Las Vegas Backstage Talk

Tony Orlando, Anthony Cools

March 30, 2017

Audio posted below except on Internet Explorer

Tony Orlando & Michele LaFong backstage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony Orlando, and Hypnotist Anthony Cools guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

Tony is appearing at The South Point Showroom March 31-April 2 at 7:30pm

Tony Orlando brings to the stage a warmth and exhilarating energy that electrifies an audience. From million selling records (five number one hits), a popular television variety series, movies and Broadway (Barnum and Smokey Joe’s Café), Tony Orlando has conquered every facet of show business.

Through no plans of his own, Tony was coaxed into putting his voice on a demo record for a song titled “Candida” for his friends Hank Medress and Dave Appell at Bell Records. The record was released under the name of the record promotion director’s daughter, Dawn.

“I think it is really the rule of show business that every big break you get you back into it without knowing it at the time. A few weeks after recording ‘Candida’ I had forgotten all about it. And then Hank Medress calls me and says, ‘Hey man, we’ve got a hit!’ The crazy thing was the song kept climbing the charts till it hit number one,” says Orlando.

Hoping lightning would strike again, Medress had Orlando recorded “Knock Three Times.” The song not only became number one, it was the tip song of 1971 selling over six million copies worldwide. The immense popularity of the song is still evident today. Tony’s recording of the song was featured in the hit movie Now and Then.

Realizing it was probably safe to give up his successful career at CBS Records, Tony decided to jump full force into what was already a meteoric rise to the top. Along with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, Tony Orlando and Dawn became an international sensation.

Amazingly enough, Tony hadn’t even begun to scratch the surface of his stardom. In 1973 he recorded “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Ole Oak Tree.” The song was number one for the year, became Orlando’s theme song and grew into an American anthem of hope and homecoming, reunion and renewal.

More about Tony Orlando here–>

Reservations

Hypnotist – Anthony Cools

World-famous hypnotist Anthony Cools performs at Paris Las Vegas, using his skills for decidedly evil purposes, tapping into the carnal desires and subconscious naughtiness of his audience, shearing off all inhibitions.

Not only is Cools the only hypnotist playing in a casino on the Las Vegas Strip, his show is the longest-running hypnotist show in Las Vegas history, and the longest-running show at Paris Las Vegas.

Signature stunts in his hilarious and interactive 90-minute show include handshakes that induce vocal, sexual responses, as well as several other tricks so shocking, we can’t even print them.

More about Anthony Cools here–>

You can catch Anthony Cools headlines at Paris Las Vegas.
Anthony Cools Showroom, Nightly 9:00pm, Dark Mon & Wed

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Neil Giraldo, Gallagher

Audio of show posted below!

March 23, 2017

R E O Benatar McCain 109Neil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Singer/Songwriter Neil Giraldo guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.  Neil Giraldo and Pat Benatar have been an unstoppable team for more than thirty years.  Neil has written, produced, arranged, and recorded over 100 songs that went multi-platinum. They will be playing their hits including Hit me with your Best Shot, We Live for Love, and Grammy Winning Love is a Battlefield.They are appearing at The Palms on March 24.For more information about Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo:  benatargiraldo.com

 

Comedian Gallagher

Gallagher & LaFong in the GreenroomGallagher! 021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comedian Gallagher guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

For more information on Gallagher:gallaghersmash.com

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Neil Sedaka Gloria Loring

March 16, 2017

Audio of interviews are posted below

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Legendary singer, performer, producer and songwriter Neil Sedaka, and Days of our Lives’ soap star, Singer/Songwriter, Keynote Speaker author Gloria Loring guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote his upcoming shows at The Orleans Showroom on March 17 & 18.

Sedaka is recognized as one of rock and pop music’s legendary pioneers, with songs that continue to stand the test of time. Starting in high school, Sedaka formed a vocal group, The Tokens, which recorded two hit singles. Later Sedaka was introduced to Howard Greenfield and together they began a successful songwriting partnership in the late 1950s, selling more than 25 million records during their 30-year collaboration.

In 1958, at the age of 18, Sedaka was catapulted into stardom after Connie Francis performed his song, “Stupid Cupid.” Francis then sang the theme song Sedaka and Greenfield had written for the 1960 MGM spring break movie classic, “Where The Boys Are,” which would end up becoming her biggest hit. Sedaka parlayed these hits into a contract with RCA as a writer and performer, and began recording his own material.

Sedaka’s chart-toppers included “The Diary,” “Oh, Carol,” “Stairway to Heaven,” “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do.” In addition, Sedaka continued writing for other performers, including Tom Jones’ album “Puppet Man,” The Fifth Dimension’s album “Workin’ on a Groovy Thing” and The Monkees’ album “When Love Comes Knocking at Your Door.”

Sedaka has been recognized for his musical contributions by numerous prestigious organizations including receiving recognition by the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame, a street named after him in his hometown of Brooklyn and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2013, Sedaka released “The Real Neil,” which includes new material, along with a few classics. A documentary entitled “Neil Sedaka: King of Song,” which tells the story of Sedaka’s life and career, made its world premiere on BBCFour in 2014.

Gloria Loring

Gloria Loring picGloria Loring book

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Days of our Lives’ soap star, Singer/Songwriter, Keynote Speaker author Gloria Loring guests on LVBST with Comedian Michele LaFong.  In April, Gloria will be in Las Vegas filming Robin Jay’s movie The Secrets of the Keys, starring Gloria Loring, Brian Tracy, John Assaraf, Rev. Michael B. Beckwith, Dannion Brinkley, don Miguel Ruiz. The original film was The Keeper of the Keys.Our listeners can view the original film for free this month only!  Www.TheKeyMovies.com/freeview

Gloria Loring is a singer, songwriter, actress, author and keynote speaker; the recording artist of the #1 hit song Friends and Lovers; co-composer of television theme songs Diff’rent Strokes and Facts Of Life; an audience favorite as “Liz Chandler” on Days Of Our Lives; has sung on the Emmy Awards, the American Music Awards, the Golden Globes, and is one of the few artists to sing two nominated songs on the Academy Awards. Recently she has also become famous as the mother of singing sensation Robin Thicke.

Gloria is the author of six books benefiting people with diabetes and writes a monthly column for Soap Opera Digest. Her newest book, Coincidence is God’s Way of Remaining Anonymous, details a series of extraordinary coincidences that transformed her life and offers prescriptive insight into how each of us can use coincidence for our own good and the good of those we love.

Gloria is a certified yoga instructor and an articulate champion of bio-medical research. After her son Brennan was diagnosed with diabetes at age four, she created and self-published two volumes of the Days Of Our Lives Celebrity Cookbook that raised more than $1 million for diabetes research.

She has shared the stage with Bill Cobsy, Bob Hope, Billy Crystal, the Pointer Sisters and Tony Bennett. She has hosted events for His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Siddha Yoga, Michael Beckwith’s Agape International Spiritual Center, and appeared with esteemed spiritual teachers Dannion Brinkley, Dr. David Hawkins, Mary Manin Morrissey and Eric Pearl.

Gloria is listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who of American Women. She has been honored the Woman of Achievement Award from the Miss America Organization, an honor she shares with past recipients Barbara Bush, Roslyn Carter, and Hillary Clinton.

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Bill Engvall, Kenny Wayne Shepherd

March 9, 2017

Audio of interviews are posted below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comedian Bill Engvall, and Award-winning blues musician Kenny Wayne Shepherd guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

Bill Engvall is appearing at Treasure Island on March 10.

In a backstage videotaped interview, Bill reflects on his some-what competitive spirit on keeping up with Jeff Foxworthy’s exploding career, and how it affected his ability to enjoy himself for the first two years of The Blue Collar Comedy Tour.

You know Bill from his TBS sitcom “The Bill Engvall Show”, as host of “Country Fried Home Videos”, and one of the four on the original Blue Collar Comedy Tour along with Jeff Foxworthy, Ron White, and Larry the Cable Guy.

Bill Engvall is featured in Michele LaFong’s monthly syndicated column  “Las Vegas Backstage Talk” in Gaming Today, and in Casino Player Magazine.

For more about Bill Engvall, click here–

 

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

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Award-winning blues musician, and protege of Stevie Ray Vaughn,  Kenny Wayne Shepherd guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.  They will bring their chart-topping hits to The Orleans Showroom March 10 & 11 at 8pm.

Bandleader Kenny Wayne Shepherd began his career at a young age, sharing the stage with New Orleans legend Bryan Lee at 13 years old. Shepherd has since been listed among the top blues guitarists of all time by Guitar World magazine, along with legends B.B. King and Eric Clapton.

The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band debuted in 1995 with “Ledbetter Heights” and the album quickly rose to the top of the Billboard blues chart. The band followed up with “Trouble Is…”, which also reached the top of the blues charts and featured “Blue on Black,” a single that spent 17 consecutive weeks at #1 on the rock charts.

In total, the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band has released eight albums, including the 2014 release “Goin’ Home,” which was just nominated for “Blues Rock Album of the Year” for this year’s Blues Music Awards.

During his career, Shepherd has received five Grammy nominations, two Billboard Music Awards, a pair of Orville H. Gibson awards, the Blues Foundation’s Keeping The Blues Alive award and two Blues Music awards. He’s had released six #1 blues albums and a string of #1 mainstream rock singles. His acclaimed CD/documentary project “10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads” was the top-selling blues album of 2007.

Completing The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band are: Noah Hunt, lead vocals; Chris Layton, drums; Tony Franklin, bass guitar; and Riley Osbourn, B-3 and keyboards.

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Bill Maher, Jarrett & Raja, Tommy Savitt

March 2, 2017

Audio of interviews are posted below

bill and me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comedian Bill Maher, Vegas Magic Duo Jarrett & Raja, and Tommy Savitt, the comedian behind “Tommy Lama”, guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

Bill has set the boundaries of political humor on what is just about allowed on American television, yet still manages to push the envelope on a frequent basis. His combination of unflinching honesty and blunt observations have earned him a staggering 23 Emmy nominations, a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, and he will be showing off his stuff as he hits the Terry Fator Theatre in Las Vegas , NV , March 10 & 11.

Particularly known for his hugely critical views on religion, Maher’s humor squares to the left of center, and has more often than not set his cross-hairs on the right-wing political movement (particularly the Tea Party), and shows a vociferous support for universal health care, same-sex marriage and environmentalism. However, since the events of 9/11, he has supported racial profiling at transport hubs, and is a supporter of gun rights.

As well as his long-running television panel show Real Time With Bill Maher, he is still a keen participant on the political comedy circuit, often performing over 60 dates per year.

Vegas Magic Duo Jarrett & Raja

ONE NIGHT EPIC LOGO UPDATED

 

Vegas Magic Duo Jarrett & Raja guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong, to promote the opening of their new show “One Epic Night” at The Plaza, for a limited run through January.

Jarrett & Raja, known as The Magic and Piano Guys, are set to open their show “One EPIC
Night” at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas at the end of August, 2016. Featuring 3 singers from the NBC hit
show “The Voice”, “American Idol”, and an all-star band, the guys are truly bringing magic with music in this
dynamic and very exciting show.
This ground-breaking duo just appeared on ABC’s hit TV show “Shark Tank” where they performed and stood
before Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, and Robert Herjavec. Jarrett & Raja were
one of only 140 entrepreneurs selected from over 43,000 applicants to the ABC show, produced by Mark Burnett
Productions.
The charismatic magic duo has also been seen on NBC’s #1 hit show, “America’s Got Talent” as semi-finalists
and were Howie Mandel’s favorite Wild Card pick (season 7) where they produced a full orchestra on stage. They
also appeared in SyFy’s “Wizard Wars” with Penn & Teller (2014), BBC’s “The Slammer” (2013), and are
currently on their 3rd season of The CW’s “Masters of Illusion” hosted by Dean Cain (2014 – 2016).
The two talents came together in an impromptu performance at The Friar’s Club in NYC. They first performed as
a cabaret act in Greenwich Village, Lincoln Center, and at Hollywood’s prestigious Magic Castle. After moving to
Las Vegas, they immediately landed a residency at The Regent Hotel in Summerlin. They could also be seen in
the popular “Golden Rainbow” shows in Las Vegas.

For more info go to www.patreon.com/jarrettandraja

Comedian Tommy Savitt as Tommy Lama

tommy lama

Self-proclaimed Brooklyn Life Coach Stand-Up Comedian Tommy Lama, brings his unmatched and unorthodox wisdom to the Laugh Factory where he delivers this original comedy act to his “disciples” five nights a week. It is a parody of the motivational and spiritual speakers seeking to give his audience a backwards education in enlightenment. Equipped with a number of instruments, tarot cards, and his own custom-made underwear for protection when not in his presence, Tommy Lama’s new spiritually healing hilarity shows at The Dragon Room, inside the Stratosphere.  (Dark Wednesdays & Thursdays)

Tommy Savitt, the comedian behind the Tommy Lama, is a multi-award winning comedian with 15 years of performing experience. Originally a lawyer, Tommy Savitt gave up his career in Real Estate Law to pursue stand-up comedy and acting in productions of Shakespeare in New York City. He has performed on the radio for the Bob & Tom Show as well as Blue Collar Radio. He has also been around the world performing for troops. Tommy Savitt’s alter-ego, The Tommy Lama, has proven a huge hit.

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