Columnist Jerry Fink: Versatile Gary B’s life a party-packed show

Friday, March 22, 2002 | 9:17 a.m.

Jerry Fink's lounge column appears on Fridays. Reach him at jerry@lasvegassun.com at (702) 259-4058.

Gary B's philosophy can be summed up briefly: Life's a party and everyone's invited.

The hyperkinetic entertainer and his "Our Way" cast can be found partying in a Rat Pack tribute show at the Tropicana's Celebration Lounge 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Fridays through Tuesdays.

Gary B (he withholds his last name to preserve an air of mystery) performs as Frank Sinatra, Lambus F. Dean does Sammy Davis Jr. and Bill Whitton does Dean Martin. Musical genius Ned Mills plays keyboard and sings backup.

The 49-year-old Gary B, a man with boundless energy and enthusiasm, has worked hard all his life. But he woke up one day with a changed attitude.

He still works hard, but only at doing what he likes.

"I said to myself, 'My next life -- for the rest of my life -- I'm going to create a business where I'm going to party for the rest of my life and get paid to do it,' " he said. "This, to me, is a party because I enjoy it. Everywhere I go is a party."

This next life began in 1994 when Gary B moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, where he and his father (a former big-band director) had owned a video production company, initially producing commercials for cable television and eventually turning out their own programs.

Before venturing into the production business, Gary B was an entertainer. At age 15 he was singing Sinatra songs all over the country. From 1968 until 1979 he and his brothers and sister toured the country on a school bus as "The Allens."

"Once we played this club date and the guy didn't have the money to pay us, but he had three school buses so he said, 'Here, take your pick,' " Gary B said. "Our manager put us everywhere, state fairs, country fairs. And we traveled in this school bus.

"We were the 'Partridge Family.' I mean we were the actual 'Partridge Family.' "

He said the creators of the television show, which ran on ABC from 1970-74, must have been inspired by the Allen family.

"The Allens were like the Osmonds," Gary B said. "We were on 'American Bandstand,' on Johnny Carson and Merv Griffin."

In the '80s, after the Allens broke up, Gary B performed around Los Angeles as Gary Blazer.

When he got married in '81 he temporarily dropped out of show business, started an electric-sign company and joined his father in the video production venture.

"When I got married, I had to get a real job," he said.

The marriage lasted five years.

"After the divorce I sold the sign company to my brother," Gary B said. "But I continued producing with my father, and I jumped right back into entertainment."

The production company started in his father's garage.

"We were like the 'Wayne's World' of the older generation," Gary B said.

Eventually the company moved from the garage to a real studio.

"We had our own shows on cable channels -- my father had big band shows and I was 'The Unzipped World of Gary Blazer,' " Gary B said.

Because of his background, Gary B has a warehouse full of talents -- he sings, dances, plays bass guitar, does impersonations and operates sound equipment. He is an electrician and a photographer, as well as a producer, director and charmer.

Gary B has put all of his skills to use since landing in Las Vegas.

"I didn't know anyone when I first got here, which is why you saw me all over the place, passing out cards," he said. "The first thing I did, I started a DJ service. I operated the equipment and sang karaoke."

The service was an introduction to movers and shakers.

"I went in through the back door," he said. "With the DJ service, I got to know a lot of people in this town, business owners."

Gary B sang karaoke, and when people learned he could sing they began hiring him for parties and corporate gigs.

"That's how I ended up owning an entertainment business," he said.

Gary B's company is Major Entertainment Productions. He hires DJs to operate the karaoke equipment. And he has a stable of celebrity lookalikes, tribute singers and bands.

"I'm an entertainment broker," he said.

As if he doesn't have enough on his plate, Gary B recently joined forces with producers Jet Loring and Rand Urgola to start All Ways Vintage Vegas Productions, an entertainment agency that books nostalgia acts.

Gary B says the goal is to have showrooms in different cities around the country and rotate tribute shows with different themes -- country and western, rock 'n' roll and other genres.

But his focus is "Our Way," which he says is not the same as the Sahara's "Rat Pack Is Back" tribute show.

"The difference between 'Our Way' and 'The Rat Pack is Back' is that 'Rat Pack' is scripted and we are not," Gary B said. "We work with the audience, and that's why we're a hit."

That, and because the fans feel as if they've been invited to a party.

Lounging around

Cards and prayers would be welcomed by Bob Pierson, longtime Las Vegas musician. The 72-year-old saxophonist is in the intensive care unit of Sunrise Hospital following surgery to have a stomach tumor removed. In addition to performing, Pierson has been teaching reeds at Community College of Southern Nevada for the past five years. Tom Ferguson, chairman of the college's Performing Arts Department, said his friend is sorely missed on campus. Ferguson said Pierson toured with Frank Sinatra for eight years and is a past-secretary treasurer of the Las Vegas Musicians Union.

Blues station KUNV 91.5-FM has launched a fund drive that will continue through March 29. "This is a real critical pledge drive for us," says DJ Brian Spencer (host of "Dr. Brian's Sin City's Blues Show" 6-8 p.m. Sundays). "All the specialty shows may get canceled and KUNV is at risk of even going under." A station spokesman says KUNV had been understaffed since August and didn't have anyone to do the necessary soliciting for donations. It's a good cause, so dig deep. Send pledges to KUNV 91.5 FM, 1515 E. Tropicana Suite 240, Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Saxophonist Gene Redden will debut his JAZZBRAZZ Orchestra 7:30 p.m. April 7 at Boulder Station's Railhead. Redden will be the only reed in the orchestra, which will feature seven horns. Rounding out the group will be drums, organ, bass, piano, guitar and percussion.

Jazz guitarist Pat Martino is performing at the Blue Note Las Vegas through Saturday. Shows are at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Call 862-8307 for information.