The "New Years Eve with Dick Clark at the Flamingo" was such a success that he immediately started making plans to produce my own show in Las Vegas.
I opened at the Thunderbird on September 18, 1975 to the
most exciting crowds of my short career. During my first week there Dick Clark was
bringing celebrities back stage every night, Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, Paul Anka.
(I was surpised at how tall Jerry Lewis was and how short Paul Anka was).
This pic was taken backstage on opening night at the TBird.
I was more prowd that my Mom and little sister got to share in my success than meeting all the celebrities in the world. I was Tena's hero long before I had made any success and now she could be a part of it all. She traveled with me and gave my directions to the sound and light crew.
I opened at the Thunderbird on September 18, 1975 to the most exciting crowds of my short career. During my first week there Dick Clark was bringing celebrities back stage every night, Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, Paul Anka. (I was surpised at how tall Jerry Lewis was and how short Paul Anka was).
This pic was taken backstage on opening night at the TBird.
I was more prowd that my Mom and little sister got to share in my success than meeting all the celebrities in the world. I was Tena's hero long before I had made any success and now she could be a part of it all. She traveled with me and gave my directions to the sound and light crew.
"I was sitting by the pool reading this article
and all I could think was, the guy said my show was
an "Impression of Elvis."
No body understood what bothered
me about that. Just the night before
I spent so much time explaining to the
writer the difference between an
impression and a Tribute.
Now everyone with
an impression calls it a Tribute."
Elvis of course! Well this night was real close. Col Tom Parker came in
and told me he was going to report back to Elvis
that I am honoring him like he's never been honored
before. That was cool!
Such a good article, but to me it was ruined because of the
Headline. I remember saying to Dick Clark "Are they
trying to ruin my career or what?
I can honestly tell you Dick was one of the few people that understood right off!
He started cursing and it made me happy again. "Look at the good picture
he said" and ...went and messed it up with a head-line like that.
What can I tell ya, Dick was cool.
This one came from Joe Delani Las Vegas' top reviewer. This guy usually reviews Wayne Newton and
Barbara Streisand so it was a compliment that he even showed up at my performance.
During the next year I traveled the world. First it was Sydney Austrialia then South Africa including Johanesburg,
capeTown and Durbin. From there I toured Isrial and France.
When I returned to the U.S. it was the main showroom at the Tropicana Hotel
"The Tropicana"
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