Las Vegas Backstage Talk

Bob Anderson, Bobby Slayton

Jan. 8 & 10, 2015 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & Web

Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)

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Singing impressionist Bob Anderson guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.

A Legend is Brought to Life as “FRANK – The Man. The Music.” Debuts at The Palazzo® Las Vegas

Starring Bob Anderson and featuring a 32-piece orchestra under the musical direction of Vincent Falcone, the show celebrates Frank Sinatra’s timeless sound, beginning Jan. 24. “FRANK – The Man. The Music.” performs Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Fridays at 9 p.m. at The Palazzo Theatre starting Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. Tickets are now on sale. For up-to-date schedule information, including dark dates, or to purchase tickets, visit any Box Office at The Venetian or The Palazzo, go online at www.venetian.com/frank, or call (702) 414-9000.

Conceptualized and brought to life by an all-star creative team, “FRANK – The Man. The Music.” is produced by Hoboken Productions in association with Stephen Eich. Bob Anderson, a revered singing impressionist, is transformed into Sinatra with the help of Oscar®-nominated makeup artist Kazu Tsuji, who aged Brad Pitt in the movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”

A Las Vegas legend in his own right, Anderson moved to Las Vegas from Detroit at the age of 22 and got his start performing with Nancy Sinatra as a singer in her show at the Sahara Hotel and Casino. When Sinatra took him with her for a performance on the “The Merv Griffin Show,” Griffin discovered his ability to recreate the voices of others, a skill that made him a regular on nearly every talk and variety show in the country. Anderson went on to have his own showroom in Las Vegas for more than a decade and in 2002 was inducted into The Casino Legends Hall of Fame.

Bobby Slayton, “The Pitbull of Comedy”

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Comedian Bobby Slayton, “The Pitbull of Comedy,” returns to Vegas on Jan. 30 & 31 at The South Point Showroom with Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, and John Melendez, “Stuttering John.”
Audiences around the country may recognize Bobby from his many scene stealing roles in movies such as “Get Shorty”, “Ed Wood”, “Wayne’s World 2”, “Bandits”, and “Dreamgirls.” He’s appeared on dozens of television programs including “The Tonight Show”, “Home Improvement”, and his own Comedy Specials on both Showtime and HBO. He was a series regular on the HBO series “Mind of the Married Man” and played Joey Bishop opposite Ray Liotta and Joe Mantegna in the critically acclaimed film, “The Rat Pack”.  Slayton’s distinct gravelly voice has often been heard on dozens of radio commercials and animated shows like “Dr. Katz” and “Family Guy”, and welcomed over the years on hundreds of syndicated and local radio shows with everyone from Howard Stern to Larry King.  The NY Daily News called Slayton “armed and dangerous” and the Las Vegas Review Journal pointed out that “Slayton’s refusal to compromise his art has always made him worth a special trip.”

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Sept. LV Backstage Talk column

By Michele LaFong

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Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong-

monthly syndicated column in Casino Player Magazine, and Gaming Today.

Coming off the heels of guesting on LVBST just two weeks earlier to discuss the exciting details of his new recording deal, Emmy Award winner Clint Holmes returned to LVBST to announce that Aug 1-3, would be his last weekend performing at his monthly resident weekend engagement at The Cabaret Room in The Smith Center before taking a hiatus in order to make time for his new gig… to star in GEORGIA ON MY MIND: Celebrating the Music of Ray Charles – at The Venetian Theatre this fall. Clint explained; “When the producer, Larry Rosen first asked me to do the show I said “you know…I don’t sound like Ray Charles, I don’t even sing like Ray Charles…Larry said “that’s not what we’re looking for. We want artists that do their interpretations of his songs. Co-Stars 10-time Grammy award-winning vocal group TAKE 6, six-time Grammy nominee and Downbeat Vocalist of the Year Nnenna Freelon, and Stella Gospel Award and Grammy award-winning saxophone star Kirk Whalum also do not sound like Ray Charles.” The show introduces the Las Vegas Mass Choir, under the direction of James R. Smith and Edie Aikels, and features the Las Vegas All-Star Big Band, under the direction of pianist and conductor, David Loeb. GEORGIA ON MY MIND, will be in the Venetian Theatre September 18 through October 29, 2014. Clint will return to The Smith Center in time to present his Christmas show.

Joy Behar may have retired as Co-Host from ABC’s The View…but that’s about all she’s retired from. In my latest interview with Joy she had this to say; “I lost about 18 pounds altogether after getting off The View…That show made me fat! Now that I’m off… it’s so much less stressful. It’s a whole new group over there. Let’s see how fat they all get!” That’s what I always loved about Joy…You never knew what was going to come out of her mouth next! “I’m doing more stand-up again, as well as working on a One Woman Show, which has more of a storyline than stand-up called “Me, My Mouth, and I.”  We’re currently looking for an Off-Broadway Theatre in New York.” When asked about other future goals in the works, she replied, “I’d be open to doing TV again…but it would have to be the right project.” Joy’s interview aired on August 14. A video clip of her and Colin Quinn on HLN, laughing about doing gigs for me back in the ‘80’s is posted on casinoplayer.com, gamingtoday.com, and is posted below.

Another popular, funny and exciting guest returning to LVBST is “the Voice of Boxing” himself, my next door neighbor and friend Al Bernstein. On Sept. 11, Al will be guesting in-studio giving us more backstage stories, celebrity updates and of course his take on the big upcoming Mayweather/Maidana fight at The MGM Grand that he is covering on Sept. 13 on Showtime.

Oscar, Grammy, and Golden Globe Winner Paul Williams returned on LVBST calling in from Dublin! Between being President of ASCAP, speaking to congress about songwriters getting paid in the digital age, and preparing for his new book release on Sept. 17th on Penguin called “Gratitude and Trust”, and winning another Grammy Award this year…we ran out of time before could hear the rest of what might be next for Paul Williams!

Rudy Ruettiger, whose life-story was the inspiration for the movie “Rudy,” one of the most inspiring movies of our time, guested in-studio together with his producer, Tony Sacca to promote the premiere of his new multi-media one-man show, “Rudy,” starring Rudy Ruettiger at the Troesh Studio Theater in The Smith Center Aug. 9. The show, like the movie is about his life story of how he accomplished his dream of going to Notre Dame and convinced Hollywood to make a movie of his life, which earned him an invitation to the White House. “After seeing Mike Tyson’s one-man show, I knew that I too could do this. The ultimate goal is Broadway.” Why Not?!
Here’s a treat: “End of Summer Bash,” a FREE concert featuring Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Brooklyn Bridge, The Rip Chords, 1910 Fruitgum Company on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 4pm at The Cannery.

Nevada’s 150th birthday is being planned for Monday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center. Proceeds will benefit The Smith Center’s education outreach programs. This variety show is a not-to-be missed event that will feature some of the best entertainers of the Las Vegas Strip as they come together for one night only to celebrate Nevada’s cultural heritage. Proceeds will benefit The Smith Center’s education outreach programs. Tickets are $25 to $100. Some of the names already scheduled to appear include: Bob Anderson, Susan Anton, Cirque du Soleil, Véronic DiCaire, Clint Holmes, Human Nature, Jersey Boys, Robin Leach, Jerry Lewis, Frankie Moreno, Penn& Teller and many more backed by The Lon Bronson All-Star Band and boosted by the Las Vegas Mass Choir.

The Best of Jethro Tull will be played by Legendary prog pioneer Ian Anderson at The Pearl inside The Palms Resort on Sept. 19. My two segment interview with Ian will air on Sept. 18.

Sept. headline entertainment really heats up in September as evidenced by the length and quality of the names in “My Picks” this month. LVBST should have great choices for interviews!

My Picks: Rock of The 80’s-The Romantics, The Smithereens, Marshall Crenshaw, Tommy Tutone, Eastside Cannery, Sept. 5,
Jerry Seinfeld, Caesars Palace, Sept. 5 & 6, Jim Breuer, South Point, Sept. 5 & 6,Kevin Hart & Friends Comedy All-Stars, The Cosmopolitan, Sept. 5, Susie Essman, The Venetian, Sept. 5 & 6, Deana Carter, Sunset Station, Sept. 6, Neil Sedaka, The Orleans, Sept. 6 & 7, Gabriel Iglesias, The Mirage, Sept. 12-14, Arturo Sandaval, The Smith Center, Sept. 13, Deana Martin, South Point, Sept. 13 & 14, Marc Anthony, Planet Hollywood, Sept. 13, The Guess Who, Eastside Cannery, Aug. 16, Diana Ross, Caesars Palace, Sept. 19, Ray Romano, The Mirage, Sept. 19 & 20, REO Speedwagon, The Orleans, Sept. 19 & 20, Tony Orlando, South Point, Sept. 19-21, Tesla Eastside Cannery, Sept. 20, Joan Osborne, M Resort, Sept. 20, Rod Stewart, Caesars Palace, Sept. 19- Oct. 5,
Gordon Lightfoot, The Smith Center, Sept. 24, Bill Cosby, Treasure Island, Sept. 26, Daniel Tosh, The Mirage, Sept. 26 & 27,
Katy Perry, MGM Grand, Sept. 26, Paula Poundstone, The Orleans, Sept. 26 & 27, Ralphie May, South Point, Sept. 26-28, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Palms, Sept. 27, Jerry Lewis, Smith Center, Sept. 30, Lorde, Hard Rock, Sept. 30.

KC & The Sunshine Band, Bob Anderson-LVBST

Sept. 12, 2013- 6-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & The Web

Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)

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KC guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong on 1230AM in LV and The Web.
KC & The Sunshine Band are still as widely popular today as they were when they first danced into the music scene over 35 years ago.  Harry Wayne Casey – KC for short –developed a unique fusion of R&B and funk, with a hint of a Latin percussion groove, giving us an impressive string of hits like GET DOWN TONIGHT, THAT’S THE WAY (I LIKE IT) and SHAKE YOUR BOOTY.    With sales of over 100 million records, nine Grammy nominations, three Grammy Awards and an American Music Award, KC and The Sunshine Band was one of the most progressive bands of the 70’s and is credited with changing the sound of modern

pop music!  With hits like I’M YOUR BOOGIE MAN, SHAKE YOUR BOOTY and KEEP IT COMIN’ LOVE, BOOGIE SHOES,

and their string of hit singles which was included on the SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER soundtrack, PLEASE DON’T GO, and YES, I’M READY.  KC won a songwriting Grammy in 1976 for best R&B song for WHERE IS THE LOVE.
K.C & The Sunshine Band is appearing at The “M” H&C on Sat. Sept. 14
Singing Impressionist Bob Anderson
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Singing Impressionist Bob Anderson guests on LVBST with Comedian Michele LaFong live in-studio.

Anderson became a well-known entertainer all over the world, with more than 100 national and international talks show appearances, network variety shows, and major telethons. Today Anderson still nails the voices of the great singers of our time, but along wit Anderson became a well-known entertainer all over the world, with more than 100 national and international talks show appearances, network variety shows, and major telethons. Today Anderson still nails the voices of the great singers of our time, but along with his conductor, Vince Falcone, they present the “Voice of Bob Anderson in Concert.”

Bob is thought of as  a “Native Las Vegan,” after more than 22 years of appearing on the Las Vegas Strip, including ten years at the Top of the Dunes. His love of Las Vegas, and for the dinner clubs that once were the staple of Las Vegas, has brought him right back to those very roots.  Anderson will be appearing for a special engagement at the all new Italian American Club, 2333 E. Sahara, Saturday night, Sept 14 at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Show tickets only are $25. For ticket or dinner reservations call 702-457-866. For more about Bob Anderson: www.bobanderson.com

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