Thursday, Feb. 19, 1998 | 9:46 a.m.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY is four weeks away. ... Ireland's first lady of entertainment Carmel Quinn starts the annual observance in this area with a special concert performance, accompanied by longtime conductor-pianist Jimmy Martin plus Des Regan's Irish Show Band, on March 6 in UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall. ... Tickets are available at UNLV and Dillard's,
A very young Carmel Quinn was a regular feature on Arthur Godfrey's CBS-TV show. ... Her annual concerts in Carnegie Hall these past 25 years have always been sold out. ... She is not only Ireland's No. 1 musical export through the years; she is also an accomplished storyteller and humorist. ... Quinn is a star on the lecture circuit.
Very few performers can beguile an audience so quickly or more effortlessly. ... Tickets are $20, with open seating so come early. ... Concert proceeds will go to the Galway Hospice Foundation.
Re the parade
March 17 is St. Patrick's Day. ... The annual Sons and Daughters of Erin Parade, our biggest one yet, will start at Gass Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South that Tuesday at 10 a.m. ... The parade will proceed north on LVBS to Fremont Street, march east on Fremont to Seventh, turn south, disband, then all of us will head for the annual block party and entertainment, all day long, in the Maxim Hotel parking lot.
March 15 is the date set for the annual Sons and Daughters of Erin Dinner Dance, starting at 6 p.m., also at the Maxim. ... Tickets are $25; call John Linerode at 641-9261 or 431-6566.
This columnist has been honored to serve as St. Patrick in the parade 26 times in the last 27 years. ... Look for Erin's patron saint on the float with the huge Celtic Cross, early in the parade. ... If you wave at St. Patrick, I guarantee he will wave back.
Star-policy rundown
It's George Carlin-Dennis Blair (Bally's); Howie Mandell-Wayne Cotter (Caesars); Debbie Reynolds (her hotel); Tom Jones and Jay Leno, Hollywood Theatre and Grand Theatre, respectively (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lee Greenwood, final night (Monte Carlo); Charlie Prose tonight, Pete Fountain and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Friday through Sunday (Orleans); and Danny Gans (Rio); great choices.
Lance Burton is scheduled to re-appear in his Monte Carlo Theatre on Feb. 26. . ... Trombonist Larry O'Brien conducts the Glenn Miller Orchestra for dancing, 7 p.m. Saturday, Stardust Hotel.
This is the official Glenn Miller Orchestra, licensed by the Miller Estate. ... They are celebrating 60 years of performing. ... Upcoming Stardust Big Band Dances include Si Zentner & his Orchestra on April 18 and the Harry James Orchestra on Aug. 1.
UNLV 'Rap' news
UNLV's "Rap With The Artist" oral history series for the Arnold Shaw Research Center for Popular Music, Bill Willard, executive director, continues Friday at 3 p.m. in Room 147, next to the Donna Beam Art Gallery in the Alta Ham Fine Arts Building on the main level. ... Sessions start at 3 p.m. ... Also attending are students of UNLV's Popular Music History Class, instructed by Tim Bonenfant.
Singer-teacher-director and former Platter, Marcia Robinson, is this week's guest rapper. ... Willard and Loretta Kaye officiate. ... There are more than 200 hours of audio recordings by top performers in the UNLV Research Center archives thus far.
Comedian Jeff Wayne, headlining in the Riviera Comedy Club through Sunday, was guest lecturer Tuesday for our Hotel Entertainment Class at UNLV. ... Recommended: Wayne's new "Jeff Comedy Jam" CD, very funny.
Thursday addenda
"Jazz & The Word," features writers and musicians in a collaborative jam session, backed by the Gary Hypes Quartet, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Winchester Center. ... Classical guitarist Scott Tennant performs at 7 p.m. Saturday, Clark County Library Theater on Flamingo; proceeds go to the Guitar Society of Las Vegas.
Recommended: Blues guitar great Eddie King, two decades with Koko Taylor, tonight at midnight, 1:20 and 2:40 a.m. in the Orleans Hotel Lounge. ... Support good music of all kinds. ... See you Friday.
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