Funkster Jeffrey Osborne rocks Urban League Gala

“I’m going to play a song from my very first album back in 1982,” announced crooner Jeffrey Osborne who played to a sold-out benefit for the Knoxville Area Urban League at the Knoxville Convention Center Thursday night. “I’ve sung this song about a million times. And it always puts a smile on my face – when I go to the bank!”

Jeffrey Osborne is a fit 61 years old!

Then he launched into, of course, “On the Wings of Love.” Crowd went: “Awww.” Dance floor filled up.

It was a great night for the audience and the Urban League, which broke its fundraising record. Osborne sang old songs. He sang new songs. And he hopped off the stage and onto the dance floor and grabbed audience members to join him in solo performances of his famous “You Should Be Mine (The Woo Woo Song).” They loved it!

The gala is the Urban League’s single largest fundraiser every year since 2002 when it switched the event from being a dinner with a keynote speaker into a black-tie optional awards dance-fest with a national entertainer. Major sponsors are Pilot, U.S. Cellular and Scripps Networks, which provides production services that transform the Convention Center ballroom into a major entertainment venue.

This year, for the first time (thanks to sponsor U.S. Cellular), there was a VIP reception in the Convention Center’s cute rotunda where all sponsors and their guests could nibble cheese, sip wine and have their photos taken with Osborne. Here are some pictures from the reception:

Singer Jeffrey Osborne and Knoxville Area Urban League President and CEO Phyllis Nichols

Kim Myles of HGTV, left, and Tearsa Smith of WATE-TV were co-hosts of the program.

U.S. Cellular folks pose with Kim Myles. From left, Tom Catani, Mary Chranko, Greg Hinton, Myles, Deirdre Asnis and Dana Dorcus

Gary and Julia Bentley enjoy the reception. She's an Urban League board member.

After the reception, it was time to get ready for the program. As guests took their seats, Urban League board members got ready to take the stage and give out the awards. Award winners were Comcast for corporate leadership, Jones Kirkpatrick & Associates for minority business, and Eric and Jamia Stokes for volunteers of the year.

Board members Gwen Brown and Tom Catani practice their award presentation backstage.

The dinner might have been chicken, but it wasn’t your normal rubber type. A beautiful presentation of roasted chicken breast with herb and shiitake mushroom glaze with mashed potatoes, steamed asparagus and a red pepper garnish looked and tasted great. Here are some dinner shots.

Allison and state Sen. Tim Burchett. He's running for county mayor.

Marsha and Duane Grieve. He's running for City Council.

Jackie and Jack Brundige. He's with sponsor U.S. Cellular and he's not running for anything - that I know of.

The dance floor stayed packed, which was the most fun of all to watch. Here’s evidence:

A surprise shot of County Commission Chairman Tank Strickland dancing with Mary Bogert, general manager of the Knoxville Convention Center.

Alan Carmichael and Gay Lyons burn up the floor.

Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale and Mary Martin pause during a dance to pose for a photo.

Urban League board member Drew Starke and his wife, Angela, pose on the dance floor.

Finally, after all that, some of us went to Chesapeake’s for a nightcap – as if we really needed it! We called ahead and terrific bartender Dave Bowers agreed to keep the bar open a little later than normal for us. Thanks, Dave!

Dave Bowers, bartender extraordinaire