Columnist Joe Delaney: Bowyer returns to Lady Luck after Irish foray

Joe Delaney

Thursday, July 12, 2001 | 8:19 a.m.

Playing catchup after five weeks away: The Irish Show Band's Brendan Bowyer and I just missed each other in Ireland ... It was a pleasure to arrive home and find Bowyer and the Irish Show Band at the Lady Luck Thursdays through Mondays, doing two shows a night through Aug. 19 ... Bowyer has a hit new record release back in Ireland and returns there at the end of August for another promotional tour.

Bowyer and daughter Aisling (pronounced Ash-ling) have been touring together in Ireland, England and Australia as part of a nostalgia package, highlighting hits of the past, similar to the groups playing successfully at New York-New York and Stardust.

Aisling is currently in Reno, hosting and co-starring in Dick Foster Productions' "Whisper" at Harrah's ... "Whisper" has been very well received by the critics up north and could be set for a long run, leaving the Bowyers, father and daughter, working apart for some time.

Another longtime Las Vegas entertainment institution, the Treniers, had a fantastic first weekend at the Castaways ... Catch them tonight through Saturday ... The Treniers have been local favorites more than 40 years while Elvis Presley's favorite "Elvis Tribute" was Bowyer with the Irish Show Band in the Stardust Lounge circa mid-1970s.

In the mail

Two very different books were waiting when I finally made it home: "Jerry Vale, A Singer's Life," written by Richard Grudens, with a foreword by Buddy Hackett and published by Celebrity Profiles Publishing, Box 344, Main Street, Sony Brook, NY 11790 ... This is a must for Vale fans ... Vale performs at Boulder Station several times a year.

The second book, "Class Act, the Jazz Life of Choreographer Cholly Atkins," written by Atkins and Jacqui Malone and published by New York's Columbia University Press, is really a history of jazz dance in America as well as the life and times of one of the great contributors to the musical culture of our country for most of the last century, and still active.

Gladys Knight, from the book's front cover: "Cholly Atkins was our everything ... He taught us how to walk onstage, how to walk offstage, how to move" ... Atkins was also responsible for the choreography of most of the Motown acts including the Supremes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Temptations and Marvin Gaye, among others.

Atkins, a longtime Las Vegan, won a Tony in the late 1980s for his choreography for the hit stage musical "Black and Blue," an award winner, as well for singing great Ruth Brown, another Las Vegas resident ... Vale's book is fun, but "Class Act" is both fun and a must for all students of dance, jazz dance and entertainment in the past century.

Ernie George sent us a new CD with himself on vocals and drums plus Carl Fontana, trombone; Tony Sotos, flute and soprano sax; Gus Mancuso, vibes; Dr. Tom Ferguson, piano; and Bob Badgley, bass ... The baker's dozen of songs, all great standards, are given a joyous ride by all concerned, with a special bow to George and his straight-ahead, jazz-tinged vocals.

Laura Taylor, who appeared with the Nevada Jazz Orchestra in mid-June, has a new CD, "Cry Me A River, A Tribute To Julie London," the easiest possible listening with master guitarist Joe Lano and bassist Tom Warrington backing Taylor's tasty renditions.

Star policy rundown

It's Bill Acosta (Flamingo Las Vegas); David Brenner, 8 p.m. and Amazing Johnathan, 10 p.m. (Golden Nugget); Clint Holmes, evenings; Mac King, afternoons (Harrah's); Sheena Easton (LV Hilton); George Carlin, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy and Danny Gans in separate theaters (Mirage); and Lance Burton (Monte Carlo).

Plus Donny Osmond and Rita Rudner in separate theaters (New York-New York); Debbie Reynolds (Orleans); Scintas (Rio); Russ Morgan Orchestra, Saturday only (Stardust); Pat Cooper and Patti Prince, Saturday (Sunset Station); Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, First Lady of Magic at 6:30 p.m. and Robert Goulet at 8:30 p.m. (Venetian).

Friday night special: Reba McEntire and Martina McBride plus others on the "Girls Night Out Tour," at 8 p.m., Mandalay Bay Events Center ... Have you noticed that the Crazy Horse import "La Femme" and all the similar shows stressing the female form are over by midnight? ... Please support the Sun Summer Camp Fund, it's so important ... Every penny goes for the youngsters, the Sun absorbs all the expenses.

If that group can be called Destiny's Child, Goran Ivanisevic, after his Wimbledon triumph, could be called Destiny's Man ... See you Friday.