Hey everyone, just an update on what I’ve been doin’

Hey everyone, just an update on what I’ve been doin’… Those who came downtown to really party found the right place at the corner of Main and Main streets. Decatur native Pauli Carman and his resurrected Champaign band belted out a spirited mixture of golden oldie love songs, funky dance music and a few rap numbers, fronted by a few of his young proteges. Dressed in a royal blue silk kung fu outfit and wearing a trademark broad-brimmed straw hat, Carman’s sexy performance of “Try Again,” Champaign’s megahit of the early 1980s, had the audience swooning and dancing. As the crowd applauded wildly at the end of the song, Carman handed out roses to ladies at the front of the stage. “It’s good to be here, y’all,” Carman called out. “I’m from here.” The crowd, composed of a mix of middle-age folks, who appeared dazed during the rap songs, and some young people, who were animated by them, seemed satisfied at the apparent end of the set. But Carman, who must have known there were some hard-core Champaign fans out there, asked if they wanted to hear one more. Shouts of “How ‘Bout Us” came from various points on the street, leading to a thrilling conclusion, with Carman and his eight-piece band pouring their hearts and souls into the hit that propelled the Central Illinois group into national prominence. Nora Taylor, who grew up hearing Carman sing in their neighborhood, caught a rose he threw to the crowd. She was wearing a 5,000-watt smile after the show. “I remember when he first made ‘How ‘Bout Us,’ ” said Taylor, who was glad she got the weekend off specially to see this show. “It’s good to know someone from Decatur is still going strong and doing great. I’m proud of him.” Taylor added that she appreciates that Carman is just as down to earth as he ever was, despite his years of musical success. Phil Vinson, a DJ who plays Champaign songs at weddings and school dances, said the group still sounds great. His wife, Laura, who was dancing to the music, said, “I love that song (‘How ‘Bout Us’). It brings back memories.” Carman, who still has two brothers in Decatur, grew up in a family of seven boys and three girls, at 1021 S. Main St., near the lake. “We were poor, but we were happy,” Carman said, adding that everyone in his family sang, played an instrument or danced. The only member of the original band, Carman recently has assembled a group of top-notch professionals to work as Champaign, including Sam Hankins, a horn player who has backed up James Brown and Aretha Franklin. Carman, who released a CD, “Champaign,” with his new band, is taking a break from his day job, working with developmentally disabled people in Champaign. He has a song named after his old Decatur home address on his CD. “I get a lot of rewards out of that myself,” Carman said. “It’s all about giving back.” Huey Freeman can be reached at hfreeman@herald-review.com or 421-6985. For sneak video on this check out:   www.paulichampaign.com