Columnist Joe Delaney: Recalling Greco’s career from teenage years

Joe Delaney

Thursday, April 12, 2001 | 8:17 a.m.

Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com.

Buddy Greco had a million-record seller at age 14 with Fats Waller's "Ooh, Look-a There Ain't She Pretty" ... He was still in his teens and playing piano in Benny Goodman's orchestra ... In 1951 we produced an album for London Records with Greco at the piano and singing a "Tribute to Fats Waller" ... We titled it "Ain't Misbehaving" ... We were 30 years too soon.

Greco lives in Las Vegas and called last week to say that he had assembled an all-star big band made up of top jazz players to perform tonight through Saturday at the Blue Note Las Vegas ... Lezlie Anders (Mrs. Greco) will be his co-star.

The musicians: Tom DeLibro, Merv Harding and Dick Alber, trumpets; Curt Miller and Al Imbach, trombones; Fred Haller, Sam Pisciota, Dick Kastel and Dave Hawley, saxes; plus a rhythm section that includes Joe Lano, guitar; Jeff Johnson, piano; Chris Gordon, bass; and Santo Savino, drums ... This should be a musically memorable three evenings.

Keely Smith has two new CD releases on the Concord label, "Swing, Swing, Swing" and "Keely Sings Sinatra" ... Smith is in top form, inspired by her excellent song selections and the backing of a Frankie Capp Orchestra ... Rick Baptist and the Candolis, Pete and Conte, are in the trumpet section; Pete Christlieb and Don Menza in the sax section, to give you an idea of her support ... She deserves the best.

Multitalented Larry White has a new CD titled "Journey," a tasty musical trip ... White conducted for Bob Anderson in the Hilton NightClub, in place of Vincent Falcone Jr., last weekend ... Falcone was back on Tuesday after conducting for Robert Goulet ... There will be a new Brendan (Irish Show Band) Boyer CD shortly, in which he pays tribute to Irish songwriters including U2's Bono, Phil Coulter and Van Morrison.

We're betting New York-New York will extend "Lord of the Dance" at least through the end of the year ... Look for Rita Rudner there, to do capacity business in a showroom that is slightly larger than the MGM Grand's, starting April 20 ... Karaoke is hot there seven nights a week under the direction of Jay Kessler, especially the Monday night contests with cash-prize finals set for April 30.

Star-policy rundown

It's Greco (Blue Note Las Vegas); Bill Acosta (Flamingo Las Vegas); David Brenner (Golden Nugget); Clint Holmes, evenings, Mac King, afternoons (Harrah's); Kenny Loggins, plus Anderson in the NightClub (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); George Carlin, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand).

Plus Siegfried & Roy and Danny Gans in separate theaters (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Kenny Kerr (New Frontier); Bo Diddley (Orleans); Pete Barbutti (Plaza); Bela Fleck & the Flecktones (Sam's Town); Wayne Newton (Stardust); Paul Revere and the Raiders (Stratosphere); and Melinda, First Lady of Magic and Andre-Philippe Gagnon (Venetian).

Nevada residents with proof of residence can still avail themselves of two-for-one tickets at 10:30 p.m. performances of "Splash" at the Riviera ... Ace choreographer Nick Navarro is creating several new dance segments for the show, now doing 14 performances a week ... Hugo LaTorre ("Splash's" Los Latin Cowboys) has two Tango Bar and Grills, one at the Stratosphere, with his offstage partner Anibal Sabate.

Las Vegas is fortunate to have the Steve Martin art collection at the Bellagio and the Chihuly exhibition at the LV Art Museum through April 30; also at the LV Art Museum through April 29, visit an exhibition of Italian-American history, free to the public, courtesy of the local Augustus Society ... Good to have organist Dave Wickerham back at Roxy's 1928 Kimball organ at the Fiesta, 5-9 p.m., Sundays through Wednesdays.

Enjoy Easter weekend, Passover and, whatever your beliefs, remember the significance of this holy period for all faiths ... Try to carry the feeling forward as long as possible, it will make your world better ... Support the summer Sun Camp Fund, it's getting to be that time ... See you Friday.