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Feeling the love

Rock duo Air Supply endures with romantic ballads

Air Supply will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 in Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului. Advance tickets are $70, $90 and $125 (plus applicable fees), with prices increasing $10 the day of the show, and are available at the box office, by calling 242-7469 or online at www.mauiarts.org. Photo courtesy the MACC

Loved by loyal fans from as far afield as China and Vietnam, Air Supply’s founders, Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell, still reign as kings of timeless, romantic ballads.

“We have a lot of fans who enjoy our music,” notes Hitchcock. “We have people who saw us 30 years ago and they bring their kids or grandchildren. We cross generations and genres. The bottom line is we have great songs and great shows.”

After more than 40 years of recording and touring, the band continues to enthrall audiences with favorites like “All Out of Love,” “Lost in Love,” “The One That You Love” and “Every Woman in the World.”

“All you need is love — plus two magnificent voices harmonizing on truly memorable melodies with a watertight backing band — and you have the recipe that has made Air Supply such an enduring and endearing international success,” praised a recent review of an Adelaide concert.

Australian Hitchcock and U.K.-born Russell met in Melbourne in 1975 at rehearsals for the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.” As both musicians shared a love for the Beatles, having seen them live as young teens, they would often sing Beatles’ favorites together after “Superstar” shows.

Jamaican legends Sly & Robbie and their Taxi Gang band delivered some massive, deep-dub reggae Saturday night at the Maui Theater in Lahaina. Vocalists included Peter Gayle and Marty Dread (left of bassist Robbie Shakespeare), who brought the crowd to their feet with exuberant covers of reggae classics like Bob Marley’s “Crazy Baldheads” and Black Uhuru’s “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner.” SASCHA BAUML photo

“I was exposed to great music because my dad used to sing in big bands in Australia in the ’40s,” Hitchcock recalls. “The music I first heard was Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett and Julie London. And I used to go to the movies when I was a kid on my own seeing ‘South Pacific’ and ‘West Side Story.’ Music was always a big influence on my life, so when I got into ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ and worked with Graham it was unbelievably wonderful. In my opinion Graham is one of the most underrated songwriters in the history of pop music.”

After releasing a couple of albums in Australia, they opened for Rod Stewart on tour, and were invited by him to continue on to the U.S. and Canada.

In 1979, they released the concept album “Life Support,” featuring the ballad “Lost in Love,” which caught the attention of record industry mogul Clive Davis, who helped steer the careers of stars like Whitney Houston, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel.

Signed by Davis, Air Supply’s next album, “Lost in Love,” became a massive hit internationally along with the mega-hit single “All Out of Love.” But before it was released they were informed they needed to change the song’s lyrics. The chorus featured the line, “I’m all out of love, I want to arrest you.”

The inference of “arrest” in Australia meant to get someone’s attention. As American audiences were unlikely to understand this meaning, the lyric was changed to the more familiar, “I’m all out of love, I’m so lost without you.”

The combination of Hitchcock’s soaring tenor and Russell’s memorable songs was universally appealing. They were one of the first Western groups to tour China, and one of the first invited to play in Cuba back in 2005. Cuba’s Juventud Rebelde newspaper reported that they “became idols for thousands of Cubans in the ’80s, who sang their songs despite barely speaking English.”

“When we started to have hits songs internationally I didn’t really have time to stop and enjoy it,” says Hitchcock. “We were on the road for eight or nine months a year and somebody would say, ‘Your song is No. 3 this week,’ and we’d go, ‘That’s good, we’ve got to play tomorrow night in 14 hours.’ It all seemed like a blur. People at shows now bring old album covers, and I go, ‘Gee I don’t remember that.’ But I love my life, I get to travel, I couldn’t ask for more.”

Their most recent studio recording, the concept album “Mumbo Jumbo,” details the life of an idealistic young hero inhabiting a parallel universe.

“It’s about a guy who sees all the opulence and greed in the world and tries to find out where he is, and looks for the love of his life and ultimately finds it,” Hitchcock explains.

And in 2014, they released the CD/DVD “Live in Hong Kong,” featuring all their big hits.

Asked about the secret to their undiminished popularity, Hitchcock suggests it’s their timeless songs.

“They’ve always deeply touched peoples’ hearts,” he says. “They’re lyrically simple, but they’re not banal or stupid. The melodies are awesome, people remember them, and they touch your heart no matter who you are.”

*****

The annual Maui Fair can usually be relied upon to present a stellar lineup of musical talent, and this year’s bill is a winner. Today you can see Amy Hanaiali’i at 7 p.m. followed by Pi’ilani Arias & Dani Girl at 9 p.m.. Anuhea opens up Friday’s entertainment at 6:30 p.m. Paula Fuga will follow at 8 p.m. and Marty Dread closes the night at 9:30.

On Saturday, Andy Kaina and Kaina Kountry open at 6 p.m., with Burn ‘n Love with Darren Lee at 7:30 p.m., Boom Boom Pow at 8 p.m., and reggae with Nuff Sedd & Dani Girl at 10 p.m..

Keali’i Reichel and Halau Kealaokamaile will headline Sunday’s lineup at 6 p.m. The day opens with Matagi Trio at 11 a.m.; Uncle Richard Ho’opi’i performs at 1 p.m.; and there’s more island reggae with Ekolu at 8 and Slydogg at 9:30.

* For more information, visit www.mauifair.com.

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George Kahumoku Jr. will celebrate the 13th anniversary of his weekly Masters of Hawaiian Music show on Wednesday at the Napili Kai Beach Resort.

The show will also feature Jeff Peterson, Richard Ho’opi’i, Kevin Brown, Peter deAquino, Sterling Seaton, Max Angel  and Wainani Kealoha.

* Doors will open at 6:45 p.m. and the show will begin at 7:30 in the resort’s Aloha Pavilion. Tickets range from $37.99 to $95 and are available at www.slackkeyshow.com.

*****

The Tenors of Rock will perform at the Maui Theatre in Lahaina on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.

Formed with five of the best male rock voices in the U.K. the Tenors repertoire encompasses rock anthems from different generations, including classics by Led Zeppelin, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, AC/DC, KISS, The Who, Queen and Muse.

“We wanted to put a spin on the normal idea of a tenor vocal group,” Welsh founder Gareth Richards reported. “We deliver classic rock songs exactly as they were intended, with these huge five-part harmonies.”

* Tickets start at $59.99 and are available at the theater box office at 856-7900 or at www.MauiTheatre.com.

*****

Russian-born pianist Damira Feldman will present a “Reflections from Piano” solo recital at the Makawao Union Church at 7 p.m. Saturday.

A former pianist with the Kazan Symphony Orchestra, her concert will include romantic pieces by Chopin, and tangos and Valsas Brasileiras by Brazilian composers. The Miami Herald praised her “inspiring and passionate performances that captivate her audiences.”

* Admission is $15. For tickets, visit www.mirafeldman.com or www.eventbrite.com.

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