By Mike O’Neal
Staff Writer
It was no gamble for Riverbend Festival promoters to book Kenny Rogers as a headline act. It was a sure thing.
Sue and Jim Welborn, of Ooltewah, were among those who came early Sunday to relax in the nearly sold-out section of reserved seats set eye-level with the Coca Cola stage.
“We’ve been fans of Kenny Rogers for years,” Mr. Welborn said.
Mr. Rogers has performed jazz, folk, pop and country music during his more than 50-year career. Sunday’s audience seemed more interested in his distinctive voice than in any musical genre. That voice and the Chattanooga Symphony.
“We’re not season ticket holders, but we are fans of the symphony,” Mrs. Welborn said.
Maestro Robert Bernhardt relinquished his baton to Mr. Roger’s music director, Warren Hartman, who Sunday conducted the symphony.
John Wehrle, executive director of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, said about 50 of the symphony’s members rehearsed Mr. Rogers’ charts prior to the night’s concert.
“Kenny Rogers’ people are some of the nicest I’ve ever met and worked with in the business,” Mr. Wehrle said.
Opening with “Love or Something Like It,” Mr. Rogers, his band and the symphony set the tone for a romantic evening’s entertainment following with “When Love Comes Knocking,” a medley of ballad standards and “Walking My Baby Back Home.”
Sheri Peck, a violinist with the CSO, said Sunday’s rehearsal was “short and sweet —; but hot,” as she paused in shade near the AmSouth Stage, tucked beneath the Walnut Street Bridge.
While the AmSouth Bank sign at Market and Sixth streets showed a temperature of 96 degrees shortly after 5:30 p.m., it seemed cooler at its namesake stage, located beneath the bridge and above the river.
“What’s funny is that it gets hotter down here after the sun goes down,” said Bob Hasselle, part of the AmSouth Stage crew.
“The bridge holds the heat, and turning on the electric fans is like having a hair dryer blowing on you,” crew member Kyle Askew added.
For festivalgoers and stage crews, Riverbend is similar to an ongoing family or class reunion.
Ron Swafford retired in 1989 after 15 years with the Chattanooga Fire Department , moved to Hawaii where he recently retired —; again —; after a career as environmental chief for the Hawaii Army National Guard.
This week, he is working as a stage hand alongside other members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
“My forte is management, in taking misfits and making stage hands out of them,” said Mr. Swafford, who recently worked on the television shows “Lost,” and “Antiques Road Show.”
“I was coming to visit anyway,” the retired firefighter and military man said.
“The closest I’d ever been to Riverbend was holding a fireman’s boot and collecting money at the entrance gate for ‘Jerry’s Kids’ (the Muscular Dystrophy Association) and one year we brought a fire engine during the closing night fireworks,” Mr. Swafford said.
After just three days of this year’s festival, Mr. Swafford said Riverbend is like a family reunion, but it is even more than that.
“It exposes people to what the South is about, its diversity of music, taste and people,” he said as Katy Moffat sang on the UnumProvident stage.
After taking a phone call from a grandson who lives nearby, greeting friends from years past and watching the sun slide below the horizon, Mr. Swafford looked out at the passing crowd of Riverbenders and said.
“Life is good, really good, and Riverbend is great,” Mr. Swafford said.
E-mail Mike O’Neal at moneal@timesfreepress.com
Kenny Rogers sings to the crowd gathered Sunday at the Riverbend Festival as he performs on the main stage with the Chattanooga Symphony. Today the festival moves to M.L. King Boulevard for the Bessie Smith Strut.
Staff Photo by Ashley Chapman
Staff Writer
It was no gamble for Riverbend Festival promoters to book Kenny Rogers as a headline act. It was a sure thing.
Sue and Jim Welborn, of Ooltewah, were among those who came early Sunday to relax in the nearly sold-out section of reserved seats set eye-level with the Coca Cola stage.
“We’ve been fans of Kenny Rogers for years,” Mr. Welborn said.
Mr. Rogers has performed jazz, folk, pop and country music during his more than 50-year career. Sunday’s audience seemed more interested in his distinctive voice than in any musical genre. That voice and the Chattanooga Symphony.
“We’re not season ticket holders, but we are fans of the symphony,” Mrs. Welborn said.
Maestro Robert Bernhardt relinquished his baton to Mr. Roger’s music director, Warren Hartman, who Sunday conducted the symphony.
John Wehrle, executive director of the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, said about 50 of the symphony’s members rehearsed Mr. Rogers’ charts prior to the night’s concert.
“Kenny Rogers’ people are some of the nicest I’ve ever met and worked with in the business,” Mr. Wehrle said.
Opening with “Love or Something Like It,” Mr. Rogers, his band and the symphony set the tone for a romantic evening’s entertainment following with “When Love Comes Knocking,” a medley of ballad standards and “Walking My Baby Back Home.”
Sheri Peck, a violinist with the CSO, said Sunday’s rehearsal was “short and sweet —; but hot,” as she paused in shade near the AmSouth Stage, tucked beneath the Walnut Street Bridge.
While the AmSouth Bank sign at Market and Sixth streets showed a temperature of 96 degrees shortly after 5:30 p.m., it seemed cooler at its namesake stage, located beneath the bridge and above the river.
“What’s funny is that it gets hotter down here after the sun goes down,” said Bob Hasselle, part of the AmSouth Stage crew.
“The bridge holds the heat, and turning on the electric fans is like having a hair dryer blowing on you,” crew member Kyle Askew added.
For festivalgoers and stage crews, Riverbend is similar to an ongoing family or class reunion.
Ron Swafford retired in 1989 after 15 years with the Chattanooga Fire Department , moved to Hawaii where he recently retired —; again —; after a career as environmental chief for the Hawaii Army National Guard.
This week, he is working as a stage hand alongside other members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
“My forte is management, in taking misfits and making stage hands out of them,” said Mr. Swafford, who recently worked on the television shows “Lost,” and “Antiques Road Show.”
“I was coming to visit anyway,” the retired firefighter and military man said.
“The closest I’d ever been to Riverbend was holding a fireman’s boot and collecting money at the entrance gate for ‘Jerry’s Kids’ (the Muscular Dystrophy Association) and one year we brought a fire engine during the closing night fireworks,” Mr. Swafford said.
After just three days of this year’s festival, Mr. Swafford said Riverbend is like a family reunion, but it is even more than that.
“It exposes people to what the South is about, its diversity of music, taste and people,” he said as Katy Moffat sang on the UnumProvident stage.
After taking a phone call from a grandson who lives nearby, greeting friends from years past and watching the sun slide below the horizon, Mr. Swafford looked out at the passing crowd of Riverbenders and said.
“Life is good, really good, and Riverbend is great,” Mr. Swafford said.
E-mail Mike O’Neal at moneal@timesfreepress.com
Kenny Rogers sings to the crowd gathered Sunday at the Riverbend Festival as he performs on the main stage with the Chattanooga Symphony. Today the festival moves to M.L. King Boulevard for the Bessie Smith Strut.
Staff Photo by Ashley Chapman
