by Norm Johnson Send Me E-mail

Every time I go to Harrah's on the Strip to see one of my favorite entertainers, he literally blows me away. Yep, without question Clint Holmes gets better and better with age. Like a fine wine, a perfect cigar or a perfectly aged steak you just know it can't get any better, but it does.

I was accompanied this particular evening by a good friend and her parents Rich and Earlene Hamel of Chicago, who agreed with my observation that they couldn't have seen a better show.

But first, prior to entering the showroom at Harrah's we had dinner in the fabulous Range Steakhouse. The last time I personally visited The Range was at a private party honoring Clint Holme's third anniversary. Well, let me tell you there is a big difference. The food then was very good, but this time in we had a window table looking out over the Strip that was out-of-sight. The service, without question, is superb and the food? Well, all I can attest to is that the salmon was perfect, and my friends reported the same with their selections. Kurt Yedla, a native of Chicago incidentally, is manager of the room. I noticed he made it a point to personally visit each table inquiring as to how they are enjoying the dinner. When he discovered that Rich, Earlene and their daughter Sheri were from the Windy City he stayed at our table a little longer. Then to our surprise he gifted us with an unbelievable desert called "Mt. Funch & Crunch," comprised of a mountain of ice cream, chocolate syrup, nuts and coated with special liquor that is flaming as it pours down over the mountain. It's a wonderful place to have a relaxing dinner gang. Got to be honest with you, this is no low budget dinning room. But it is worth the trip up the elevator!

And why not? He surrounds himself with some of the best musicians in the world including the man many consider, and I agree, the Grand Master of the B-3 organ, Ronnie Foster. There are few B-3's left in the world today and even fewer players. And now for a little test. Do you wonderful readers know who was considered a masterful B-3 player and was considered the "Fifth Beatle?" The answer will appear at the end of the column. Anyhow, Foster opens the show with a fantastic solo on the organ, and then Clint makes his appearance singing his own song, "In This Moment." The nine members of the band plus Bill Fayne (who has been with Clint for over 25 years as his conductor) begin to form on stage and lend their voices to Clint's. It's a neat way to open a show I think.

Clint smoothly goes from one song to another with the ease of a man on a mission: which of course he is! His mission since he was a little boy was to entertain and towards that end he has certainly accomplished his desire. And the road has not always been easy either, believe me. He did his time struggling through the ups and downs of showbiz. Would you believe that in a career spanning over 30 some years the guy has had only one honest to gosh hit record: "Playground in My Mind."

This particular night his mentor and mother, a former English Opera star (as a young lady growing up in Great Britain) was in the audience. Following a melody of opera songs by Clint, Fayne and Janien Masse Valentine (lead vocalist and backup) Mom was introduced and sang a few powerful bars of an aria. Another "Special Moment in Time," which of course is the theme of his 2004 show.

He does so many neat things during the 90 plus minutes including my personal favorite: A tribute to the late, wonderful Sammy Davis, Jr. He sets the piece up great with a few trivia bits about Sammy, including the fact that he was the first entertainer to grace the stage of the Harrah's Showroom, now named the Clint Holmes Showroom. The first song is "What Kind Of Fool Am I," written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse with the closing song "Mr. Bojangles." That's all I needed to be satisfied for the rest of the evening. Another wonderful tribute sung by Clint, Bill and Janien is to Broadway with a fabulous "Westside Story" medley inside the medley.

I think you get the picture right? Go see it again if you've seen it before, because this is a show that gets you feeling good about life!

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: My good friend Marva Scott opened back in the "Legends in Concert" show at the Imperial Palace this week. She'll be performing, as only she can, doing her impression of the beautiful Donna Summer. Legends has been going super strong for over 20 some years now and there seems to be no stopping it. Thank God!... It's race time again for this old racer. Yep, me and my Camaro Z28, along with navigator Jeanine Hefflin head north to Ely, Nevada this weekend to compete in the annual Nevada Open Road Challenge promoted by Steve Waldman and the guys (and gals) from the Silver State Classic Challenge, Inc., We'll be running in the 135 mph class with a top allowable speed of 160 mph over the 90 mile course on highway 318. The race actually starts in Lund (about 30 miles from Ely, Nv.) and ends just outside Hiko. Should take us about 38 minutes to make the run. But those are adrenaline pushing minutes, believe me! More on this when we return... Ruth Gastineau, who has been with "Crazy Girls" at the Riviera for two years, will be appearing on "Blind Date" on Friday, May 21 as part of a fund raiser to help New Vista Community at Club Plush... Good friend Tony Sacca has assembled a slew of great entertainers to perform in his first annual "Las Vegas Sings For America" production to benefit "The Youth Foundation for the Performing Arts." The show will take place on June 6, at 2 pm., in the showroom at the Stratosphere. Donation tickets are $25.00 and you can reserve by calling (702) 889-3587. More on this as time nears... Jim Lauletta headlines this coming week in the Comedy Stop at the Tropicana, along with Kevin Downey, Jr., and Alan March... La Femme, the French cultural phenomenon that has been turning heads for three years at the MGM Grand will re-introduce the show with seven new members this month. I personally can't wait for the media night. That alone will get me to the finish line of the race this weekend quicker than anything. Hahahaha!

The answer to the question is Billy Preston, who recorded with the Beatles using his B-3 organ.

Well gang, I think that's about it for now, I'm outa here!

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