll’s -corinections in the music indus- try, promises can be realized. “= “P want to foster budding tal- “entand believe me I’ve come up with some talent you wouldn’t believe, | didn’t believe it. “There's a girl singer, her ‘Serving World Fe mn HORSESHOE BAY since 1946 Michael Becker RECORD REVIEW name is Saxa O'Day and she’s one of our winners and | feel per- sonally she’s going to do very, very well. The girl is a phenome- nal singer and | predict she’s poing to be a star coming from ere. “She's a working single moth- er and she has to work to keep things together, but I’m going to help through Hand in Hand. We're going to provide some sponsorship and help her go all . the way with her recording and where necessary.” The resources at Lorac are made available and Carroll’s connections can help to make the difference. .. “When i came along a lot of different people helped me. My . godfather was Count.Basie. Nat King Cole was engaged to my aunt.” “I came from a musical back- ground. My mother was a key- -board player — Alice Childs. She had her own trio in Chicago. “So | was connected with that _and even now, | take a lot of my ‘students to meet 8.B. King. He's a very good friend of mine. “\ know a lot of A&R men ’ with the record fabels and espe- cially in the States. A few | can call personally and can say, ‘Listen to this.’ ” Meanwhile, Carroil and Bev ‘Delich listen to new artists com- pete in talent shows held weekly every Thursday to the end of March at the Big Bam Boo Club in Vancouver. The winner of the Lorac-spon- - sored talent competition secures a spot on the Arsenio Hall Show. For more information about, The Platters Tribute Gala Ball to raise money for Hand in Hand call 732-1150 or CBO at 280- 2801. mous Fish & Chips © Expires Mar. 31/94 ® Mon.-Thurs. only 2 p.m. to closing ®@ Horseshoe Bay location only fresh chicken breast * bone in » club pack™ 554600 | 5.69 kg Ib. Bakeshop, club pack™ inner buns white and 60% whole wheat, package of 24 396168 each Foremost™, 4 L jug homogenized milk Sunspun™, grade A, 454g ABC, regular.8L or ultra 4. ey deter 347377 CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AT 17TH AND LONSDALE, NORTH VANCOUVER: ® Eat-in only Buy y the first entree, and receive a second “entree of equal or lesser value, with this ad , FREE! 1 6408 Bay Street p West Vancouver 92 ] -7755 Prices in effect unti! closing, Saturday, March 12,1994, while stocks last. We reserve the @ right to limit t quantities.