News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Tuesday December 16th 2025
SOUNDS OF SOUL
Phillips musician recalls Black music scene of his youth
Alfred Johnson
By Tesha M. Christensen
Sitting on the front porch one summer day, painting in the sweltering heat, Alfred Johnson reminisced about his early days in music and the burgeoning Twin Cities Black music scene of the 1970s and 80s.
He”™s even found his way into a book capturing the scenes from that time, “Sights, Sounds, Soul: The Twin Cities Through the Lens of Charles Chamblis” (published by the Minnesota Historical Society in 2017), although he”™s misidentified in the book on page 33 as Raymond Parker.Â
Paging though the book brings Johnson, now age 66, back to those days when the city”™s 50,000 African Americans, who were denied access to downtown club stages and radio airwaves, were playing at clubs like Cozy Bar and Lounge up north on Plymouth Ave. and Riverview Supper Club in south Minneapolis (now Broadway Pizza). About Chamblis, “We used to call him ”˜Picture Man,”™” recalled Al.
Photos courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society
Phillips man Al Johnson (back row, left) has found his way into “Sights, Sounds, Soul: The Twin Cities Through the Lens of Charles Chamblis” (at right) that was published by the Minnesota Historical Society in 2017, although he”™s misidentified in the book on page 33 as Raymond Parker.
Keep citizen journalism alive!
Frank reflection: Renters being exploited
By FRANK ERICKSON
Let”™s be clear on one thing: the Minneapolis City Council is pro-landlord. The unjust draining of renter”™s bank accounts is the foundation of all these sleek new high-rise apartment buildings being built downtown and the city council has no problem with it.
The city has no problem “throwing renters under the bus,” to get the job done. Investors and developers see the very well coordinated job local landlords have done in banding together and driving rents up and they want in on the action.
The Liberals downtown will give you a sympathetic ear when you talk to them about your rising rents, but they are fully embracing a corrupt “supply and demand” model. They know it is corrupt, but it is getting the job done. Everyone gets richer except renters. Renters are quickly falling on harder and harder times.
“Supply and demand” is an immoral approach when the purchaser has no choice. If a group of individuals had control of all the drinking water and used “supply and demand” selling it, $100 for a glass of water could become the “market rate” for a glass of water.
Building more and more “affordable housing” is not the answer.… Read the rest “Frank reflection: Renters being exploited”