Newton-John works Magic on Sellout Dogwood Arts Festival, Knoxville March 22 1975
By Johnnie Vaughan, News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Pretty, blonde singing star Olivia Newton-John brought waves of applause from a sold-out audience Saturday night at Civic Auditorium in her concert to kick off the 1975 Dogwood Arts Festival.
For 62 minutes, the country-pop singing rage worked her musical magic on the more than 6600 patrons. Attired in a tiered dress of baby blue and sparkling matching boots, the British songstress brought the house down with her opening number, “Let Me Be There,” which won her a Grammy and recognition as the nation’s most popular female vocalist.
Joked With Audience
She cooed and curtsied and joked with the audience between numbers which included, “I Honestly Love You,” another Grammy winner in the pop-rock category, and “If You Love Me, Let Me Know,” her third gold record single.
Since she made her first recording three years ago in England, Miss Newton-John has thrilled audiences in most of Britain’s major cities, France, Japan, Australia and the United States.
Going to Nashville
Following her first Knoxville concert Saturday night, she was to leave immediately for a Sunday concert in Nashville then a trip to the West Coast with a concert scheduled in Los Angeles on Monday.
Miss Newton-John was preceded on the stage by dry wit humorist Don Rice III, who has appeared in Knoxville previously in the Tom Jones concert. The Dogwood Arts Festival officially begins April 11 but had to set up Saturday’s sneak preview because of schedule conflicts for the singing star.
Photo: Olivia Turns ‘Em On
Olivia Newton-John, the British singing star who this year was voted America’s most popular female vocalist in the American Music Awards, excited a packed house at Civic Coliseum Saturday night in a concert to kick off the Dogwood Arts Festival.
Knoxville News Sentinel, March 23 1975
Enthusiastic Fans Wait
More than 6600 enthusiastic fans sat on pins and needles Saturday night awaiting the arrival on stage of Olivia Newton-John, the British singing star who has taken America by storm. When the house lights came up on the blond songstress, the applause from the awaiting throng was a constant background to the music throughout the hour-long performance.