Las Vegas Weekly

May 12, 2010 · 1:04 PM

Photos: Smokey Robinson, Human Nature have many reasons to celebrate

By Robin Leach

Smokey Robinson and Human Nature at Imperial Palace on May 11, 2010.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

It was a night of celebrating with songs and champagne! Congratulations to the four Down Under song-and-dance stars who make up Human Nature and to Motown legend Smokey Robinson, who presents their Salute to the Motown Sound at Imperial Palace at center Strip.

The four Australians Toby Allen, Phil Burton and brothers Andrew and Michael Tierney celebrated their first anniversary last night with the good news that their run here has been extended for two more years and that Imperial Theater at Imperial Palace has been renamed in their honor: the Human Nature Theater!

“I couldn’t be happier,” Smokey told me backstage. “They are real entertainers and not just an overnight, five-minute wonder. They are hard working, and their passion is their music and performances. They truly are incredibly talented with beautiful voices."

We’ll have our full Vegas DeLuxe interview with Smokey and the Human Nature guys later but wanted to join their celebration with this new photo gallery from last night and video posted on YouTube by VDLX loyal reader Richard Corey. Smokey and Imperial Palace President Rick Mazer were onstage for the official announcements and for a presentation of Mayor Oscar Goodman’s proclamation of it being Human Nature Day.

Smokey, who stood and sang and danced along during the show from his booth, eventually went onstage to join the group for two numbers. Backed by the big-sound band, all five of them sang his hit “Tears of a Clown” and then an a capella version of the sweet-sounding “Who’s Loving You” made famous by Michael Jackson when he was just 11 years old.

Human Nature, who have just recorded their first U.S. album here, have plans for a TV special and a new record: “We’ve only just begun. We’ve still got a lot more work to do, and we're here to stay. So many things could have gone wrong with four lads from Down Under coming to Vegas, but the bet paid off. We couldn’t be happier being in Vegas, even though we do get slightly homesick for Sydney,” they told me.

“Being here with Smokey as we celebrate our first anniversary and knowing we’ll be here for at least another two years is an incredible dream come true, and one we’re still trying to wrap our arms around."

Congratulations to all of them from all of us at Vegas DeLuxe. It’s a much-deserved success story!

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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