When you talk about the formation of Las Vegas entertainment, there are a few people who come to mind: Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Elvis Presley and, of course, Mr. Entertainment himself, Wayne Newton.
Virginia-born Newton had a musical bent from the very start, learning multiple instruments when he was just a youngster. In 1958, when he was just a teenager, he and his older brother started playing Vegas, and that opened up a world of opportunity, from appearances on The Jackie Gleason Show to his deal with Capitol Records, which resulted in his signature 1963 song, “Danke Schoen.” That was far from all of his hits through the years: “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast,” “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” and “I’ll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time” were favorites through the years.
Newton has had numerous residencies at several Las Vegas resorts throughout the years, from the Flamingo to the Stardust and the Las Vegas Hilton. In the process, he’s logged more than 30,000 shows on the Las Vegas Strip and thrilled millions of fans. With his latest show at Caesars Palace, Up Close and Personal, Newton has taken his relationship with fans to another level, giving them a glimpse of his Las Vegas career through a Q&A, stories and song. Las Vegas institutions don’t come larger than life than Wayne Newton.
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