Aug 4, 2008

Loggins gets Summer Symphony 'Footloose'

Janet Duca Norton / Society Columnist

Kenny Loggins' newest album "How About Now" and its signature song described the 49th Summer Symphony presented by the Children's Health Council at Stanford University's Frost Amphitheatre.

The July 20 live concert event was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Loggins' high-energy performance of "Footloose," and the encore, "Your Momma Don't Dance and Your Daddy Don't Rock 'n' Roll," brought 5,000 people to their feet, cheering, singing and waving.

The annual benefit concert has been a Bay Area summer tradition for 49 years with its winning format, showcasing a major music entertainer, a local symphony orchestra and a performance by the Health Council's Esther B. Clark School Chorus.

Founded in 1953 by Palo Alto's first pediatrician, Esther B. Clark, the Health Council provides services for children, from birth to adolescence, who have behavioral, developmental, emotional and learning problems. Every year, 5,000 Bay Area youths are treated by an interdisciplinary team of specialists based at the Palo Alto complex.

The event boasted some firsts: it was the first time the Summer Symphony Orchestra had backed the headlining performer; and the event marked a first-time partnership with local media stars Jona Denz-Hamilton of KBAY 94.5 FM (who opened the show) and KTVU Fox 2 news anchor Frank Somerville (who performed emcee duties).

Somerville said he likes to help people who make a difference, and the Health Council definitely does do that. "I can't wait to come back. The event was so much fun," Somerville said. "It couldn't have been a more perfect night: it was a beautiful setting, and it's a great place. It's intimate, and there are no bad seats."

A resident of the East Bay, Somerville and his wife Donna brought their friends Sarah and Jimmy Holloman to the concert. "It was the most fun on a Sunday night since I can remember," Jimmy said.

Grammy Award-winning conductor Arnie Roth, who returned for the third consecutive year, opened the concert with a symphonic salute to composer John Williams, featuring Williams' musical themes for blockbuster movies "Indiana Jones," "Star Wars," "Jaws" and "Harry Potter." The movie theme continued with the Health Council Chorus' performance of a "memorable movie music" medley.

But the show belonged to Loggins, with his signature hits from the past - "Celebrate Me Home" and "Return to Pooh Corner"- and a performance of his new song "How About Now." In keeping with the Health Council's mission to help children, Loggins performed "If You Believe in Love," saying he composed it with the idea of creating a vision of change.

Seen applauding were Betsy and Matt Matteson, John and Marcia Goldman, Richard Goldman, Maddy and Issac Stein, Michele Kirsch, Kirsten Krueger, Rosie Whitlock, Dave and Marilyn Pratt, Leo and Jeanne Ware, Caroline Labe, Nancy and Pat McGaraghan, Pam and Larry Schwab, and Bren and Larry Leisure.

New Health Council executive director Anne Moses joined event co-chairs Kim LeMieux and Michael Lazarus in welcoming sponsors, longtime friends and committee members to the pre-concert reception at Stanford's Frances Arrillaga Alumni Center. Reprising their roles for a second year, LeMieux and Lazarus were thrilled the event raised more than $500,000. They credited the successful outcome to their committee, which included members Bill Kurfess, Lisa Mooring, Debbie Robbins, Liz Weingart, Liz King, and Lou Ann Winchell and her husband Blake.

Moses summed up the importance of the concert: "Your support means more children will dream, have hope and reach their potential."

Presenting sponsors were again See's Candies, the SHG Foundation and NetJets.


Janet Duca Norton's society column appears every Sunday in the Daily News. Send event information to 255 Constitution Dr., Menlo Park, CA 94025 or e-mail society@paloaltodailynews.com.