Society of Seven wows crowds at Las Vegas Hilton

Joe Delaney

Friday, Sept. 28, 2001 | 8:36 a.m.

Society of Seven, once called the Fabulous Echoes, have starred at the Oahu (Hawaii) Outrigger Hotel for the past 32 years.

Despite present low room-occupancy reports in Las Vegas, you would never know it if you had been with me for an early weeknight show this week by Society of Seven at the Las Vegas Hilton NightClub. The room was packed with an enthusiastic assemblage.

Tony Ruivivar is the leader, an affable emcee, lead singer, doubling guitar and bass. Bert Sagum is the comedic top banana, singer, featured on drums and percussion. Ruivivar and Sagum are original cadre, together from the group's beginnings. Gary Bautista is a standout as an impressionist, lead singer, doubling guitar and trumpet.

Randy Abellar, Roy Guerzo, Hoku Low and Wayne Wakai complete the multitalented septet, with Guerzo sharing impressionist honors with Bautista. The Society of Seven is an update of the great groups of Las Vegas past, such as the Mary Kaye Trio, Freddie Bell and the Bell Boys, the Characters, Happy Jesters and Vagabonds -- exciting ensembles with every member a soloist.

A Gloria Estefan medley opened the show and got the audience involved. "Viva Las Vegas" led into a nostalgia tour of 1950s hotels and impressions that included Liberace; Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra; Little Richard; Bautista as both Nat "King" Cole and daughter Natalie; Tony Bennett and a brilliant Luciano Pavarotti imitating Mario Lanza.

Sonny & Cher, Wayne Newton, Kenny G., Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, plus the others in a "Thriller" takeoff completed this segment at the 30-minute mark. Next came a Latin medley replicating Ricky Martin, Mark Anthony and Julio Iglesias. Then it was off to Hawaii and much audience involvement, teaching three men from the crowd to do the hula, plus a "Thunder From Down Under" strip spoof.

"The Hawaiian Wedding Song" was a well-performed, serious rendition. Street-corner doo-wop singing led into a Four Tops-Temptations tribute, and a cha-cha comedy number that was also once a "Bottoms Up" standby -- still very funny. "This Is the Moment" and a beautiful "God Bless the USA"/"America" medley, with the audience standing and singing, closed the 90-minute show.

Judging by the crowd counts and audience reactions, Society of Seven could possibly settle down at the NightClub for the next 32 years.

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