Las Vegas Backstage Talk

Nov. 29, 2012 Steve Rossi

The Legendary Steve Rossi

 Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)

Steve Rossi visits in-studio on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show on 1230am and The Web, with Comedian Michele LaFong and shares his many amazing experiences, lessons, and stories in his fifty-five year career in show business.

In this very interesting interview, Steve talks about everything from what it was like what to room with Howard Stern many years ago, when he was managing the frequently fired “Shock Jock,” to the real reason he and Marty Allen couldn’t get back together for even one TV Special last year that offered over a million plus dollars.

Steve Rossi is half of the world famous comedy team of Allen and Rossi. At the age of six he appeared in ‘Going My Way’ with Bing Crosby, ‘The Johnson Story’ and over thirty movies. At the age of 16, Steve received a scholarship to The University of Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles and received a BA in communication, arts and theatre and in Latin and Greek. In 1954 Steve co-starred with Mae West in her sold out concerts all over America.

Steve teamed up with Marty Allen in 1957 and soon became America’s #1 comedy team. They Appeared in over 7000 television shows including frequent apperances on the ‘Ed Sullivan Show’, and hold dubious honor of having to go on stage right after the Beatles created pandemonium on the show. They also guest starred on Perry Cumo, Dean Martin, Dinah Shore, Merv Griffin, Mike Dougas and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Allen and Rossi were also regular guest stars on ‘What’s My Line, Hollywood Squares, Password and numerous other game shows.

Allen and Rossi starred in several Paramount films, most notably ‘The Last of the Secret Agents’ with the guest stars Nancy Sinatra and ed Sullivan.

Steve also produced and starred in ‘The 25th Anniversary Allen and Rossi Special’ with guest stars Engelbert Humperdinck, Jerry Lewis, Sammy Davis Jr., Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller, Redd Foxx, Martin Sheen, Ernie Borgnine, Rich Little, Jack Jones and Tony Orlando. Steve has produced 11 comedy albums and eight singing albums on such lables as RCA and Coumbia. He sold 2 million copies of his hit record “More”, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

Steve Rossi also wrote and produced “Jimmy Stewart & Friends” starring Rich Little currently appearing at The Las Vegas Hotel.

On May 20th 2009, steve Rossi was inducted into Show Business Legends hall of fame at the Tropicana hotel in Las Vegas. Steve in celebrating his 55th year in show business and Is young enough to look forward to the next 55 years.

More about Steve Rossi here–>

You can listen to a recording of our show below!

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Nov. 22, 2012 Melissa Manchester, Wendy Mazaros

Actress / Singer / Songwriter – Melissa Manchester

While on tour in Australia, Melissa Manchester called in to Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show and was interviewed by Comic Michele LaFong.  They had such a good rapport, that Melissa will be doing a videotaped backstage interview with LaFong from The Suncoast Showroom this weekend.

After getting her start as a singer-pianist in the clubs of Greenwich Village, Manchester performed with Bette Midler as a “Harlette” before landing a recording contract. Her debut releases, “Home to Myself” and “Bright Eyes” laid the foundation for her solo career. In 1975, Manchester’s album “Melissa” produced her first top ten hit, “Midnight Blue.”

Manchester was nominated for a Grammy® Award in 1978 and 1979, and won the Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “You Should Hear How She Talks About You” in 1982. In 1979, she became the first artist in the history of the Academy Awards® to have two nominated movie themes in the same year – “Through The Eyes of Love” from the film “Ice Castles,” and the title song from “The Promise.”

As an actress, Manchester has guest starred in numerous television shows, including “Blossom” and “Fame,” and in films, such as “For The Boys” and “Dirty Girl.” She has also appeared in the Los Angeles-based theatrical production of “Sweeney Todd” and recently starred in the Chicago premiere of the musical “HATS!,” which features several songs she co-wrote.

More about Melissa Manchester here–>

You can catch Melissa Manchester headlining at Suncoast Hotel & Casino

Suncoast Showroom, Sat & Sun, Nov. 24th & 25th 7:30pm

Reservations

Author – Wendy Mazaros

Author of “Vegas Rag Doll”  A true story of  terror and survival as the wife of a mob hitman.  Wendy’s story of sex, drugs, corruption, and murder, features many well-known Las Vegas figures, including Benny, and Ted Binion, Tony Spilotro, and husband, Tom Hanley, still stands out in the crowd.  Wendy Mazaros, mother of Amy Hanley, a regular cast member of a “Sin City Rules” a new docu-drama series that will debut on the TLC Network on Dec. 9.  Wendy  will also be making appearances on the new reality show series.

More about Wendy Mazaros here–>

You can listen to a recording of our show below!

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BJ Thomas, Jackie ‘The Joke Man’ Martling-LV Backstage Talk w/Comedian Michele LaFong

Listen to show below.

Nov. 15, 2012 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & The Web

Singer BJ Thomas guests on “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong.  LVBST radio show is the only show that “Gets Personal with the Stars.”

Five-time Grammy® Award winning hitmaker BJ Thomas will perform at the Suncoast Showroom.

In 1966, Thomas released his first hit record, a cover of Hank Williams classic, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.” From 1967 to 1975, Thomas charted numerous hits, including: “The Eyes of a New York Woman,” “Hooked on a Feeling,” “It’s Only Love,” and “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.”

Thomas is perhaps best-known for “Rain Drops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” featured in the 1969 movie “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and winner of an Academy Award® for “Best Original Song.” Since then, the song has been featured in numerous movies, including “Forrest Gump,” “Clerks II,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” and “Spider-Man 2.”

During the ‘80s, Thomas’ music crossed over to the country charts with “Whatever Happened to Old-Fashioned Love,” “New Looks from an Old Lover” and “Two Car Garage.” He became the 60th member of the Grand Old Opry in 1981.

In 1985, Thomas recorded “As Long As We’ve Got Each Other” which was later used as the theme song for the hit ABC sitcom, “Growing Pains.”

In 2007, he released his fourth holiday album, “Home for Christmas.”

BJ will be featured in Comedian Michele LaFong’s Monthly Syndicated “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” column in Casino Player Magazine, and will soon be featured in LaFong’s Syndicated “Getting Personal with the Stars” column in Gaming Today.

More about BJ Thomas here–>

You can catch BJ Thomas headlining at Suncoast Hotel & Casino

Suncoast Showroom, Sat & Sun, Nov. 17th & 18th 7:30pm

Reservations

Comedian – Jackie ‘The Joke Man’ Martling

Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, will talk about his experiences on “The Howard Stern Show,” and his life on stage, and off, since leaving.

While touring as a national headliner, Martling released three comedy lp’s, 1979’s “What Did You Expect?,” 1980’s “Goin’ Ape!,” and 1981’s “Normal People Are People You Don’t Know That Well.” He blindly sent the three LP’s to Howard Stern upon Howard’s arrival at WNBC-AM in New York City in 1982, and Howard called him to make a guest appearance on his radio show. in 1986, Jackie became  a full-time cast member and the head writer of Stern’s show.

Jackie left the show in 2001 after fifteen-year run as head writer of the radio show, four television series, and three Pay-Per-Views.

He still works all around the country, performing his solo act of rapid-fire filthy jokes and the classic finale, “Stump The Joke Man,” is about to release a CD of his original music entitled “Happy Endings,” and is currently doing his own radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio 101, “Jackie’s Joke Hunt.

Jackie Martling’s videotaped interview on LVBST with Comedian Michele LaFong is posted on lasvegasbackstagetalk.com

More about Jackie Martling here–>

You can catch Jackie Martling headlining at MGM

Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, Wed – Sat, Nov. 14th – 17th 8:00pm

You can listen to a recording of our show below!

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John Pinette, Bill Medley-Las Vegas Backstage Talk w/Comedian Michele Lafong

Nov.8, 2012  6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & The Web

Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)

John Pinette returns on “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong, and updates us on the latest drama in his life.  He also speaks of his dealings with Frank Sinatra, and other celebrities that he has had the pleasure of knowing, including Joan Rivers.

Pinette, a former American Comedy Awards Stand-up Comedian of the Year, received his big break in 1991 when he was asked to tour with the legendary Frank Sinatra. Since then, Pinette has starred as Edna Turnblad in the hit Broadway musical “Hairspray,” opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in the movie “Duets,” alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Junior,” and with John Travolta in “The Punisher.”

On the small screen, Pinette has guest-starred on numerous television shows, including “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose,” “ALF,” “Seinfeld” and “Vinnie & Bobby.”

In January 2007, his Comedy Central stand-up special and DVD, “I’m Starvin,” was released as a follow-up to his successful CD, “Show Me The Buffet.” His most recent one-hour Comedy Central special, “John Pinette: Still Hungry,” premiered in July 2011 and is available on DVD.

More about John Pinette here–>

You can catch John Pinette at The Orleans
Orleans Showroom, Fri – Sat, Nov. 9th & 10th – 8:00pm

Reservations

Singer / Songwriter – Bill Medley

Bill Medley speaks to LaFong on LVBST Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong about the details of his long, blessed career as both a solo artist, and his early success as being half of The Righteous Brothers.

Medley is a seminal figure in the history of American music. He is perhaps best known as half of the unmistakable duo, The Righteous Brothers. Their raw emotional rhythm and blues sound essentially created the genre “blue-eyed soul.” In the mid-1960s, the Righteous Brothers became a fixture on Top Forty radio with hits like “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin,” “Just Once in My Life,” “Unchained Melody,” and “(You’re My) Soul and Inspiration,” creating an ultra- dramatic take on Sixties pop romance.

As Medley segues into a new portion of his career, he’s also performed duets publicly on occasion with his daughter, McKenna, who has her own show in Las Vegas. But he has no plans to find another permanent singing partner. Instead, Medley expects to strike out one more time on his own, with the stage serving as a safety net from which he’s still able to make a connection-with the fans who continue to adore both The Righteous Brothers and Medley’s powerful bass, but also with his own passion for music. Not that his rare gift makes him any different from the people who inhabit the audience. “My friends that I see on a daily basis are guys I went to junior high and high school with,” he notes. “It just has kept me very, very sane. So when I go out on stage to perform, I really feel like I’m one of those fans. I understand how they feel.”

More about Tony Bill Medley here–>

You can catch Bill Medley with McKenna Medley headlining at South Point.
The Showroom at South Point, Fri. – Sun., Nov. 9th – 11th – 7:30pm

Reservations

You can listen to a recording of our show below!

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