Tony Bennett is booked back at Paris Las Vegas, May 23-26, for a special Memorial Day Weekend concert series. One of the most revered vocalists of our time, Bennett is one of the few artists to chart new albums in the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s.

After five decades in the business, Bennett continues to tour the country. With 10 Grammy Awards and two dozen Top 40 hits, he is best known for his signature tune, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."

Throughout his career, Bennett has continually attracted new and younger fans with his groundbreaking television specials like "MTV Unplugged" and "Live By Request." His most recent album, "Playin' With My Friends" includes duets with the likes of Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder.

Tickets are $85 and $95 with tax included, call 877-374-7469 or 702- 946-4567.

The Blues Brothers, starring Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi, will return to the Aladdin on May 24 to celebrate Memorial Day with a "Red, White and Blues Weekend" highlighting music, giveaways and food.

The Blues Brothers are back again after playing the 7,000-seat Aladdin Theatre in April and December of 2002. It was in November 1978 that Jake and Elwood Blues made their national television debut on "Saturday Night Live" with their break through, high-energy rendition of Sam and Dave's classic "Soul Man." Tickets to their Aladdin show are $40, $50 and $60, call 702-785-5000.

In addition to the Blues Brothers, three local bands will perform free shows in Sinbad's Lounge throughout the day from noon to 6 p.m. Beer will be $2 and hot dogs $1 in the lounge and also the Sports Book.

Other promotions include free Aladdin flag pins and Budweiser shades as giveaways. Special prize drawings will take place from noon to 6 p.m. during two live radio remotes. Prizes include a complete Blues Band starter kit with an organ, guitar and drum kit, Desert Passage gift certificates, limited edition Blues Bears from Build-A-Bear Workshop, Blues Brothers autographed memorabilia, and VIP seating for the big Saturday night show. Prizes also encourage fans to dress as their favorite blues character.

Celebrating 20 years in comedy, "Grace Under Fire" sitcom star Brett Butler will once again take over the Top Of The Riv Ballroom on May 23 and 24. Tickets are $29.50 plus tax and fee, call 702-794-9433.

From Montgomery, Alabama, the People's Choice award winner will remind fans of her abusive relationship, her battles with life's demons and the unpredictable tabloids. Her put-down remarks when she was a waitress amused a patron who owned a comedy club. With encouragement, she gave comedy a try and never looked back.

Butler is the author of "The New York Times" bestseller "Knee Deep In Paradise." She is currently developing a new series for ABC.

Contemporary instrumentalist and multi-platinum, double Grammy-nominated artist Yanni will headline the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 25, as part of his more than 50-city North American tour. Tickets are $65 and $100, call Ticketmaster at 702-474-4000.

Touring for the first time in five years and promoting his recently released 13th album, "Ethnicity," Yanni is promoting a multi-cultural society and spotlighting the talents of solo musicians along with his core band and symphony orchestra. The new album has a distinct multi-layered sound featuring Yanni's advanced state-of-the-art recording and engineering techniques. "Ethnicity" also stands out from his other albums because of the extensive use of human voices, a rare departure for the artist.

The Tropicana has extended the contract for T. Fox and the Fox City Show in the Tropics Lounge through Sept. 15. The talented one-man band has been entertaining guests at the Tropicana for nearly four years.

T. Fox is a singer / songwriter who has won critical acclaim for his six octave voice range and multi-talented instrument skills on piano, guitar, bass, Midi drums, vibes, flute, sax and harmonica. He sings a variety of song favorites from music styles including jazz, rhythm and blues, and funk.

T. Fox performs 40-minute sets at the top of every hour from 8 p.m. to midnight, Wednesday through Sunday. The show is FREE with a one drink minimum. For information, call 702-739-2222.

The search is on for the women, buccaneer beauties, who will change the face of Las Vegas' famous Treasure Island outdoor show. The new Battle of Buccaneer Bay that will debut on Oct. 26, will add sexy swashbucklers who will fight with a band of renegade male pirates.

Emmy-Award winning director and choreographer Kenny Ortega will create the new show and storyline. Treasure Island, which will be changing its name to TI as part of the resort's evolution and 10th anniversary, and Gregg Smith Casting are looking for The Sirens of TI. Women ages 21-28, physically fit and toned, with talent, charisma, personality and enthusiasm are being sought. Open casting calls are for dancers, trained in jazz or hip-hop, with gymnastic and aquatic abilities a plus for certain roles and for female singers who also dance.

The nationwide search began in Las Vegas this week and will continue in Los Angeles on May 13-14, San Diego on May 27-28, in Phoenix on June 3-4, in Miami on June 11-12, and in Orlando on June 18-19. Participants chosen at the open casting calls will attend final auditions at Treasure Island in July.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

The Fremont Street Experience will present the free Las Vegas Jazz Festival featuring eight bands performing on two stages from Thursday, May 29, through Saturday, May 31.

To kick off the event, the city of Las Vegas will host a free concert featuring The Brubeck Brothers Quarter at 7:30 p.m. in the all new City Park located at Fourth and Carson.

The entertainment lineup for Friday, May 30, includes the Big Band Trio & Jumpin' Jive Orchestra from 6-8 p.m., and Pete Escovedo and Greg Adams headlining from 9-11 p.m. On May 31, the lineup is the Big Band Trio & Jumpin' Jive Orchestra, and Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers throughout the afternoon with Chuck Mangione and Hiroshima performing at night from 9-11 p.m.

The newly expanded and remodeled Liberace Museum will celebrate the deceased entertainer's 84th birthday with a series of special events that include the 11th annual Liberace "Play-A-Like" piano competitions on Saturday, May 17, in the Grand Gallery.

There will be two competing groups, the Amateur / Nonprofessional division from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and the Advanced / Professional division, which will begin at 1:30 p.m. The pianist scoring the highest in each will receive a special crystal piano trophy. For information, call 702-798-5595, ext. 20 or email info@liberace.org.

What's in a name? A lot when it conjures up wonderful memories of the original House of Lords steakhouse that opened at the Sahara in the early 1960s and became "the place to be." The legendary hotel has changed the name of the Sahara Steakhouse back to the House of Lords with fine dining and an intimate elegant setting.

In order to kick off this dining rebirth, press and VIPs, many having a personal history with the resort, were invited for an evening of dining and recalling old times. Among the guests were Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes, Breck "Bottoms Up" Wall, singing impersonators Bill Acosta and Bob Anderson, singer Carme, lounge performer Freddie Bell, TV host Tony Sacca and the DeCastro Sisters. Steve Rossi, who was once half of the Allen and Rossi comedy team, actually performed at the Sahara in the 1950s with Mae West.

The Stratosphere is filling its Outdoor Events Center with a varied list of headliners. The lineup includes Hootie & The Blowfish on May 17, LeAnn Rimes on May 24, Paul Rodgers of Bad Company / Kansas / Blue Oyster Cult on May 31, world-class boxing on June 14 and The Beach Boys on June 20 and 21. For information, call 800-99-TOWER (998-6937) or 702-380-7777.

The Monte Carlo's headlining magician, Lance Burton is embarking on another first by hosting a special magic and comedy show featuring himself and other magicians including Johnny Thompson, Fielding West, Jeff McBride, Tyler Linkin and Dana Daniels.

"Lance Burton's Magic and Comedy All-Stars" family show will be held at 8 p.m., May 30-June 1. Tickets are $10 less than Burton's regular show price at $49.95 for lower level and $44.95 for the balcony including taxes, call 877-386-8224 or 702-730-7160.

Visual comedian and audience participation stunt-master, Russ Merlin, who performs nightly in "V-The Ultimate Variety Show" at The Venetian and "Showgirls of Magic" at the San Remo. reflects on what it was like to perform with the legendary Bob Hope, who will turn 100 on May 29.

In 1994, Merlin was invited to perform on the renowned 68,000-ton cruise liner QE2 for the 50th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. - It was a celebration that included the Queen of England, President Clinton, and several other heads of state.

Merlin, a comedy and magic performer, had performed on hundreds of cruises including the QE2. But this time, he had no idea who he would be performing alongside until he showed up for dress rehearsal and was told that the ship had scheduled a USO-type reunion show with Bob Hope and Merlin as the stars. "He was one of the nicest people I have ever worked with," says Merlin.

Due to other commitments, singer Tony Sacca closed his show in the Le Bistro Theatre at the Riviera and two other shows last month slipped into Tuesday through Sunday late night time slots.

"The Exotic Hypnotics" featuring Dick & Genie Sullo perform their $34.95 plus tax and fee show at 10 p.m. and they are followed by "Hail Hail Rock 'n' Roll" at 11:30 p.m. Kentucky Rain has been doing their rock show for over three years taking audiences on a trip through the music that has changed our world highlighting performers from Elvis to Stevie Nicks. Tickets are $19.95 plus tax and fee, call 702-794-9433.

Duchess, one of 10 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins at Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage, gave birth to a male calf at 10:09 p.m. Feb. 27. The calf weighs approximately 30 pounds and is about three feet long.

This is the fourth birth at The Mirage for Duchess, a Dolphin Habitat resident since it opened in October 1990. Her three other offspring - Squirt, Pablo and Huf N Puf - continue to make the Dolphin Habitat their home. Banjo, the calf's father, also is an original resident and now has five offspring that were born and still reside at The Mirage.

"This habitat has one of the most successful breeding programs of marine mammals in the world," Siegfried said.

The purpose and intent of The Mirage dolphin facility is to provide a healthy and nurturing environment for dolphins and to increase public awareness of the commitment to protect and conserve marine mammals and their environments. In addition, the Dolphin Habitat offers lectures, workshops and special events on-site.

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