Las Vegas Weekly

November 19, 2009 · 8:49 AM

Photo Gallery: Oprah’s karaoke king celebrates Sushi Samba anniversary

By Robin Leach

The first anniversary of Sushi Samba in the Palazzo.

Photo: Hew Burney/HewBurney.com

It was a colorful evening of samba dancers and sake ladies for the first anniversary celebrations of Sushi Samba in the Palazzo last night. The festivities, which included Zowie Bowie’s Chris Phillips, coincided with Sushi Samba’s 10th anniversary of its East Coast restaurants and the launch of the new weekly Saki-oake nights.

Oprah Winfrey’s $250,000 karaoke winner, the 6-foot-5, 350-pound Abraham McDonald, was the first opening guest. He told me that when he entered a karaoke contest in Southern California, it was solely in hopes of winning the $500 prize to get his car out of the repair shop.

“I didn't even know it was part of Oprah’s contest, but I did win and got my car back!” Abraham told me. “Then Oprah’s people called, and I was in the finals at her TV show in Chicago. Gladys Knight from Las Vegas was the judge who said I should be the winner. I got the check. I was on top of the world. My life had changed overnight. I was on Good Morning America. Now I’m here in Las Vegas, and next up I start recording with famous producer L.A. Reid for my CD debut!”

Our contributing photographer Hew Burney was there to capture all the action as Sushi Samba owner Matt Johnson led us in the traditional smashing of the wooden sake barrel, with some of the group wearing the official sake masters jacket.

From Holly Madison’s first uncorking of Beaujolais Nouveau to my smashing of sake, it was quite a day for celebrating the beverage part of our business!

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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