by Norm Johnson Send Me E-mail

It isn't often that this writer attends a birthday party, especially when the guy is older than me. But, then it's not everyday that a friend of some 30 plus years actually celebrates his birthday. Such was the case last Friday when the Bootlegger Bistro (you know the place owned by our Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt) assembled a bunch of Freddie Bell's old cronies and held a party.

I'm not going to tell you just how old Freddie is, but when he was born salt had just been discovered in India. How old is that? That's so old that Columbus was still trying to find the Americas. Enough of that. I could go on and on, but I'll quit while I'm ahead.

The Bootlegger is where Bell hangs his hat every Friday and Saturday night as he hosts the 10 p.m. till 2 a.m. gig, where entertainers from all over gather,( along with just plain old friends) and do a few minutes on the microphone. It's a great gig. The late Sonny King, who was a friend to all of us, originated the session about seven years ago (give or take a year or two). Freddie has been the perfect replacement.

Just being an emcee is not what the host does at the Bootlegger. No, gang, he entertains too. Bell, for those uninformed readers, has been working on the Las Vegas Strip for nearly 50 years. He worked all the big lounges from the Sahara to the Tropicana. One of his many claims to fame was and is that he recorded "Hound Dog" first and used it every night in his act at the Sands Hotel. A young singer used to drop in after his show at the Old Frontier and, one night asked Freddie if he could record it. Bell, of course, agreed and the rest is history. That recording became a huge hit for the man known as The King of Rock'n Roll, Elvis. Just a little trivia.

Anyhow, it was like old home week at the Bootlegger. Nancy and I were lucky to get a table, believe me. We were joined by show producer Marvin Lashever and his lady, Linda. The list of those who were in the audience or performed reads like a who's-who of Las Vegas: Producer Maynard Sloate, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt and husband Dennis Bono, attorney Mark Risman, Sahara Entertainment Director Ron Garrett, Kenny Kerr, Peter Anthony, Tony Sacca, Babe Pier, magician Jason Andrews, Linda November and Artie Schroeck, and last but not least attorney Angela Bell (Freddie's ex-wife) and her family. His good buddy, and one heck of a friend, Carme, was cruising the high seas, but sent a telegram congratulating Bell for making it to yet another birthday.

If you want to see some great entertainment, The Bootlegger has something going just about every night of the week. But, Friday and Saturday belongs to Bell and his friends. And, gang, that spells ENTERTAINMENT like it used to be in our little Village! Do yourself a favor (if you haven't already been there) and drive out on the old Las Vegas Blvd., to the Bootlegger and take in the Freddie Bell show at 10 p.m.

Then Monday night my Lady Fair and I traveled to the Suncoast to catch the final performance (this month) of the Las Vegas Tenors (I refer to them as the Four Tenors). As you already know, if you read this column very much, I think they are the most talented singers in Las Vegas - bar none! What they do on that stage is entertain you in every mode of song there is: classical, opera, pop, jazz, country and Broadway. They are truly tenors, but each has his own style and range. Bobby Black (he's the big guy of the group) blows you away with his rendition of Etta James' hit "At Last" in an almost soprano like voice. Little Teddy Davey does a fabulous "New York State of Mind" and what can one say about Mark Giovi when he gets down and dirty with a famous "Blues" song. And then there's Bill Fayne, who has been conductor, music arranger and writer with Clint Holmes for more than 25 years, who founded the group by accident at the Bootlegger about a year ago. That's another story for another time.

Of course Holmes and his lady, entertainer Kelly Clinton, were there to celebrate the evening. Linda and Artie (previously mentioned above) were in the audience, as was Cook E. Jarr, Mac King and impressionist Fred Travalena.

We sat in our booth, along with Selma and Vic (from the Del Webb Summerlin area) and enjoyed over 90 minutes of beautiful music, especially with a live five piece band. The harmony these four guys put out is magnificent and just awe-inspiring. I've never been a big fan of classical or operatic music, but they have changed my mind to where I look forward to hearing them.

The guys have signed a contract to appear at the Suncoast for four Mondays beginning November 6th. Incidentally, the room was SRO, so I would suggest you make reservations now for any Monday night in November.

Then it was off to I-95 for the trip across town to the Casa Di Amore Restaurant on Tropicana for a party in honor of Clint Holmes, hosted by Jaki Baskow and her talent agency. The party started at 9 p.m. and was still going strong when we left at 12:30 a.m. We sat with Jackie Brett and Mel Carter who walked over from their home. Those in attendance included the Bobby Morris Jazz Band, Frankie Randall, Cook E. Jarr, Freddie Bell and Angela, Mac King, Lance Burton, Gordie Brown, Frankie and Chrissi Scinta, Ms. Clinton, The Las Vegas Tenors, Michaelina Bellamy and Mary Wilson. I understand the last three to leave were Clint, Kelly and Ms. Wilson. It was a grand party and the food was out of sight. Congrats once again to the Hostess with the Mostest, Jaki Baskow

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY: By the way, want to let you know that Kelly Clinton is performing in the Casbar Lounge at the Sahara Hotel with showtimes 8 and 9:30 p.m. through this Sunday. This is a gal who has it all: beauty, a fabulous personality and a voice you really want to listen to. The evening we were there Clint Holmes and Frankie Scinta joined Kelly on stage. This is like those good old days I often talk about, when main room stars would visit various lounges in town and join a performer on stage. One of the best, at doing that, was Frank Sinatra and his buddies. When theRat Pack were performing at the Sands Hotel, they would go over to the old Silver Slipper after their show and join Hank Henry in the lounge, entertaining until the wee hours of the morning. Those were some of the good old days!

Another favorite singer of mine is Genevieve, who'll be downtown at Jazz at The Church (231 S. 3rd Street at Bridger) this Friday along with the Bobby Morris Jazz Band from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday she'll be back at Josette's Bistro on W. Flamingo from Noon to 3 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 13th it will be Concerts on the Lake at Montelago Village Resort from 7 to 10 pm..

Well, gang, that's about it for another week.

I'm outa here!

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