Columnist Joe Delaney: Little-known tale about Vinton and Steel Pier

Joe Delaney

Friday, March 9, 2001 | 8:35 a.m.

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

The following story about Bobby Vinton appeared in this space a year ago, but bears reprinting:

The year was 1960 ... The place, Atlantic City's famed Steel Pier ... We had invited the talented young singer-musician leader of a territorial band, playing mostly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, to attend the Sunday midnight showing of the original "Psycho," at a theater across the Boardwalk from Steel Pier ... He politely declined.

He told us he was driving to New York City early in the morning to meet with the Columbia (now Sony) executives about the final four selections on his current contract ... He wanted to make it clear that he was not a singer with the orchestra but a singer who had his own orchestra.

"Joe, I'm going to ask them for all the recent rejects by other male singers, including Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis and Andy Williams. I'm going to to pick out four songs and record them my way."

The angry young man was Bobby Vinton, and he did just what he said he was going to do ... Three of his four selections went to No. 1 on the pop charts ... They were "Roses Are Red," "Blue on Blue" and "Blue Velvet" with the last-named selection having a second life, first in Great Britain and then in this country with the release of the film "Blue Velvet."

Three mega-hits in succession led to a headliner booking at the Riviera which prompted comedian Shecky Greene to remark that "Vinton doesn't sing songs, he sings colors."

Vinton takes time away from his theater in Branson, Mo., to perform in Las Vegas several times a year ... Vinton makes every performance a party, involving the entire audience ... You are guaranteed a good time tonight and Saturday in the Paris Las Vegas Le Theatre des Arts.

Weekend wrap-up

Be sure and see the George R. Stroemple collection of Dale Chihuly's art at the Las Vegas Art Museum ... Chihuly created the enormous hand-blown glass light fixture in the Bellagio lobby ... The Bolshoi Symphony Orchestra performs tonight at 8 o'clock, UNLV's Ham Hall, part of the prestigious Charles Vanda Master Series ... Three-time Grammy Award winner Vikki Carr is in concert, tonight at 8 o'clock, in Boulder Station's Railhead.

Community College of Southern Nevada's production of "Getting Out" continues through Sunday (Cheyenne campus), as does Actors Repertory Theatre's comedy "Noises Off," at Summerlin Library Theatre ... Oscar Carrescia and the Youth Camerata Orchestra performs "A Vivaldi Festival," plus the premiere of an original work for vibraharp and orchestra, composed and performed by vibraharp virtuoso Tommy Vig, 2 p.m. Saturday, Winchester Center.

Saturday specials: "Katarina Witt's Kisses on Ice," live at Mandalay Bay at 8 p.m.; and the second performance this week by the Backstreet Boys, at 7:30 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena ... Jazz pianist David Benoit is at Sunset Station, 7 and 9 p.m. ... Tasty jazz, nightly: Gus Mancuso, Chris Gordon and Santo Savino, Napoleon's Bar (Paris Las Vegas).

Next week is St. Patrick's Week, and the Sons and Daughters of Erin have a full schedule, with the Sahara as home base, culminating on March 17 with the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and a daylong picnic at the Sahara parking lot ... The Shamrocks, led by D.J. Curtin and members of the Irish Show Band, peform throughout the week in the Sahara Casbar ... The annual dinner-dance takes place Thursday in the hotel's Gold Room ... Call 743-3977 for further details.

Saturday's 10:30 p.m. performance of the once-again-hot "Splash" at the Riviera will not be open to the public ... There is a LV Classical Guitar Concert, free, 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, at the Flamingo Library ... See you next Thursday.

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