Program Notes: Air Supply

PROGRAM LEONARD BERNSTEIN Adapted by Maurice Peress Overture to West Side Story RICHARD RODGERS Arr. Sean O'Loughlin "My Funny Valentine" from Babes in Arms VARIOUS Arr. Roy Phillippe "Mamma Mia"

AIR SUPPLY

Friday, July 14, 2017 | 7:30PM Saturday, July 15, 2017 | 7:30PM

AIR SUPPLY

JOHN WILLIAMS "Adventures on Earth" from E.T.

INTERMISSION Air Supply (Selections to be announced from the stage)

Air Supply: vocals Russell Hitchcock guitar Graham Russell conductor Sean O'Loughlin

Performances at Embarcadero Marina Park South

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AIR SUPPLY – JULY 14 & 15 | PROGRAM NOTES

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

The trademark sound of Russell Hitchcock's soaring tenor voice

GRAHAM RUSSELL and RUSSELL HITCHCOCK met on May

However, it is the live shows that always hold audiences captive

12, 1975, the first day of rehearsals for Jesus Christ Superstar

around the world. They were the first Western group to tour

in Sydney, Australia; they became instant friends with their

China, Taiwan and countless other countries that before would

common love for The Beatles and, of course, singing.

not allow pop music across their borders. In 1983 they recorded

and Graham Russell's simple yet majestic songs created a unique sound that would forever be known as Air Supply.

"Making Love out of Nothing at All" by Jim Steinman, which After the shows' performances at 10:30, they would play pizza

solidified the group as a permanent force in modern music. This

parlors, coffee bars and night clubs with just one guitar and two

song was released on The Greatest Hits album, which soared past

voices. They quickly gained a reputation for great harmonies

seven million copies sold.

and for original songs that Graham was constantly writing. They made a demo on a cassette of two songs, "Love and Other

"Lost in Love," "All Out of Love," "The One That You Love," "Sweet

Bruises" and "If You Knew Me" and took it to every record

Dreams" and "Making Love out of Nothing at All" have each

company in Sydney. Everyone turned it down but one — CBS

achieved multi-million plays on the radio.

Records — who admired their unique style.

In 1986 the group's music was still playing endlessly on radio.

They made a single in one afternoon and it shot to No. 1 on the

That same year, Graham was married to actress Jodi Varble

national charts. AIR SUPPLY was born! That same year, they

from Rochelle, Illinois. Jodi was his leading lady in the video for

opened for Rod Stewart across Australia and then throughout

"Making Love out of Nothing at All."

the U.S. and Canada, playing all of the famous huge venues before Rod would take the stage. They found new fans, but did

Air Supply began to tour with lavish productions in places

not break into the U.S. market.

that no one had been before. In South America and Asia they

Back in Australia they had to start again and made a record

to participate in Australia's Bicentennial Celebration and to play

called Life Support. On this record were some treasures of

for HRH Prince Charles and HRH Princess Diana, where they

songs, including "Lost in Love" which went Top 10 in Australia and

learned both were already ardent fans. This engagement would

somehow found its way to music industry executive Clive Davis

be one of their most treasured moments in their career.

in New York.

became a part of everyone's life. In 1988 Air Supply was asked

In 1989, they recorded The Earth Is album, selling over a million

Clive immediately signed Air Supply to Arista Records, and

copies outside of the U.S. This album was followed by The

in 1980 "Lost in Love" became the fastest selling single in the

Vanishing Race CD and, with the singles "Goodbye" and "It's

world, leaping to the top of all of the charts. Now Air Supply was

Never Too Late", again saw multi-platinum success. The following

on their way! The second single was "All Out of Love," and that

albums, News from Nowhere, Yours Truly and Across the Concrete

went up the charts even more quickly.

Sky all gave their second greatest hits album multi-platinum status as they traveled the world each and every year.

Seven Top Five singles later, Air Supply at that time had equaled The Beatles' run of consecutive Top Five singles. The albums Lost

In 2000, a new production company called A Nice Pear was

in Love, The One That You Love, Now & Forever and The Greatest

founded; A Nice Pear was to be devoted to Air Supply's entire

Hits sold in excess of 20 million copies. "Lost in Love" was named

future product, giving them complete creative control.

Song of the Year in 1980, and, with the other singles, sold more than 10 million copies.

S AN D I EG O SYM PHONY ORCHES TRA 2017-18 SE ASON J U LY 2017

In July 2005 their live DVD, It Was 30 Years Ago Today celebrated 30 years of success around the world. In that same

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AIR SUPPLY – JULY 14 & 15 | PROGRAM NOTES month, Air Supply smashed attendance records when, in Cuba,

and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra highlight and showcase his

at one show they played to 175,000 people. Also, 2005 saw the

diverse musical abilities. As a conductor, Mr. O’Loughlin has

release of The Singer and the Song, an acoustic album of many of

led performances with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the San

their big hits which received critical acclaim.

Francisco Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Dallas

In May 2010 the long-awaited album Mumbo Jumbo – the duo's

Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony,

first studio recording in eight years – was released. Recorded at

the Baltimore Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Victoria

Graham Russell's home studio near Park City, Utah, and at Odds

Symphony and the Seattle Symphony, amongst others. He was

On's state of the art facilities in Las Vegas with top session

the assistant conductor and arranger for a production of Sgt.

musicians and an orchestra, Mumbo Jumbo was produced by

Pepper Live in Las Vegas featuring the band Cheap Trick. He

Russell and engineered by Odds On's Sean O'Dwyer, whose

has served as conductor for national and world-wide tours with

credits include Pink Floyd, Randy Newman and Blink-182.

Josh Groban, Sarah McLachlan and the Jerry Garcia Symphonic

Among the 14 tracks, released by Odds On's label, was the first

Celebration.

single, "Dance With Me," which earned Air Supply a prominent feature article in Billboard Magazine titled "Still Supplying The

Recent collaborations include such artists as Sarah McLachlan,

Hits After 35 Years."

Adele, Josh Groban, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Kelly Clarkson, Journey, Melissa Etheridge, Blue Man Group, Janelle Monáe,

Just weeks after composer and vocalist Graham Russell was

Audra McDonald, Hall and Oates, Gloria Estefan, the Indigo

honored with a BMI Million-Air Certificate recognizing 3 million

Girls, Diana Krall, Itzhak Perlman, Natalie Merchant, Chris

performances of the duo's hit "All Out of Love," Air Supply's

Isaak, Pink Martini, Brandi Carlile, The Decemberists, Martina

new song was the No. 1 most-added track on the FMQB AC40

McBride, Josh Ritter, Gloria Gaynor and others. The Los Angeles

Chart. It was also one of the most added on the R&R (Radio and

Times calls his orchestrations “...magnificent and colorful” while

Records) AC Chart and the Mediabase AC chart.

adding “...even more dimension...” to the compositions. Daily Variety heralds Mr. O’Loughlin’s writing as “most impressive ...”

Today the duo continues to play more than 150 shows a

with a “wide range of coloring in the orchestra...” that “...adds

year worldwide, including stops in England, Ireland, Israel,

heft and rolling energy.”

Philippines, Korea, Japan, Canada, the U.S. and beyond. They recently finished filming a live Jerusalem, Israel show for a new

Through his growing number of commissioned and published

DVD that came out soon after in 2012. The DVD featured two

works, Sean O’Loughlin is excited to continue contributing

new songs, "Sanctuary" and "Everywhere." "Sanctuary" was

to the rich history of orchestral and wind band literature. His

released as a single on iTunes in October 2011. n

music is published by Carl Fischer and Hal Leonard. He is a frequent guest conductor with professional orchestras and

honor bands around the country. An annual ASCAP Special Awards winner, Mr. O’Loughlin was a composition fellow at the

SEAN O’LOUGHLIN is the

Henry Mancini Institute in Los Angeles; he holds composition

Principal Pops Conductor

degrees from New England Conservatory and

of Symphoria, the exciting

Syracuse University. n

new symphony in Syracuse, NY. He is a fresh voice and a rising name in the music world. His music is characterized by vibrant rhythms, passionate melodies and colorful scoring. Commissions from the Boston Pops Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic

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