Tag Archives: entertainers

Pamela Anderson’s Terrible Plight

What’s that saying about all that glitters?   Pamela Anderson (her photo serving food to the needy is on our Las Vegas Backstage Access masthead), who was once a regular celebrity fixture at Las Vegas nightspots and ex-girlfriend to Tommy Lee, has largely vacated the  nightclub scene. Now we may know why… 

News of Pamela Anderson’s ever-worsening financial situation is upstaging news of a possible “Dancing with the Stars” comeback, as details about her tax bill have come to light.   

In one of the most alarming reports yet for the blond bombshell (and that’s saying something), the state of California announced this week that Anderson owes a whopping $493,000 in delinquent income taxes.  

Rumors about Anderson’s financial woes are nothing new. About six months ago, reports surfaced claiming that Anderson owed over $1 million to contractors she’d hired to renovate her Malibu, California home.   

Anderson countered by saying her lawyers were “reviewing the work done” to investigate the possibility of unfair bills, and that while she was indeed the subject of tax liens to the tune of several hundred thousand dollars, she was still ”financially secure.” She even waxed rhapsodic about her temporary digs, a double-wide trailer at the beach.  

Reports have called Anderson’s chipper claims into question, as have a number of unglamorous appearances she’s been making as of late. A few months ago, she made a promotional appearance at a Pennsylvania Rite-Aid to hawk her new fragrance, Malibu. In February, she pitched her products to shoppers at a Southern California Sears. Last week, she attended the “launch” of a milkshake.  

But, for now, she still has “Dancing” to keep her busy. Anderson recently took to her Facebook page to rave about how transformative her stint on the ABC show has been.  

“I feel like I’ve gone from ‘Baywatch’ to this,” she gushed. “The last 15 years have just disappeared (in some respects).”

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Magician David Copperfield gets day in court

UPDATE:  April 20, 2010 –  Lacey Carroll, David Copperfield’s accuser, has dropped her lawsuit.  Reasons not provided.

A 2011 trial date has been set in the lawsuit against magician David Copperfield, a frequent MGM Grand entertainer in Las Vegas, and throughout the world as well.

A federal judge has set a May 2011 trial date for a civil lawsuit filed by a model who claims she was raped by celebrity magician David Copperfield on his private Caribbean island in 2007. 

U.S. District Judge John Coughenour lifted a stay that has held up the lawsuit pending the outcome of a two-year federal criminal investigation, which ended in January without charges being filed. 

Coughenour also rejected a motion by the lawyers for Lacey Carroll, the 23-year-old 2010 Miss Washington runner-up, seeking a court order to prevent the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office from returning evidence gathered in the criminal case to Copperfield. They argued that the material was relevant to the lawsuit and worried that Copperfield, one of the wealthiest entertainers in the world, would remove the material to his island or destroy it. 

The judge said there was no evidence that would happen, and pointed out that Carroll’s attorneys can still obtain the material through the normal discovery process. Coughenour said Copperfield knows that Carroll wants to review the evidence — some of it seized in FBI searches of his Las Vegas warehouse and MGM Grand Hotel theater in 2007 — and is obliged to preserve it.

Coughenour also noted that nothing is stopping Carroll from subpoenaing the evidence from the prosecutor, although that move could be challenged either by Copperfield or the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

The lawsuit was filed last July, just before the expiration of a two-year statute of limitations. 

Carroll had claimed that she met Copperfield at a performance in the Tri-Cities area and that the 53-year-old entertainer invited her to his $50 million private island, where she claims he raped her. 

The case took a twist when Carroll was charged in January with prostitution and lying to police. She is accused of trying to solicit a 31-year-old Bellevue businessman for $2,000 for sex, after going with him to a hotel room. 

When he refused, according to a police investigation, Carroll told staff at the hotel that the man had assaulted her. Carroll and the man each called police. 

She later refused to cooperate with the investigation, telling detectives she was worried that the Bellevue incident might affect her lawsuit and the Copperfield investigation. 

Carroll has pleaded not guilty to those charges.

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Magician Tiff goes Terribly Wrong in Las Vegas

Magicians are a fraternal bunch, and The Amazing Johnathan got a big laugh at a December gathering to honor Lance Burton’s manager, Peter Reveen.

The dark-witted comic strolled out with stage blood on his face, and a made-up black eye: “I’m sorry, Scarlett — I swear I’ll never criticize your dove pull ever again.” 

A big laugh erupted, for the tribute came only days after news that 21-year-old Rachel Jessee, left, known onstage as Scarlett — Princess of Magic, had been arrested for misdemeanor battery. She later pleaded no contest to assaulting her then 67-year-old manager and offstage partner, John Lewis. 

Lewis was sitting next to Jessee at the Reveen tribute, and he was perhaps the only person not laughing. 

“It was like it was a big joke. I don’t find it a joke,” he said. “I was still suffering from a horrible black eye at that point. I let it roll off me, but my face (was) still sore. I wanted to put some makeup on my eye before I went to this, and Rachel said, ‘No, no, I want people to see how you look.’ ” 

Lewis’ attempt to make a Las Vegas star of Scarlett is a cautionary tale of a show business dream that consumed, Lewis claims, nearly a million dollars of he and his wife’s retirement savings and personal effects. 

It is also a sad story of domestic violence and — if Lewis had his choice in the legal system — elder abuse. 

A week ago, Lewis and wife Carolyn filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Jessee, whom Lewis was dating, in Clark County District Court. The lawsuit claims repeated physical abuse and financial improprieties in converting Carolyn Lewis’ assets without her consent. 

In an interview before the lawsuit was filed, Jessee denied any physical abuse beyond the November fight. 

But she now contends Lewis pesters her new manager with e-mails and text messages alleging drug and alcohol abuse, which she calls “crazy.” 

“I’m definitely not a drug addict,” Jessee says. “I did drink heavier than I should have when I was in the relationship because I was not comfortable, and it was kind of a way to cope. I wasn’t an alcoholic but I’d have a few drinks every night.” 

Lewis says there were several escalating attacks. One time she pummeled his rib cage. Another time she hit him in the face and broke a tooth. 

“It’s hard to believe that when you see her onstage, but she would just, like, turn into ‘The Exorcist,’ ” he says.”She’s got a terrible violent temper that just explodes. It’s hard to explain, because she looks small. But she’s extremely strong when she gets mad.”

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Las Vegas Entertainers Come to Aid of Singer/Musical Conductor Bill Fayne

Members of the Las Vegas entertainment community are once again stepping up again to help one of their own. An all-star lineup will be donating their time this Saturday for a fundraiser at the Suncoast for singer/musical conductor Bill Fayne, who is recovering from major throat surgery for cancer. 

“The great news now is that he is on a course to full recovery,” said entertainer Clint Holmes, co-host of the afternoon show with his wife, Kelly Clinton-Holmes. Fayne has been Holmes’ longtime conductor and arranger. 

Fayne, who has lost 50 pounds from his  surgery and diabetes complications, and Clint Holmes have been friends since their college days. 

Taking the stage will be Terry Fator, Frankie Scinta, Lance Burton, Louie Anderson, Robin Leach, Sandy Hackett & the Rat Pack Show, the ladies from “Menopause,” Elvis Presley tribute artist Paul Casey, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute artists “Oh What a Night” and Human Nature. 

The lineup of entertainers include Domenick Allen, Leigh Zimmerman, Cayleigh Capaldi, Rick Faugno, Lena Prima, 5th Avenue, Voci Vegas, the Las Vegas Tenors, Tony Sacca, Jerry Lopez, Jeff Neiman and Vincent Falcone. 

The event begins at 2 p.m. this Sat., March 6 at the Suncoast. Tickets are $45, $35 and $25 and are available at the Suncoast box office and other Boyd Gaming properties.

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It’s not easy being Mr. Las Vegas

Entertainer Wayne Newton’s money woes and legal skirmishes are continuing at warp speed. 

Newton has had a long history of financial problems.  Newton famously declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy after becoming mired in roughly $20 million in debt about 18 years ago and the IRS said in 2005 that Newton owed $1.8 million in back taxes and penalties. 

Then, earlier this month it was learned that Newton abandoned his plane at the Oakland County International Airport three years ago and now owes more than $60,000 in storage fees and now faces lawsuits. 

Also this month, a civil lawsuit was filed in Clark County District Court by Bruton Smith, chairman and founder of Speedway Motorsports Inc. Smith is seeking to seize Newton’s home for repayment of a $3.35 million loan. 

Smith alleges Newton and his wife intentionally defrauded him and misrepresented their ability to repay the loan. 

A lawsuit was also filed last summer for nonpayment of $32,000 worth of hay for his horses. 

To top that off (if that’s possible), yesterday a large posse of Clark County sheriff’s process servers and moving vans showed up in the morning at Newton’s 38-acre ranch at Pecos and Sunset roads in Las Vegas, trying to serve the entertainer with judgment documents and take his property pertaining to a civil lawsuit brought by his former pilot, Monty Ward.  

Clark County District Judge Michelle Leavitt in September ordered Newton to pay Ward about $455,000 in back wages with interest accruing at the rate of roughly $129 per day. Court records show Newton paid less than $4,000 to Ward as of September. 

A similar action by Ward is simultaneously being pursued in U.S. District Court. 

Ward filed a federal breach-of-contract lawsuit in 2006 against Newton and a Nevada company called Desert Eagle. 

According to the lawsuit, the defendants asked Ward around February 2003 to work as their private pilot for the next decade. He was to start at a minimum annual salary of $92,000, plus medical and dental benefits, according to the complaint. 

“In reliance on assurances of continued employment and payment from defendants for a minimum of 10 years, Ward left his employment of 16 years as a captain and pilot with Horizon Airlines and became defendants’ private pilot,” the lawsuit alleges. 

Then, around August 2005, according to the document, Newton and Desert Eagle decided to discontinue using their private aircraft. The lawsuit claims Ward sent the defendants invoices for his services and benefits for periods after they decided to discontinue using their private aircraft, but despite repeated demands, they refused to pay him. 

In January 2009, then-U.S. District Judge Brian Sandoval ruled that Newton and Desert Eagle had breached a settlement agreement they had reached with Ward, and Sandoval entered a judgment of about $455,000 against the defendants.

Late last month, a writ of execution was issued in the case by the U.S. District Court clerk. The writ directed the U.S. Marshals Service to enforce the judgment, which, with interest, has grown to more than $500,000. 

This Tuesday, Ward filed a notice of his intention to take Newton’s deposition on March 4 in Las Vegas.

Yesterday, deputies left Newton’s compound without being able to properly serve him  The documents were returned to District Court marked “unexecuted,” and no further service will be attempted pending civil court actions, police said. 

The Wayne Newton saga is hardly over.   If anything, it will be rapidly ramping up in the next few months.  Please stay tuned to Las Vegas Backstage Access for developments.

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Jessica Biel to Climb Africa’s Highest Mountain

Actress Jessica Biel, a frequent visitor to Las Vegas, is apparently moving up in the world. The 27-year-old star has signed on to climb Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro, in January to raise awareness for the need for clean water worldwide. JessicaBiel

She will be joined by singer Lupe Fiasco and actress Isabel Lucas, who will be going on the “Summit on the Summit” expedition, which is the brainchild of Biel’s friend, singer Kenna, whose father suffered from waterborne diseases in Ethiopia as a child.

“This is a basic human necessity that needs to be addressed now,” Biel said in a statement about her decision to climb the more than 19,000 feet to the mountain’s peak. 

According to the Associated Press, more celebrity climbers will be announced in the next few months.

The climb will also raise funds for the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and PlayPumps International.

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Celine Dion Paints Baby’s Room

Celine Dion is expecting her second child in May, her Montreal publicist recently confirmed. CelineDion

The former Caesars Palace headliner conceived after fertility treatments, as she did with son Rene Charles, born Jan. 25, 2001. 

Dion, 41, ended her world tour in February and later acknowledged during an appearance on “Oprah” that she was hoping to have another child. 

The Canadian singing star has hinted that she intends to return to Las Vegas to perform after a baby break.

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Las Vegas Headliner, Impressionist Fred Travelana Dies

Yet another great entertainer has been sadly taken from us…  

Impressionist Fred Travalena, a headliner in many Las Vegas showrooms and a regular on late-night talk shows with his takes on presidents, crooners and screen stars, has died in Los Angeles. He was 66. FredTravalena

Publicist Roger Neal says Travalena died Sunday at his home in the Encino area after a recurrence of the non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that first surfaced in 2002. 

The Bronx native, who started his career in Las Vegas in 1971, was known for the sheer volume of celebrities he imitated, leading to the nicknames “The Man of a Thousand Voices” and “Mr. Everybody.” 

His act included presidents from Kennedy to Obama, musicians from Frank Sinatra to Bruce Springsteen and actors from Marlon Brando to Tom Cruise.

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Danny Gans Las Vegas Death Probe Ends with Publishing of 911 Tape Transcript

For many citizens of Las Vegas and throughout the United States, entertainer Danny Gans was an iconic figure, as much a part of Las Vegas background as the Mirage where he worked for almost nine years. So it stands to reason that the 911 tape of Gans’s wife trying to resuscitate him would be equally memorable.

It also closes the books on a police case that has had speculation buzzing for over a month.

According to The Associated Press, Clark County Police released the 911 tape, along with an incident report that details the police’s response to the emergency call.

On the tape, Julie Gans can be heard telling dispatcher Kaulana Flatt: “My husband, um, I can’t wake him up.”

“Is he breathing?” Flatt said.

“I can’t tell,” Julie Gans replies. “I can’t hear anything. I’m trying to feel a pulse.”

The line then falls silent for several seconds as Julie Gans begins chest compressions. She can be overheard saying “One, two, three, four, five.”

For over three minutes, Julie Gans valiantly tries to revive her husband as Flatt coaches her. The call is time stamped at 3:40 a.m. Police arrived seven minutes later. Danny Gans was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

According to Clark County coroner report, Gans died of an adverse reaction to the painkiller hydromorphone–better known as dilaudid, a powerful opiate used to control pain. In an interview later with police, Julie Gans confirmed that Danny was prescribed hydromorphone by doctors, but that he didn’t use it regularly.

According to Julie Gans, on the day of Danny’s death, her husband played golf, received a massage and went to bed. Julie Gans noticed something was wrong when she woke up and noticed he wasn’t snoring. That’s when she called 911.

According to Detective Chad Mitchell of the Las Vegas Police Department, Julie Gans complied with a criminal forensic expert’s request to view Danny Gans’s medication.

Foul play is not suspected in Gans’ death.

For over a decade, Danny Gans was a mainstay in on the Las Vegas entertainment scene, performing initially as a comedian in corporate functions throughout the United States. In 2000, Gans signed with the Mirage, a sister casino of the recently built Wynn Encore casino in Las Vegas.

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Breaking: Michael Jackson Suffers Heart Attack

Entertainer and sometimes Las Vegas resident Michael Jackson, 50, suffering in the past from fatigue bouts and fad diets, has just now suffered a cardiac arrest in his Los Angeles home at approximately 1:15 p.m. (PT).  Paramedics performed CPR as he was in route to the hospital.     

Michael Jackson was on the verge of his new world tour, as previously reported by Las Vegas Backstage Access.  Further details will follow.

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“Country Superstars Tribute” Act Temporarily Ends in Las Vegas

CountryStarsTributeThe “Country Superstars Tribute” is wrapping up their performances at Fitzgeralds in Las Vegas on June 28, with the “Marriage Can Be Murder” dinner show moving in the next day. 

The country show with the “Legends’ impersonator format has been growing strong for two years and more than 500 shows.  But the live band and multi-act format proved to be top-heavy for the room, which only seats about 120 people. 

Ron Keel, who originally co-produced and performed as Ronnie Dunn, has been spending more time out of the show, trying to revive his ‘80s rock band, Keel.  Producer Leonard Quenneville hopes to find a Las Vegas venue large enough to support the show’s format. 

“Marriage” will put the audience closer to fellow suspects when the dinner show gives up the Canyon Club at Four Queens for the cozier space at Fitzgeralds.

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Death of Las Vegas Entertainer Danny Gans Remains a Mystery

Still no answer is forthcoming on the reasons for the death of Las Vegas iconic entertainer Danny Gans, who died suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 52 in his Henderson, Nevada home on May 1. 

Although “all the initial information is in,” says Clark County Cororner Michael Murphy, referring to toxicology reports submitted to medical examiners, “it’s not available for release, and we’re still poring over the information.” He added that they have “gathered what we believe is all the critical information, and we anticipate an answer within the next couple of weeks,” but said it could take longer. 

Murphy declined to speculate about possible findings.  Gans’ family members have said he was on medication to control high blood pressure, but otherwise had no health issues as far as they knew. 

According to Chip Lightman, Gans’ manager, the night before Gans died, the entertainer slept poorly. 

A memorial service for Gans was held May 21 at the Wynn Encore, where Gans had performed.  Those in attendance included his wife and his three children, Amy, Andrew and Emily, and Donny and Marie Osmond, Steve and Elaine Wynn, Clint Holmes, Rita Rudner, Criss Angel, Carrot Top, George Wallace, and former Nevada Governor Bob Miller.

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Danny Gans Memorial Service Today in Las Vegas

The Danny Gans memorial service will be at 3 p.m. today, May 21, in the 1,600-seat Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas, the former showroom for the celebrity vocal impressionist.

Expected to attend are Steve and Elaine Wynn, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, entertainers Donny and Marie Osmond a throng of other celebrities, friends and guests. Originally announced as an invitation-only wake, the memorial will include some fans, firefighters and police who were offered complimentary tickets this week from showtickets4locals.com

Gans died in his home of unknown causes on May 1. He was 52.  His death is currently being investigated, perhaps for a couple more weeks.

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Mob, Celebrities are Supreme Toppings for Las Vegas Pizza Biz

joe-pesciActor Joe Pesci, right, who won an Oscar for his supporting role in the 1990 mob classic “Goodfellas,” is apparently going into refined cahoots with Las Vegas convicted racketeer Rick Rizzolo, left, planning to rick-rizzoloslice up the payola coming from opening up several pizza joints called “Pesci’s Pizza Parlors” in Las Vegas, with several others in a foreign country.

Tough-guy actor Pesci is keeping the business dealings close to the cuff, though, disavowing any connection with Rizzolo, simply saying his longtime friend and personal assistant Tommy DeVito – and story source – “was confused.”

Pesci quickly switched gears,  saying  he is partnering with Las Vegas businessmen Sig Rogich, Sig Rogicha prominent public relations that advised the presidential campaigns of Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, and Elias Ghanem II,  who works for Wynn Resorts in the executive training program.  Ghanem’s dad, Dr. Elias Ghanem, was known as the “physican to the stars,” serving celebrities including Elvis Presley, Liberace, Michael Jackson, Bill Cosby, Ann-Margret, and Wayne Newton.

Currently finalizing the new business paperwork, they plan to be in business in four or five months, according to longtime Pesci associate Tommy DeVito, who has lived in Las Vegas since 1970. 

DeVito, 80, and Pesci, 66, have been guitar-playing pals since they were 11-years-old and living in New Jersery.  DeVito, center, went on to form the Frankie Valli-led Four Seasons and was the group’s leading guitarist until a falling out with the group over his mounting gambling debts. tommy-devito

Pesci is a producer of the “Jersey Boys,” a musical based on the lives of the Four Seasons.  A spinoff of the Broadway hit has been playing in Las Vegas for a year at The Palazzo. 

Pesci and DeVito are such close friends that Pesci called DeVito a couple of months before the filming began on Martin Scorcese’s “Casino” to say he was taking the name Tom DeVito for his character, a mob thug based on Las Vegas hit man Anthony “The Ant” Spilotro. 

Rick Rizzolo, 50, received notoriety during the Las Vegas “G-Sting” federal trial, causing former Justice Department Organized Strike Force prosecutor Stan Hunteroton to exclaim to the court:  “Not since the reign of Anthony Spilotro and his associates has there been a more infamous hoodlum than Rick Rizzolo.” 

Rizzolo was among 17 defendants, including Las Vegas city officials, later found guilty on a related charge.  He served 11 months of a sentence of one year and one day before his release last year.   Rizzolo was also ordered to sell the Las Vegas topless cabaret Crazy Horse Too business and placed under three years of supervised release and fined $250,000. 

‘Dying’ to taste their pizza?   Maybe they could open up a pizza parlor in the planned Las Vegas Mob Museum?

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Marie Osmond ‘Very Supportive’ of Gay Rights

Las Vegas performer Marie Osmond has come out in favor of gay rights. marieosmond2

In an interview with Los Angeles radio station KOST 103.5, the Flamingo headline said it was “not a sensitive issue” for her.

Osmond said she supports gay couples having civil rights. 

“I think it’s important to look that at the commandment love thy neighbor as thyself,” said Osmond, who has eight children.  Her oldest daughter, Jessica, 21, has been in a gay relationship for three years.

Please see prior Feb. 24 and April 20, 2009 Las Vegas Backstage Access articles.

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Danny Gans’ Autobiography & Music Video Release

Danny Gans, 52, a leading Las Vegas headliner since 1966, both at The Mirage for 8 ½ years and most recently performing at Steve Wynn’s Encore hotel, died unexpectedly early last Friday in his Las Vegas home.   (May 2 Las Vegas Backstage Access article.) 

Now it has been learned that two days before his death he completed his autobiography that was in the works for about a year.  The manuscript, according to this his manager, Chip Lightman, is now being edited and a meeting with the publisher today. 

Gans also had a music video in the works with Hollywood director Brett Ratner, performing “What a Wonderful World” in 10 voices.  It is planned to be a part of a CD that’s being released in a month by Hi-Fi Records.

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Jay Leno Makes Rare Las Vegas, Tonight Show Cancellations

The Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas had to cancel the April 24 and 25 performances of late night talk show host Jay Leno.  jay-lenoThe 58-year-old entertainer checked himself into Providence St. Joseph Medical Centre hospital on Thursday with what was diagnosed as possible food poisoning.  Leno was also forced to cancel two live episode tapings of his Tonight Show – a first since he took over the Tonight Show reigns in 1992.  

(May 4 UPDATE:  Reportedly, Leno was not sick or anything, just plain wornout, needing to take the time off.)

Leno will be leaving late night in May for a prime-time show set to debut this September.  Tonight Show hosting duties will be passed to Conan O’Brien. 

No replacement dates have been announced for Leno’s Mirage performances.

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Beyonce Heads for Las Vegas Glitter

Since Las Vegas first grew out of the desert dust, powerful female entertainers have always found a home in the main beyonceshowrooms of Las Vegas casinos and hotels.   In just the past year, Las Vegas marquis have invited tourists to spend an evening with Celine Dion, Cher, Bette Midler,Taylor Swift, Rita Rudner, and coming this July, appearing at the Encore Theatre, in Steve Wynn’s latest and greatest Wynn Las Vegas hotel – Beyonce.   

Beyonce Knowles began her “I am…Sasha Fierce” tour in Edmonton Canada in March 2009.  After several dates in Canada, the tour moved on to Europe in April with stops in Austria, France, Germany and Spain along the way and ending with a series of performances in England. 

On June 21 Knowles’ Sasha tour makes its way stateside to Madison Square Garden in New York and continues across the country until July 30 when her tour arrives for four nights in Las Vegas.  

The title of Beyonce’s current album is a play on the persona she created over the past few years.  One half of the tracks of “I am…” are personal stories and come from the singer’s soul.  The other half of the album, “….Sasha Fierce” is full of the spark and flame that has come from the stage persona of Sasha.  And Beyonce will be bringing her all-female band and this high octane combination to Las Vegas for their joint Encore Theater marquis moment in July. 

Mike Ross of the Edmonton Sun recently gave Beyonce’s performance at Rexall Place 4.5 out of 5 stars rating stating, “Beyonce can sing traditional R&B if she wants. She proved it late last night – wailing on the Etta James classic At Last, which she performed for the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama.”

Tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster on Saturday, April 25.  And – the good news – Beyonce is making first 2,000 seats available for $20 (plus applicable service charges).

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Criminal Minds Star Morphs into ‘Allllvinnn!’

CBS’s Criminal Minds very popular actor Matthew Gray Gubler is a Las Vegas product born and bred.  Performing as matthewgublerthe three Ph.D. degree-holding Dr. Spencer Reid on the TV series since 2005,  Gubler was raised in a quiet neighborhood near Bob Baskin Park in Las Vegas, later graduating from the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts High School and later attended a four-year class at the Las Vegas Academy of International Studies, majoring in drama and graduating in 1998.  

After that “The Gube,” started his “profiling” career by studying at the University of California in Santa Cruz and two year later decided to leave California and move to New York to enroll at  the Tisch School of the Arts, later graduating from that school in 2002.  While in Manhattan he walked the runways for some of the biggest fashion designers including Marc Jacobs, Burrberry, Louis Vuitton, Tommy Hilfiger and Sisley. 

Gubler, 29, is now taking a brief television break from his “personal voyage of desperation and tragedy,” to voice Simon in the new Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel movie planned for release on December 25th by 20th Century Fox.

 “I welcome the role with open arms because it’s so fun- not that I don’t love looking at bloody fingerprints,” says a confident and beaming Gubler. 

Okay!

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Elton John Belts Out Last Beat on April 22 in Las Vegas …241 Performances & 3 Years Later

Sir Elton John started out as a limited run scheduled for just 75 shows over 3 years.  But as the lights went down on elton-johnthe first Elton John Red Piano performance at Caesars Palace on February 14, 2004, it became clear that this wasn’t going to be just a normal Vegas revue gig.  And it wasn’t the David LaChappelle photography, the inflatable banana’s and cherries or the actual red piano center piece that made his Las Vegas performances stand out.  It was the music, performed by Sir Elton John and his band that routinely drew his fans to his sold out show. 

Now, 241 performances later, Sir Elton John will say good-bye to the Coliseum at Caesars Palace on April 22, 2009. 

Sir Elton John’s career began in 1961 as a member of the band Bluesology.  In 1967 he started working with Bernie Taupin and a legendary music industry relationship was born.  After his 1970 self-titled debut album there followed a long string of critical and financial successes.  From 70’s hits like the perpetually popular “Your Song” to “Good-bye Yellow Brick Road” to 80’s favorites “Empty Garden” and “I’m Still Standing,” Sir Elton John and his who’s who cache of co-writers and producers have entertained audiences around the world.  

In 1992 Sir Elton John established the Elton John Aids Foundation to help find a cure for HIV.  To date, this organization has raised more than $150 million and actively works in 55 countries offering support services and treatment options to those living with HIV/AIDS. 

Also in the 1990’s Sir Elton John began another somewhat magical musical relationship when he collaborated with Tim Rice on Disney’s ‘Lion King’ soundtrack.  He earned a Grammy and his first Oscar for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and went on to work with Rice on the Broadway hit ‘Aida.’

While performing at Caesars these last five years in Las Vegas, Sir Elton John has shared the Coliseum Theater with Celine Dion, Cher and Bette Midler.  In late 2008 he took the Red Piano on the road, touring Europe with the show before returning to Las Vegas for the final Caesar’s performances.

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Myleene Klass getting hitched in Las Vegas?

Now magazine reports that the TV personality is keeping her options open. Myleene Klass and fiancé Graham Quinn intend to become man and wife one day – just not yet. myleene

“I know that Gray is The One and the feeling that we are partners for life is so strong,” says Myleene, adding, “But I’m less and less enthusiastic about a big white wedding because I already go to plenty of sit-down dinners and wear so many white dresses for work.  I have a feeling that ours may be in Las Vegas. Or a party in the garden with fairy lights in the trees and a fish-and-chip supper for the reception.” 

10 Years Younger  TV host Myleene, 30, met Graham when he was Hear Say’s bodyguard and they’re now parents to 18-month-old daughter Ava.  “We’ve been together for 6 years now and everyone keeps nagging us to get married,’ she tells Hello!  “But it’ll happen in time. There are other things to do first.”

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Is Michael Jackson going to perform in Las Vegas?

Money-hurting music pop star Michael Jackson, on and off again Las Vegas resident, has got rid of his white gloves and is now in talks to mount a concert comeback with up to 30 live shows in either London or Las Vegas later this year.michaeljackson

If it happens, it would be Jackson’s first major performance since his 2005 acquittal on child molestation charges.

London’s O2 arena is said to be competing with a few hotels in Las Vegas to lure the 50-year-old “King of Pop” back to the stage he once ruled.  This effort has been launched in the past, but now it’s in earnest.

Even though his bizarre behavior has wrecked his image, some insiders think the shows could net him $215 million, according to published reports in British newspapers.

“It will be the greatest comeback in the history of pop and there would be no problem selling out the O2 every night,” one source told London’s Daily Mail. “No one is concerned about his reputation and people don’t feel it is a risk. Organizers are confident people will come from all over the world to see him.”

There’s one fact for certain:  Jackson really needs the work.  Once one of the richest entertainers in the world, he’s in severe dire financial straits these days.  Last year he had to fight a $7 million lawsuit by a son of the King of Bahrain over an unpaid debt. In April, he’s auctioning off thousands of his possessions, including the sequined white glove he famously wore in the “Billie Jean” videos.

Jackson has said he is working on a new album, but nothing has materialized.  An adaptation of his video “Thriller” is supposedly headed for Broadway.  Released into 1982, “Thriller” is the best-selling album of all time and launched Jackson’s career into the stratosphere.

He’s largely been a mysterious recluse in recent years while his reputation has been battered by sex scandal, strange illnesses, plastic surgeries and other odd and eccentric behavior.

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Las Vegas’ Newest Headliner: Terry Fator at The Mirage

Terry Fator, 43, has come a long way.   The “America’s Got Talent” impressionist, singer, comedian, and ventriloquist went on from winning that competition in 2007 to land a five-year, $100 million deal The Mirage in Las Vegas, with an option for an additional five years.  terryfator1

“When I won Talent, my wife and I were broke,” says Fator, who has a new autobiography, “Who’s the Dummy Now.”  “Now I have to convince her that she doesn’t have to buy shoes at discount stores.”

Fator is the newest headliner at The Mirage.  His performances start today, Saturday, February 14, at the helm of the 1,265-seat Terry Fator Theatre (formerly the Danny Gans Theatre) for five shows a week.

Fator’s show is family-friendly and features a cast of seven puppets, including Cowboy Walter, Emma Taylor and Winston the Impersonating Turtle. Combining ventriloquism and impersonation, Fator performs the singing styles of an eclectic group of stars including Elvis, Maroon Five, James Blunt, Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, Etta James, Marvin Gaye, Nat King Cole and his daughter Natalie.

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Sugarland To Perform In Las Vegas

Las Vegas Backstage Access is not into the habit of providing a long listing of events.  That can be obtained from many sugarlandother publications.  However, when an event is really spectacular, new, or otherwise just kitschy, then we’ll bend your ear.  Such is the case – minus the kitschy – when this year’s Grammy winning Sugarland performs live in concert at the Primm Valley Casino Resorts on Friday, July 24.   If you haven’t seen them – country music duo composed of singer-songwriters Jennifer Nettles (lead vocals) and Kristian Bush (background vocals, lead vocals, mandolin, and acoustic guitar) – or just want to take an escape from the Las Vegas neon, you’ll assuredly have lots of fun.  For more information, call 702-386-7867

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Happy Birthday Mr. Las Vegas Casino Mogul … Happy Birthday Steve Wynn

One thing is certain:  Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn really craves his birthdays, making them a weeklongstevewynn extravaganza.  Saturday night during the gala Encore opening Harry Connick Jr. was the featured entertainer that joined a star-studded crowd in celebrating the 67th birthday for Steve Wynn.   The highlight of the evening’s performance was when Connick sang Frank Sinatra songs,  “Luck Be A Lady,” and “Here’s to the Losers.”   Steve Wynn loves anything to do with Frank Sinatra.

harryconnickjrEarlier on Thursday, Wynn called up Connick and they dined at Encore’s Sinatra restaurant.  Then on Friday Wynn called up Connick again and they hooked up for dinner with Donald Trump, Neil Diamond, and others. 

Wynn’s real birthday is Tuesday and the rumor is that Wynn plans to spend it in the posh Swiss ski resort of St. Moritz.

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