Las Vegas Weekly

August 20, 2010 · 4:27 PM

Strip Scribbles: Roger Williams plans marathon show for 86th birthday

By Robin Leach

Roger Williams.

Photo: Courtesy

Music legend Roger Williams is the prince of the piano, and even though he turns 86 on Oct. 1, he isn’t slowing down for a moment. The first pianist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Roger has amassed 21 gold and platinum albums, and having played for nine White House chief executives, he’s known as the Pianist to the Presidents.

This weekend for three nights, the pianist extraordinaire performs at South Point, and he’ll certainly play his classic “Autumn Leaves,” which he recorded in 1955. But it’s how he’ll celebrate his birthday that will really make news. Roger will play a 10-hour piano marathon at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Phoenix!

It will include his million-selling hits “Born Free,” “Impossible Dream,” “Laura’s Theme,” “Two Different Worlds” and “Somewhere in Time.” The marathon is to create awareness of Music in the Schools. He’s previously performed his annual marathon in such places as The Reagan Library, The Nixon Library and Steinway Hall, where he received the Steinway Lifetime Achievement Award.

*It’s a shortened Strip Scribbles column today because I’m off to the Del Mar Racetrack near La Jolla, Calif., with a host of Las Vegas horseracing fans for the first of my two annual treks to the track. Today is the $75,000 Sandy Blue Handicap stakes race, and I’ll have the privilege of presenting the winning jockey, trainer and owner with the prize.

I’d also like to take time now for a sincere thank you to all of you who follow me on Twitter, especially now since this morning, we crossed the 9,900 mark and are safely headed for a magical 10,000. You’ve made us the most read entertainment Twitter page in Las Vegas, and we’ll keep living up to our promise of bringing you the biggest, the best and the brightest first.

Photo: Ron Koch/Pure Management Group

Lead guitarist Josh Steely and frontman Chris Daughtry of Daughtry perform at Pure in Caesars Palace.

*The lineup of stars joining Carlos Santana for the unprecedented preview concert of his new album Guitar Heaven: The Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time at Vanity and The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel on Wednesday continues to grow. Record mogul Clive Davis and Carlos host a listening party at Vanity for the album first, and then comes the all-star show at The Joint. This morning, Carlos announced that he will be joined by Indie.Arie, Chris Daughtry and Gavin Rossdale. Indie.Arie joins Carlos on the album’s first single “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” Chris on “Photograph” and Gavin on “Bang a Gong.”

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Holly Madison at the Soles 4 Souls booth of the World Shoes & Accessories convention at the Sands Expo Center in The Venetian on Aug. 9, 2010.

*Peepshow and Holly’s World star Holly Madison appears in the September edition of our sister Vegas magazine, which features Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model Brooklyn Decker, aka Mrs. Andy Roddick, on the cover. It’s the final edition from beloved Editor Kate Bennett, who is moving to Washington, D.C., to helm Capitol magazine. Holly has truly become the ambassadress for all things Las Vegas, and the blonde bombshell has created for the issue a list of her favorite local spots that includes Frankie’s Tiki Room, Luv-It-Frozen Custard and Shark Pool at Golden Nugget.

*Las Vegas is one of three cities selected for the second annual Wilhelmina Hot Body Model Search open to health and fitness amateurs and professionals. The contest in partnership with Shape and Men’s Fitness ends Nov. 17 with 10 finalists battling it out next year. Two winners will be signed to five-year modeling contracts with the prestigious agency. The search is underway online, and the Las Vegas casting call is Sept. 25 at the Vitamin Shoppe exhibit at the Olympia Challenges.

Photo: Courtesy

James Preston of ABC's The Gates and friends on the set with Stratosphere's Bite.

STAR SURVEILLANCE

While dad is out on tour with Ozzfest, Jack Osbourne had dinner at Pink Taco in the Hard Rock Hotel with a group of heavily tattooed and pierced friend. … MMA fighter Clayton Guida dined with eight friends at N9NE Steakhouse in the Palms. UFC President Dana White dined with five friends and enjoyed Fiji Water. … Jackie Jackson and Australian racecar drivers Marcus Marshall and Will Davidson dined at Tao in The Venetian last night. … Very appropriate for werewolf actor James Preston of ABC’s The Gates and Lindsey Gayle Evans, Playboy’s upcoming Miss October, to join the cast of Bite at the Stratosphere for autographs and photos in a meet-and-greet after the show. Bite recently celebrated its sixth anniversary on The Strip.

*Now it’s time for us to take a bite out of all the hot-blooded action that’s set for The Strip this weekend in a tidy little red-wrapped package we refer to affectionately each week here as the ROYAL ROBIN RUNDOWN:

FRIDAY, AUG. 20

*Hang cool, Teddy Bear, as Meat Loaf, plus his daughter Pearl make a stop on their North American tour at The Joint.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

ZZ Top at the Hard Rock Hotel.

*ZZ Top has two nights of thrilling shows at the Hilton, and Weird “Al” Yankovic is at Henderson Pavilion.

*Australian rockers Wolfmother brings its psychedelic heavy metal to the Hard Rock Hotel pool with J. Roddy Walston and The Business.

*American treasure Roger Williams is still going strong at 85 and plays for three nights at South Point, while singer Engelbert Humperdinck is at The Orleans for three nights.

*Performing top hits from the 1980s and ’90s, The Spazmatics are at Crown Nightclub in The Rio. In between sets, the Ultimate Women’s Challenge holds ring girl auditions for a new reality TV series about MMA hosted by model Joanna Krupa.

*The Dan Band, who were featured in The Hangover, are at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay.

Photo: Scott Doctor

David Spade.

*David Spade returns to The Venetian Showroom with his dry wit and sardonic and sarcastic humor. … Standup comedian Doug Stanhope got his break in Las Vegas in 1990, and his 20 years on the road, plus appearances on Comedy Central and Howard Stern, stand him in good stead at Sunset Station.

*Crown Boxing’s Friday Night Fights debuts at The Orleans.

PARTY PATROL

Ray royal Rakim performs at Pure in Caesars Palace. … Jonathan Goldsmith, known as the Most Interesting Man in the World, hosts at Jet in The Mirage. … And Coolio takes his “Fantastic Voyage” to Revolution Lounge in the Mirage.

SATURDAY, AUG. 21

*Rock’s wild man Billy Idol turns up the heat at The Pearl in the Palms with Steve Stevens as his opening act.

Photo: Denise Truscello/The Light Group

Billy Idol and Perry Farrell at Perry's 50th birthday bash at Bare Pool Lounge in The Mirage.

*The 24th Annual Black and White Party to benefit Aid for AIDS of Nevada is at The Joint for the second consecutive year.

*Cyndi Lauper sings her Memphis Blues at House of Blues in Mandalay Bay. … Michael Franti and Spearhead are at Mandalay Bay Beach for music ranging from punk rock to modern soul. … And The Romantics with Brad Elvis are at Red Rock resort.

*Lonestar is the headliner at Star of the Desert Arena in Primm. … In This Moment with Otherwise are at Crown. … Singer Chris Isaak is at the open-air Villagio del Sol plaza at The M Resort. … And R&B singer Brian McKnight helps Eastside Cannery celebrate its second anniversary with a special show.

*Miss Universe isn’t the only beauty pageant in town this weekend. At Planet Hollywood’s Theater for the Performing Arts, the battle is on to select Miss Vietnam 2010.

PARTY PATROL

Hip-hop artists Chingy and Mims perform while the sun shines at Venus Pool Club and then by night at Pure. … In celebration of Hawaii’s inauguration as the 50th state in The Union, First Food & Bar in the Palazzo throws a traditional luau. … And R&B superstar Lloyd is at Haze in Aria to perform his hits “Bed Rock” and “Girls Around the World.”

Photo: Steve Spatafore

Mac King and longtime friend Lance Burton.

SUNDAY, AUG. 22

*A slew of star rockers will be attending the Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards at the Hilton hosted by founder and Publisher Sally Steele.

*It’s a unique blend of jazz, country, contemporary folk and vocal pop when Norah Jones is joined by fellow Grammy winner Corrine Bailey Rae at The Pearl.

*It’s not the weather forecast! Hot Hot Heat plays Carey Hart’s Wasted Space at the Hard Rock Hotel with Hey Rosetta and 22-20s.

*Two conventions have combined to comprise the largest adult retail convention at The Mirage for the next four days. It’s the annual Gentlemen’s Club Owners Expo and the annual StorErotica with 350 booths from adult nightclubs, lingerie boutiques and adult stores from across America.

*Magician Lance Burton hosts a Shriners benefit at Zelzah Shrine Temple with fellow magicians Mac King, Fielding West and Rory Johnston, plus the Scintas.

Photo: Don Chareunsy

Rain Andreani, Alfredo Andreani, Danielle Capps and Maggie Aranowski at the 12th Annual March of Dimes Signature Chefs fundraiser in the Palace Ballroom at Caesars Palace.

PARTY PATROL

*Rain Cosmetics and The Atwell Group present a party at Liquid Pool Lounge at Aria hosted by Miss USA titleholders to benefit AFAN.. … Megan Woolard hosts True Beauty Rocks at The Bank in the Bellagio for 25 former Miss Universe and Miss USA titleholders.

MONDAY’S TEASE

The big day has finally arrived! The 2010 Miss Universe Pageant airs live from Mandalay Bay Events Center on NBC, and we have coverage with video and photos all planned during and after the telecast. Plus, of course the crowning moment and interview with the winner.

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.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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