Survivor, a 1980s arena rock band with six Top 20 hits, will headline the free 33rd Annual Our Hospice of South Central Indiana Concert on Labor Day weekend Aug. 31 at Mill Race Park in downtown Columbus.
The event is the largest fundraiser for Our Hospice of South Central Indiana, the first and only not-for-profit hospice care provider in this area. Proceeds from sponsors and raffle tickets help provide end-of-life care for patients and families in 16 counties in south central Indiana.
In recent years, the event has attracted crowds estimated between 6,000 and 8,000 people to the park’s amphitheater.
Opening will be the nine-piece Indianapolis-based Woomblies Rock Orchestra, playing a wide range of pop-rock covers and also some originals. The group will appear at the next JCB Neighborfest June 6 in front of The Commons, 300 Washington St.
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The Woomblies last appeared as a hospice opener in September 2017, and Our Hospice President Laura Leonard called them “a crowd favorite.”
Those familiar with the “Rocky” series of movies will recall that Survivor recorded the theme song in two of Sylvester Stallone’s films.
The band is best known for its huge 1982 hit “Eye of the Tiger,” the theme song for the Rocky III movie and a tune that held a No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 single for six weeks. The song also landed at No. 2 for the year.
Plus, the group charted with songs such as, “The Search Is Over” (reaching No. 4 in 1984), “High on You” (No. 8 in 1984), “I Can’t Hold Back” (No. 13 in 1984), “Burning Heart,” (No. 2 in 1985) and also the theme of the Rocky IV soundtrack, and “Is This Love” (No. 9 in 1986).
Stallone first was drawn to the band from its first rock single “Poor Man’s Son” in 1980.
“Eye of the Tiger” won a Grammy for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, a People’s Choice Award, an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe nomination. The song also landed at No. 18 on the “Top 100 Singles” chart in Billboard‘s 100th Anniversary issue. Plus, it has logged 7 million in sales worldwide on iTunes, and is currently No. 9 even today on the app’s top soundtrack chart.
After its heyday in the 1980s, the band appeared on “Dancing With the Stars” in 2007.
The band has most recently been playing venues ranging from casinos to fairs. Lead guitarist Frankie Sullivan is the only original member of the group, according to music websites. But bassist Billy Ozzello has been with the band off and on since the mid-1990s.
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Who: Opening act The Woomblies Rock Orchestra and headlining act Survivor
What: The 33rd Annual Our Hospice of South Central Indiana concert, which raises money for and awareness about the nonprofit agency’s mission to offer end-of-life care for patients and their families.
When: 6:30 p.m. Aug. 31. No rain location or rain date.
Where: Mill Race Park in downtown Columbus
Admission: Free, Hospice generates proceeds via the sale of food, souvenirs and raffles
Seating: Bring your own chairs and blankets.
Information: ourhospice.org
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- The Woomblies Rock Orchestra: A nine-member group playing mostly cover tunes from bands ranging from Electric Light Orchestra to Foreigner to Led Zeppelin.
- Survivor: Considered an arena rock band that enjoyed six hits in the 1980s, including the No. 1 "Eye of the Tiger."
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