Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Columnist Jerry Fink: Musician Osborne still warm to Caesars Palace

Jerry Fink's lounge column appears on Fridays. Reach him at 259-4058 or jerry@ lasvegassun.com.

As Rome burned, David Osborne fiddled with his piano, playing "Chariots of Fire."

Actually, by the time the popular pianist sat down at his Frank Sinatra Steinway to play "Chariots" one evening last week at Cafe Lago in Caesars Palace, a fire on the roof was out.

Earlier in the day a worker's torch ignited a propane tank, which exploded and caused a fire that created an enormous cloud of black smoke that engulfed Caesars' stately white towers.

Sirens pierced the air. Television crews converged on the scene. Traffic on the Strip came to a standstill.

All in all, it was a pretty spectacular prelude to a CD-signing party for Osborne. The album, "David Osborne Plays the Music of Elton John," was released last month and already has sold 40,000 copies. It is his 16th release.

The soiree was hosted by Caesars at the fashionable 24-hour eatery, where ceiling-high windows look out over the Garden of the Gods swimming pool complex.

At a time when many Las Vegas musicians feel they are being treated like doormats by venues, it is gratifying to see that at least one appreciates the talent of an entertainer who is not a headliner with his name on the marquee, but a working stiff who adds a lot to the ambiance of a room.

"I was very humbled," Osborne said afterward.

As the evening began, George Markantonis, the hotel's senior vice president of operations, stepped onto the small, raised platform near the middle of the dining area where the piano stands. It's the closest thing to a lounge in the restaurant.

"David Osborne is truly a maestro," Markantonis said to a gathering of about 100 invited guests. "He has been with Caesars Palace since the days of the Palace Court, our famous landmark restaurant.

"We have kept him here as long as we possibly can, and we will continue to do that for as long as we possibly can. We are very, very proud to acknowledge that David, frankly, honors us with his music in this restaurant every evening.

"He is one more extra feature we have on this property. (Caesars has) been here for 35 years. This is the home of champions. This is where all the famous entertainers have entertained, and we like to think that David is one of them."

Osborne then joined Markantonis onstage.

"Mr. Markantonis said he feels like they have to hold onto me and I was thinking I was trying to hold onto my job," Osborne said.

The Miami, Okla., native gave his fans a quick history of how he came to be at Caesars.

"I'm starting my sixth year here," he said. "When I walked into this town I had never been in Las Vegas in my life. A guy by the name of Roger Williams heard me play with the St. Louis Symphony back in 1995 ... and he said (I should) go to Caesars Palace and play in the Palace Court in Las Vegas."

Osborne auditioned, was hired and has been with Caesars ever since.

He was the pianist at Palace Court until it closed in April, 2000. He played at a lounge in the casino until Cafe Lago opened in September, and then he and the Frank Sinatra Steinway moved in.

Osborne is proud of the Steinway.

"We used it in the Palace," he said. "It was purchased in the '70s by Vince Falcone, Frank's orchestra leader and pianist. It was allowed to be used only by Frank Sinatra and his orchestra. I was told that not until I got here did anyone else use it."

The piano gets more use by Osborne that it did by Sinatra.

Osborne performs 6-10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday through Sunday during weekend champagne brunches.

Playing sets between signing CDs, Osborne demonstrated the breadth of his talent -- playing everything from Bach to boogie-woogie.

He played tunes from his "Elton John" album. He played "Pink Panther," "Georgia Brown" and a dozen other colorful numbers.

Osborne even demonstrated his flexibility by bending backward over the piano bench and playing upside down. He didn't miss a note.

Diners around the restaurant, who were not part of the festivities, stopped eating to listen to Osborne's music.

The fire on the roof was out, but Osborne was smoking in the cafe.

Lounging around

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