Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Former minister, singer Baccari dies

In 1967, Carmen Baccari reached deep into his soul to make a life-altering decision.

The question that had long haunted him was whether he should he continue on the glitzy Las Vegas stage as the ultra-serious straight man for "The Characters," a pioneering Strip lounge act, or devote his life to his often-stringent religious faith. He chose God.

Carmine J. "Carmen" Baccari Sr., who gave up show business 29 years ago to become a minister for Jehovah's Witnesses, died Dec. 17 at Valley Hospital Medical Center from complications of a stroke. He was 76.

His family and other friends say Baccari never regretted that fateful decision. But he also never gave up his love for music, often playing his guitar and singing at home for his friends, family and his own personal enjoyment.

As for The Characters, a musical-comedy ensemble that put smiles on the faces of thousands of local show-goers and tourists from the late 1950s to the early 1970s, Baccari's death last week resurrected images of Las Vegas' golden age.

The foursome also featured Baccari's brother, Freddie Baccari, a zany comic; Blackie Hunt, a red-headed comedian; and Johnny Ricco, the group's lead singer.

In the 1950s and '60s, The Characters performed at the Sahara's Casbah Lounge, where they were known for gags in which Freddie would get away with impish pranks on Carmine, while copycat Blackie would get caught in the act.

"Carmen was one of the best straight men in lounge acts like ours," said Hunt, husband of Clark County Commissioner Lorraine Hunt. "He was a preacher, and preachers make good straight men because they are honest and believable.

"Carmen was torn between working in nightclubs and observing his faith. He finally decided one day to devote himself to Jehovah's Witnesses, and never worked in show business again."

Jehovah's Witnesses is a Christian faith founded in 1872 in Pittsburgh by clergyman Charles Taze Russell. The faith stresses absolute obedience to even the most primitive and strict biblical concepts.

Services for Baccari, a 41-year Las Vegas resident who at the time of his death was owner of Carmine's Pest Control, were Saturday before a packed house of more than 500 mourners at Palm Mortuary downtown. Interment was at Palm Memorial Park.

"Although he decided to leave show business many years ago, my husband had a lifetime love of music and often played his guitar and sang at home," said Rita Baccari.

"He had benefited (in his church work) from his years on the stage, where he learned to develop a rapport with the audience. It helped him deal with people."

Baccari's daughter, Linda Esau of Pine Bush, N.Y., said her father had several jobs after leaving show business, including piano tuner and real estate salesman before going into pest control.

But, she said, his work with Jehovah's Witnesses, which began when he joined the faith in 1942, brought him his greatest satisfaction.

"He loved entertaining people, but he knew when it was time to leave that for something that was much more important," Esau said.

Born Jan. 14, 1920, in Philadelphia, Carmine formed The Characters in his hometown, combining the talents of his brother with Hunt from Pottstown, Pa., and Ricco from Washington, D.C.

The group came to Las Vegas in February 1955. They often appeared on the same bill at the Casbah with Louis Prima, a jazz trumpeter who 18 years after his death remains the quintessential Las Vegas lounge performer.

In their prime, The Characters recorded an album called 'Smash Flops," a spoof of tributes to "pending" historical events that would turn out to be disasters. Songs on the album included "Bon Voyage to You, Titanic" and "Hot, Hot Time in Lakehurst, N.J., When the Hindenburg Lands Today."

The group also appeared on early television shows, and their most requested tunes included "Grenada" and "Danny Boy."

The Characters also appeared in the Flamingo Lounge and later opened the lounge at the Hotel International, which today is the Las Vegas Hilton.

As original members like Carmine left, they were replaced. Near the end, Hunt brought in a singer, Lauri Perry -- today, Lorraine Hunt -- to help close out The Characters' contracts in 1973. Later, they opened the Bootlegger Restaurant, which remains a popular Las Vegas eatery.

Freddie Baccari, considered the heart of The Characters by some entertainment industry observers, died 11 years ago. Ricco, who performed on his own after leaving the group, today is retired and living in Missouri.

Blackie Hunt was among the many mourners at Saturday's services.

"Carmen was a father figure because he was more than 10 years older than me," Hunt said. "He looked after me, especially in those early years, and I loved him dearly."

In addition to his wife and daughter, Baccari is survived by four sons, Lawrence Baccari of Jean, and John Baccari, Jay Baccari and Carmine Baccari Jr., all of Las Vegas; three sisters, Ann Gagliardi of Philadelphia, Mickey Spina of Depford, N.J., and Rita DeNardo of Las Vegas; two brothers, Joe Baccari of Las Vegas, and Anthony Baccari of New Jersey; and one grandchild.

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