Wayne Newton
At several times close to joining George Hamilton in the select group of persons more famous for their celebrity status than for any active artistic creation, Wayne Newton recorded for the 1960s album market and scored several hits during that time, but has become most renowned for his connections to Las Vegas, where he commanded up to $1 million per month at his peak and invested heavily into the city's real estate. Born in 1942 in Roanoke, Virginia, Newton began singing professionally at the age of six, and formed a rockabilly duo with his brother Jerry after the family moved to Phoenix in the mid-'50s. The pair was featured on a local TV show while still in their pre-teens, and moved to Las Vegas in the early '60s for a five-year engagement (recording as well, for both Capitol and George Records). By 1963, Jerry had dropped out of the act, and Wayne returned to Capitol to begin recording as a solo act, under the tutelage of Bobby Darin. Newton's first three singles charted well, led by 1963's Top 20 hit "Danke Schoen" (a staple of Newton's act for the rest of his life), but the rest of the '60s saw only one upper-reaches chart entry, "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" (the corresponding album was his only Top 20 entry).
2 comments:
Thanks Ozzieguy for Wayne Newton. I was fortunate enough to see him many years ago in Las Vesgas. He was a fantastic entertainer and put on a great show. I can see why he is referred to as Mr. Las Vegas.
I had always wanted to see him, however it never happened and I too reckon he is a great entertainer. I have seen him on TV.
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