This weekend, the Suncoast Hotel booked the local vocal group Fifth Avenue as the showroom headliner.

Fifth Avenue member, Jerry Jones, is a friend, and I went to support him, support live music, and simply enjoy the show.. The band was great, Bill Fayne, on keys and Musical Director,  John Wedemeyer on guitar, Mike Meecham, on drums, Jamie Hosmer on second string keys, and last but not least the infamous Lenny Lopez on vocals and percussion.

The audience was filled with celebrities and retired gray-haired seniors who live nearby, play the slots and see whatever show is there. The people next to us had no idea who they were seeing. The showroom was filled to capacity.

The show opened with big screen comedic bit on cavemen about how harmony started, featuring Sid Caesar. The cavemen dropped heavy boulders on the feet of people and their screams became a vocal choir. Very funny concept.

Fifth Avenue then sang us through vocalese history and did bits of songs from different decades, another clip from the Music Man with Robert Preston setting up the barbershop music segment.

A significant chunk of the show took me down memory lane. My dad was the drummer for the Hi-Lo’s (which is mis-spelled on Fifth Avenues website). I grew up on the music of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross, when Annie Ross left, it became  Lambert, Hendricks, and Bavan. I was singing “Twisted” and “Cloudburst” as a child. So, it was great to hear this music again. Are they as clean and precise as the Hi-Lo’s? No, not all the time, but the performances were superb.

The arranger Rob Hyatt is extremely talented as a vocal arranger, I just felt that some arrangements were unnecessarily complex. At times, less can be more.

I was in a vocal group, Commonwealth, and I know the hours and hours of rehearsal it takes to pull this off. We used to sing the horn parts and use fewer musicians, and had to be perfect every show. It is very demanding and I hope the audience realized just how hard these guys worked to make it happen.

The singers, Jerry Jones, Bryce Robinson, Jeff Celentano and Rob Hyatt, all have great stage presence and are funny, too.  Rob has an amazing range, went from top to bass, and Jeff has a great lead singer voice. Bryce has a great voice for theater and recording. Jerry has the mid-range, root note range with warmth in it.

Together, they do have what it takes to be a great group. Guest and new singer for the band, Tyriq Johnson joined them for Maroon Five’s “Sunday Morning”, the song they did for the TV show “The Sing Off”, they are waiting to see if they come back to do the show this coming season.

They opened with “Come Rain Or Come Shine” one of my favorite songs, and when they got to the 70′s era, Jamie and Lenny sang The Beatles’ “Come Together”.

One of the high points of the nights for me was the Fifth Dimension’s “Up, Up and Away”. Beautiful job on a splendid arrangement.

They spoofed The Jordanaires singing with no lead singer, and brought someone up from the audience to play Elvis, He didn’t know the song and it was pretty  funny when “Teddy Bear” was just back up. They killed it when they did the Four Seasons because Rob had that high Frankie Valli range.

If you get the chance to see Fifth Avenue, You will have a good time.  If you are a music lover, you will love every genre they cover, and that is many.

It all ended on a positive note for me, go on guys, Sing Sing Sing.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

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I used to watch Wayne Newton perform at the Sands Hotel in the 70′s, and he was amazing. He played all these instruments, and jumped around, and wore a white Elvis suit with a big belt buckle.

Coincidentally, I married his sax player Rick Frazier, and grew close to Wayne and his then wife Elaine. Really nice people. Wayne was best man at Rick and my wedding. Elaine was always wonderful to me, and invited me to their home. His voice was a little strange, nasal and kind of high, but it was in tune and he could hit the notes.

He helped me with my Band “Fantasy“, getting an open ended contract with Summa Corporation. That means until they give you two weeks  notice!! It lasted two years, so I’m not complaining.

This blog came after hearing Whitney Houston‘s voice from a concert in Europe and was mortified. “I Will Always love You” was two keys down from the original and she STILL couldn’t hit the notes. It reminded me of Wayne, and the question I have had , WHY? Why/How did these two talented performers lose their voices. I am getting on in years and my voice is stronger and better than ever. What have they done to damage their voice?

In Whitney‘s case, it appears to be drugs, alcohol and cigarettes. I didn’t know that such use or misuse could damage your voice… this badly. I am beginning to wonder why Wayne lost his voice. Does he have an alcohol problem? Did he? Or is it some medication that inflamed his vocal chords?

I am not a drinker, and if I ever dabbled with drugs, it was not out of bounds. I don’t have a problem with my voice unless I get too little sleep. Note: I am writing this at midnight!.

Don't gargle with broken glass

I am a night owl, and it is hard for me to get tired after 10pm. That is when i come alive. Too bad I can’t start a graveyard teaching class. They would kick me out of the neighborhood.

A recent review of Wayne said that (paraphrasing) “his voice sounded like he had been gargling with broken glass.” Ouch, that would hurt my ego. I would hope that someone who cared for me would tell me when it is time to go. I believe that time has come for Whitney and Wayne. It is a sad thing to think about. they gave us so much joy. So much entertainment, and the saddest part is, there is no one to replace them.

Gordie Brown

Gordie Brown should be the new Mr. Las Vegas. For some reason, he doesn’t have the right people getting the word out there. This an has it all, voice, comic timing, impressions, and improvisational skills  you wouldn’t believe. If you ever get the chance, see him. Trust me.

Whitney: Your new CD went platinum, good for you, but we all know what they do in the studio. my worst day in the studio can be tweaked by any engineer. So, darlin’, please, stop being the joke of the late night gossip shows and YouTube, and quietly slip away while your CD is on top.

Wayne: I wish you a joyful life, I’m thrilled your daughter pulled through her tragic medical emergency, and i wish you a second life perhaps in Branson, Missouri, where you could do a show with the band drowning you out a bit, or a good sound man who could put special effects on your voice.

Singers: Take care of your bodies, don’t drink to excess and don’t do drugs. It’s not worth it. Get your rest. Yeah, easy for me to say! OK except for the rest part, I do all of that.

Drink, lemon water, honey, warm tea, work your voice out, and then cool down like an athlete does. We can’t fake it, it is our bodies that are our instruments. We need to cover our throats in the cold wind with a scarf.

We need to baby ourselves. That is probably how we got the nickname, Divas.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

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Michael Lynche

American Idol elimination night blew me away. Mike was in the bottom three and then he was the bottom! Tim was safe, Aaron, Lee,were safe and Mike not!!!   did not see that coming. the judges felt the same way because they used their only save of the season to save Mike. he will be back next week.

I have to say, I am a little suspicious now of the validity of the vote. was this for drama? I don’t understand how this giant of a man with a smooth as silk voice could not get votes..  Now, I  will always have my doubts about the show. It made me really want to tune in next week, and that is why I wonder if this was just a tease.” Dancing with the Stars” beat them badly in the ratings last week.

We will see… Marciel, Over and Out

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

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Happy to announce that I’ll be appearing this weekend, Friday and Saturday, in a return engagement to Tommasion’s Italian Restaurant in Pahrump.

I’ll be accompanied on piano by Mike Shane, and am looking forward to performances. Both of which start about 6pm.

Received a bit of plug from the gossip column, Ciaire Voyant, in Las Vegas Online.

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

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I ran into my old publicist, Esther Lynn, at the Bob Anderson show last weekend. I have known her since 1976, and she has been a wonderful source of news in print ever since.

I mentioned how upset I was that I had no idea Bob had been in town with Andy Williams at the Las Vegas Hilton. His name was not mentioned, anywhere! Also, he had been at the Rampart Casino and it was poorly advertised.

She said “Start reading my online gossip column.” Well, there you have it.  I had lost touch with her, and now I know.

I have had a link on my site as long as it has been up for my  friend Jerry Fink who was a big fan of my father, Irv Kluger. He had written numerous stories on him, as well as myself, so I want to remind you to go to his entertainment blog: THEJerryFink.com

Jerry has a great knowledge of where to find the  music. He loves live music and he won’t let you down.

I’m taking my own advice and not going to miss another Bob Anderson moment if I can help it!

Are you aware that there is a great Italian restaurant in Pahrump!! Live music every night. Tom Saitta, yes of the car dealerships, is trumpet player/singer and has opened a place “Tommasino’s” with alternating Mike Shane, and Tommy Deering at the piano.

Tom sits in and others come in from Las Vegas and sit in. I plan on doing this as soon as I have an early day ending from teaching. They start at 5pm and go to 9pm but keep going as long as they have an audience. Check this out. It’s not a bad drive for great food and great music.

Thank you Esther, Jerry and Mike Weatherford. And all of you who help us find the music!!!!

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

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Bob Anderson

I went to the Cannery Casino, Saturday night, after a very long day of teaching. I  wouldn’t nornally go anywhere after such a day, but the consumate  entertainer, Bob Anderson, was in concert for only two nights, and I could not miss him. I felt he would heal my exhaustion. He did not dissapoint.

I have known Bob since the 70′s, and he really is one of the best singers around. He moved to Branson, MO, with his wife Karen, in 2005, after losing the Desert Inn room he had occupied for years. All my singer friends would gather at the Desert Inn for a sure-fire night of great music and great fun.

WE were there the night a waitress won a million dollar jack-pot, right outside the showroom. That had a tragic outcome, when a year later she was hit by a drunken driver and was in a tiny sports car, she was paralyzed.

I  have memories of Bob at the Top of the Dunes also, when I was in the Casino de Paris , he was  upstairs, so after the 2nd show,, up I would go sharing the elevator with people such as Tony Bennett and Steve Lawrence who were there to see Bob.

Top of the Dunes

Bob Anderson has that magic, that ease of connecting with the audience, and singing his heart out. He also does obscure songs that you don’t hear all the time.  After the show, he comes out and mingles and lets his fans be close to him.

This is what I miss about Las Vegas. I cannot go anywhere and see a show like Bob’s; in an intimate setting with a brilliant trio or quartet..

Did I mention he also does singing impressions? He is amazing at them, but even without the impressions, I think he would be just as popular.  A lot of old time Las Vegas performers are there to see him, Cork Proctor, Babe Pier, Dennis Bono, and me.

I know Las Vegas has changed and will never go back. It is full of Cirque shows and the lounges are mostly just dance bands.

I miss the days when the lounges were little show rooms, Even when I was in the lounges, I did a show, I  performed and we entertained, and no  one does that now. When someone tries to do it, it fails, and closes.  Times have changed and I am so glad that I was a part of the old Las Vegas, I  got in at the very end of it, so,

I have wonderful memories and got to know people like Bob.

Jessica Marciel

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