Con Hunley returned to the former Corner Lounge for one night only.
My husband, Alan Carmichael, and I are big Con Hunley fans. And we are big fans of the Knox Heritage Summer Suppers series of fundraisers. We also love caterer Holly Hambright — for her fabulous food and her mega-sized personality.
So when we saw that one of the Summer Suppers was called “Holly’s Corner Lounge Presents Con Hunley: One Night Only,” we knew where we would be on that night!
Ahh, The Corner Lounge. According to historian Jack Neely, writing for Metro Pulse in 2008, The Corner Lounge opened in the 1930s, shortly after the end of Prohibition, as The Corner Grill. Although it sold some simple food, The Corner, as it came to be called, quickly became better known as a beer joint. In 1979, novelist Cormac McCarthy placed one of the scenes of his book “Suttree” in The Corner. The action in the book was set in 1951.
But the heyday of The Corner Lounge was indisputably in the 1970s when country singer Con Hunley packed the place whenever he returned to his hometown to play there. I have my own fond memories of The Corner Lounge. Shortly before it closed in 2008, Alan and I took my grandmother, Myrtle Brown, to The Corner to hear The Lonesome Coyotes perform. Myrtle was by then in her 90s — and we couldn’t get her off the dance floor! It was a fun, fun night and a precious memory. (Thanks to our friend Michael Foltz — along with Alan — for dancing with her all night!)
Today, Holly Hambright has reopened The Corner Lounge as Holly’s Corner, a great lunch spot and special events venue. She convinced Con Hunley to return for a Summer Supper and urged the 50 guests to dress as would have been appropriate in the ’70s when Con ruled the roost there. It was, of course, a sellout.
Three of our hosts for the evening: from left, Tasha Blakney, Janet Testerman Creswell and Ellen Robinson.
Guest Deborah Franklin was really in the spirit of the ’70s!
Proprietor Holly Hambright greeting Alan.
And anticipating the arrival of Con.
Those ’70s delicacies, Pigs in a Blanket, were passed. Ha.
Jackie Wilson enjoying one of the evening’s signature cocktails — a Con Collins!
From left, hosts David Martin, Peter Acly and Steve Drevik manning the bar. (A very important job at a Summer Supper.)
Host Gay Lyons and guest Dawn Ford. Gay’s wig came from a farewell trip she and some girlfriends made to the closing sale at J’s Mega Mart on Gay Street. It looks great.
Here’s that full house.
Moxley Carmichael CFO Shaun Fulco Hyver trying out the candy cigarettes that were on every table.
Our fun table, starting at left: Shaun, Dawn, Richard Ford, Alan, me, Roger Hyver and Jackie.
First course: chilled cucumber soup with tomato sorbet. It was delish.
The help getting friendly with one another! Ha. Hosts David Butler and Vicki Baumgartner. She’s wearing one of those J’s Mega Mart wigs, as well.
This was an awesome version of shrimp cocktail.
When Con came in, Shaun was among the first to pose with him.
Janet was not far behind.
The chopped salad came next. It was refreshing — and beautiful. It featured ranch dressing made with Cruze Farm’s buttermilk.
Host Rosa Mar stopped by to say hello to Dawn and Richard.
Other guests included Becky Wade and Jake Hudson. Love his shirt!
Georgiana Vines and Gid Fryer.
Wow. The main course was called Central Street Steak: beef tenderloin medallions, wild mushrooms and duck fat fried smashed potatoes. Holy cow!
Cathy and Mark Hill having fun.
The desserts were beautiful.
Host Stanton Webster and a familiar looking photo bomber!
A closer look at that beautiful trio of desserts.
Shaun sweet-talked a server into leaving a carafe of wine at our table. Obviously, we took full advantage of that.
Host Angie Campbell, left, and guest Joan Ward.
Kim Trent, executive director of Knox Heritage, doling out some thank yous.
And then it was showtime.
He sang all his hits, including perhaps his best known, “Oh, Girl.”
The dance floor quickly filled up.
There are Cathy and Mark.
Con kept singing.
And, soon, everyone else was singing!
Everyone knows the words to “America the Beautiful,” Con’s big finale and a tribute to one of his major influencers, Ray Charles.
I have only one request of Knox Heritage: Please do it again!
This night is at the top of my list for most memorable events since coming to Knoxville in 2005. I had a blast! The pictures of Dawn and I singing are hilarious! What a night to remember. It seems the little Corner Lounge has its way of making special lifetime memories. Thanks for inviting us!
Shaun: It would not have been the same without you! Thanks for coming.
I think Con has a new CD coming out soon.
What a night! It was just magical. Holly outdid herself, & Con gave a fabulous performance. These photos capture the evening perfectly. Guests & hosts all had a blast. Thanks to all who bought tickets & to our fun, hard-working host committee. Do it again? I don’t know. We did advertise it as “one night only.”
A fabulous event. I was happy to serve on the host committee. Talk about fun work!
Holly’s food was fabulous. Thanks to the other host committee members and guests who bought tickets! And, thanks for the Blue Streak write-up!
I love Holly’s Corner!!!
Gay, Chad: Thanks for being on the host committee. You all really totally hit it out of the park on this one! Let me go ahead and name all the hosts: Vicki Baumgartner; Tasha Blakney and Michael Rogers; Pat and Tom Bright; Jennifer and Carey Bruner; David Butler; Angelyn Campbell; Janet Testerman Creswell and Joey Creswell; Linda Cunningham; Cindi and Pete DeBusk; Jeannie Dulaney; Holly Hambright; Peggy Hambright and Scott Carpenter; Gay Lyons; Sandy and David Martin; Kimberly Pettigrew; Ellen Robinson and Peter Acly; Lee Ann Rogers and Steve Drevik; Chad Tindell; Janice Trant; Kim Trent; Adrienne and Stanton Webster. Thanks, everybody!
Definitely a rock star host committee–including many who were responsible for last summer’s Woodstock-themed event: Holly Hock Stock. I love working with this group of fun, hard-working, creative folks.We love it that you appreciate our efforts.
Remembering Myrtle, she would have loved it. I have a few memories of she and David dancing also.
Hey, Evelyn! You are so right! Your sweet handsome David was one of Myrtle’s favorite dance partners!
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