Freddy Fender will bring his Tex-Mex music to Don Laughlin's Riverside from May 3-8. Tickets are $25, call 702-298-2535 or 928-763-7070.

For over four decades, Fender has delighted fans with his diverse music since his first national hit "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" in 1960. Fender had a change of pace in the seventies and began focusing more on country music. "Before The Next Teardrop Falls" became a number one hit on both country and pop Billboard charts.

Tony Orlando will headline Harrah's Rio Vista Outdoor Amphitheater on Saturday, May 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20, $25 and $30, call 800-447-8700 or 702-298-8510.

Orlando has conquered every facet of show business and is best associated with the emotional 1973 mega-hit theme song, "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree." New York City born and raised, Orlando began hitting the national charts at the age 16 and was the first vocal artist to sign with Epic Records. He later routed his musical career to the non-performance side and became one of the youngest vice-presidents for CBS Records, heading their April-Blackwood music label.

Through no plans of his own, Orlando was coaxed into putting his voice on a demo record for a song titled "Candida" and it was released under the name of the record promotion director's daughter, Dawn.

Lightning struck again, when Orlando recorded "Knock Three Times." The song not only became number one, it was the top song of 1971, selling over six million copies worldwide. Orlando jumped full force into singing and along with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, Tony Orlando and Dawn became an international sensation and more hits continued.

Since 1993, Orlando has been a resident of Branson, Mo., where he has performed more than 2,000 shows. Orlando, 60, and his wife Francine, live in Branson with his son Jon, 34, and their daughter Jenny Rose, 13.

The Colorado Belle will host the Moon Shot Slot Tournament, June 26-28, and the top prize will be $15,000. A total of $63,900 in prize money (based on 150 entrants) will be paid to the 90th place. In addition, the tournament will feature a $4,000 Moon Walk Bonus event. To enter, call 877-480-2747 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The $450 entry fee will include a two-day tournament, three nights' accommodations, a welcome cocktail reception, $60 in Comp Dollars on your One Club Account, a commemorative gift, an awards banquet, and double points on play during the visit.

All tournament entrants are eligible for the $4,000 Moon Walk Bonus. Throughout the tournament, "mission crew members" are "grounded" in drawings until only 16 remain. At the awards dinner on June 28, one lone "astronaut" will receive $1,000. The other 15 "crew members" each take home $200.

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Comedian Paul Rodriguez will perform at the Flamingo Laughlin in the outdoor amphitheater on May 4, in a show co-presented by the Edgewater. Tickets are $15, $20 and $25 plus tax, call 800-435-8469.

Few comedians boast the solid fan base of Rodriguez. He has performed in front of over one million fans worldwide and has appeared in dozens of films and television shows. Combined with more than two decades of original comedy, Rodriguez has established himself as "The Original Latin King of Comedy."

Frederick Williams will be the featured Ramada Express speaker at the free American Veterans Program on Thursday, May 3 at 1 p.m. in the Pavilion Theater.

It was a case of "confusion of citizenship" for Williams when he tried to volunteer for military service near the end of World War II. He was born in Niagara Falls, N. Y. to English parents who had not become United States citizens. Thinking he was English, Williams volunteered in the English forces, but wasn't accepted, and was advised he had an American birth certificate.

After being sworn into the U.S. Army, Williams was sent to southern England for basic training. The war in Europe had already ended when he completed the training and the war in the Pacific ended while his company was in route to Manila, P.I.

Williams re-enlisted for three years, was promoted to buck-sergeant and was allowed to choose Europe as his tour of duty where he was assigned to D-troop, 16th Constabulary in Berlin. Williams who lives in Golden Valley, Ariz. will share his colorful stories of the time he spent in Germany.

The Edgewater will hold a Cinco de Mayo Festival from May 2-9, featuring a "Show 'n' Shine" car show on Saturday, mariachi bands and other entertainment. The free events will take place in the front parking lot, Kokopelli's Lounge and throughout the casino.

A "Laughlin Food Showcase" will be held at the Ramada Express on May 13. The free event will showcase vendors from the food and restaurant industry and the newest trends and products from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On May 7, the Spring Nationals Monster Trucks and Extreme Freestyle Motorsport Spectacular will be held at the Avi Event Arena and feature big name trucks, Extreme Freestyle Motorcycle daredevils, melt-downs, and quads. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 the day of the event, $12 for children between the ages of 4-12, and free for children under four. The first 500 kids will receive a free monster toy truck. For information, call 866-463-6284.

Last year in May, Harrah's Fresh Market Square Buffet re-opened after a $6 million renovation. The remodeled buffet features more than 162 entrées, 11 action stations, a chocolate fountain, a state-of-the-art sushi robot and expanded seating. The décor went from a farmer's market style to a sleek modern ambience.

The Edgewater last June created new conference and meeting space totaling 2,000 square feet in addition to newly added suite-type hotel rooms.

The Colorado Belle opened a fitness room and full-service spa and also, two swimming pools, a waterfall and a sandy beach area along the Colorado River. Over 1,173 rooms and suites and 25 of the "F Deck" standard rooms have been renovated.

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