Las Vegas Weekly

March 29, 2010 · 1:53 PM

Photos: Celebrities turn out for Michel Legrand tribute at MGM Grand

By Robin Leach

The 50th anniversary tribute concert to Michel Legrand at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 27, 2010. Jerry Lewis and Jon Voight are pictured here.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

Superstar diva Barbra Streisand did not show for the 50th anniversary salute to music maestro Michel Legrand, despite rumors leading up to the event, but she will be in the final PBS version of the star-studded concert special. Sting, Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie also are shooting video segments to be edited into the show.

Ten cameras recorded all the action at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, and Jerry Lewis nearly stole the show when he conducted the 66-piece orchestra. Jerry went onstage to give Michel a break, but the maestro had to return when Jerry had to sit and catch his breath!

If a picture is truly worth a thousand words, then here’s a photo gallery that tells the entire story of the night. Dionne Warwick and George Benson wowed the arena audience. Our stories and photo galleries of rehearsals posted Friday posted Saturday convey Michel’s legendary contributions to the entertainment world.

Dionne, who recorded the “Champagne Wishes & Caviar Dreams” theme song for my Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous TV shows, told me: “He is a genius. They simply don’t make them like him anymore. He has had a remarkable 50-year career and still looks forward to more. I have done some recent concert dates with him, and it’s truly remarkable -- some of the best experiences of my life."

Our contributing photographer Tom Donoghue, who shot these extraordinary and exclusive images for Vegas DeLuxe, commented: “From start to finish, the show was the greatest -- simply fantastic. Even before he walked onstage as he was being introduced, Andy Williams won a great standing ovation, and Steve Lawrence, who was tremendous, won the longest applause.

“I think Jerry became a little exhausted after doing his comedy antic bits up onstage, but the audience absolutely loved him for it. The orchestra was magnificent, and Michel was very humble with them -- absolutely great. The audience was in ‘music heaven.’ You could feel the raw emotion throughout the arena that only great music can stir within us all. This was music and entertainment that lifted the spirit and touched the heart -- music you can really feel.”

Actors Jon Voight and Jennifer O’Neill sparkled as the show hosts, and Jon kept the audience laughing in between the pre-planned fundraising appeal breaks for the show to air later this year on PBS.

Melissa Manchester, Patti Page, Frank Sinatra Jr., Mario Pelchat and Alan and Marilyn Bergman also performed. There were movie montage salutes to Michael’s Summer of ’42, Brian’s Song, Lady Sings the Blues, Best Friends, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Thomas Crown Affair, Yentl, The Young Girls of Rochefort and Never Say Never Again as the various artists performed the theme songs. Melissa, Dionne and Patti teamed for “Windmills of Your Mind,” and Michel himself sang “Once Upon a Summertime” that he wrote for Barbra’s 1989 album.

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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