Michael Grimm was made for Las Vegas. The soulful Southerner was a mainstay as a casino performer for more than a decade before he hit it big, winning the fifth season of popular talent competition show America’s Got Talent. It must be a heady trip for Grimm thinking back to his days playing his idols in the mainstay Strip show Legends In Concert. Now his name is up in lights with the musical icons he once impersonated.
The 40-year-old crooner has made Sin City his home, but no matter where he goes, his Mississippi roots shine through, from the way he strums his guitar to the twang in his voice. Look no further than the performance that put him over the top on AGT, his take on Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman,” to see how it all comes together.
The fedora-wearing singer has also reinterpreted more modern tunes to great acclaim. His bluesy interpretation of Alicia Keys’ hit “Fallin” is true to the spirit of the original while taking the song in a new direction.
Grimm’s mix of unique covers and original music make his shows exciting, as one never knows what comes next. He’s a perfect fit for Las Vegas.
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, 8 p.m. Feb. 5, starting at $30 plus tax and fee. 702.749.2000
