Sophisticated crowd turns clock back about 30 years; belts out songs of band of our youth, Air Supply

State Sen. Jamie and Bill Woodson prior to show

You might think that you don’t really know any songs by Air Supply, the soft-rock duo from the late ’70s and ’80’s. But, believe me, you do!

That’s what 500 or so of us found out Saturday night when we showed up at the Knoxville Convention Center for Center Stage, the premier annual fund-raiser for East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. From “Lost in Love” and “Even the Nights are Better” to the big finale, “All Out of Love,” we were belting out the lyrics (which somehow automatically came back to us) and even waving votive candles from the tables the way we used to wave cigarette lighters at concerts. (Nobody has cigarette lighters anymore!)

Although attendance was down somewhat this year as it is with most charitable events these days, the evening was still a huge financial success. Just do the math: 500 tickets at $300 each. Plus generous underwriting by major sponsors including the Goodfriend Foundation and Pilot  Corp. Over the 18 years this event has been around, it has raised more than $2.6 million for the hospital.

In addition to the music, the food also wowed Saturday night. The entree was seared Chilean sea bass with mango ginger lime butter paired with beef tenderloin which was sitting on a thick slice of Canadian bacon and topped with a pomegranate demi glace. These were accompanied by warm Asian noodles and a medley of spring vegetables. Suffice it to say, nobody went away hungry. And wait till you see the dessert, which is pictured below.

The theme of the evening, in keeping with the theme of most Air Supply songs, was simple: love. The theme colors: pink and purple. Here’s a shot of the room before the doors opened.

Pretty.

Cocktails and appetizers were served in the Convention Center’s beautiful Cumberland Concourse.

Children's Hospital CEO Keith Goodwin and his wife, Dianne

Dan and Suzan Murphy

Then we moved inside to the ballroom for more mingling and a tear-inducing video about Children’s Hospital. (I learned years ago to excuse myself and go powder my nose during this video or risk ruining my makeup for the rest of the evening.)

Tom and Deanene Catani

Glenn and Elaine Streno, two of our tablemates

Mickey Mallonee and Dino Cartwright

Sherri Gardner and Neville Howell

Wanda and Bill Williams

Gordon and Ellen Fowler

Rebecca and Nick Cazana

Get a load of this dessert. It was prepared on-site at the Convention Center by Morristown’s mother/daughter bakery, Yummy Cakes & More.

Chocolate creme brulee phyllo Napoleon with amaretto-macerated berries!

Then is was time for the music. (Let me tell you: it is hard to take pictures of musicians in action when you are using an aim-and-click camera. So excuse the blurred images, but this is the best I could do!)

Brit Graham Russell will turn 60 this year. He and Russell Hitchcock started Air Supply in 1975 when they met while appearing together in the Australian version of "Jesus Christ, Superstar."

Aussie Russell Hitchcock, who will turn 61 in June, worked the crowd all night.

The Fowlers hit the dance floor immediately.

Marty and Barbara Blevins spent some time on the dance floor.

We caught Mike and Carol Connor as they left the dance floor.

Gay and Bill Lyons didn't make it to the dance floor: they just danced beside their table.

Teresa Goddard of Children's Hospital, left, and Leanna Belew of the Convention Center, rocked out at their seats.

Elizabeth Thomas of Children's Hospital couldn't stay in her seat during the show!

Just like in the old days, the crowd rushed the stage!

Air Supply got a much-deserved standing ovation.

After the show, there was a much smaller, quieter after-party in the Cumberland Concourse, where a duo from Atlanta played acoustic guitar.

Mary Bogert, Convention Center general manager, and her husband, Scott, got romantic during the after-party.

Mary even got a souvenir guitar pic!

It was a wonderful night!