Columnist Joe Delaney: Ain’t nothing like real Sinatra at MGM Grand

Joe Delaney

Thursday, May 9, 2002 | 8:25 a.m.

"Sinatra Sings Sinatra" is the real thing, starting this evening in MGM Grand's Hollywood Theatre ... Frank Sinatra Jr. continues his father's musical legacy, backed by a 36-musician orchestra led by Terry Woodson and featuring a number of musicians who backed Sinatra Sr., including pianist-conductor Bill Miller, who was with him for 51 years.

Sinatra Jr. has a long history in Las Vegas, with great years at the Frontier, working with the late comedian Jack E. Leonard, and later with Phil Harris and Harry James in the main showroom, plus years at the Four Queens backed by a big band led by trumpeter Buddy Childers ... Sinatra Jr. served as his father's musical director in the years preceding Sinatra Sr.'s retirement.

A personal column favorite is a 1996 Sinatra Jr. CD on the Angel label, "As I Remember It," celebrating the songwriters, composers, arrangers and musicians who helped define Sinatra Sr., the man and his music ... We trust this will be the start of regular Las Vegas engagements for "Sinatra Sings Sinatra."

"The Rat Pack is Back" is gone as of April 30, but not for good as it looks for a new home ... Charo moved into the Sahara Congo Room space on Monday ... "The Main Event," starring Bob Anderson as everyone associated with Sinatra Sr. (except Sinatra, who is portrayed by Stephen Triffitt), is ensconced (paying rent, as well) at The Venetian.

Don't be surprised if another Sinatra, Dean, Sammy and Joey Bishop show doesn't surface somewhere before the end of the month ... Meanwhile for the next seven days, enjoy the real thing, "Sinatra Sings Sinatra."

Star-policy rundown

It's ZZ Top (Aladdin) Saturday only; Gladys Knight (Flamingo Las Vegas); Society of Seven, 8 p.m. and Amazing Johnathan, 10 p.m. (Golden Nugget); Mac King afternoons, Clint Holmes evenings (Harrah's); Earth, Wind & Fire, 8 p.m., Commodores, 10:30 p.m., plus Sheena Easton in another room (LV Hilton); and Blue Man Group (Luxor).

There's more: Sinatra Jr., Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive," and Brooks & Dunn and Dwight Yoakum in the Grand Garden Arena, Friday only (MGM Grand); Paul Anka and Danny Gans in separate theaters (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Rita Rudner (New York-New York); Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell (Orleans); and Tony Bennett (Paris Las Vegas).

And still more: Ronn Lucas afternoons, Scintas evenings, plus Louie Anderson in the Samba Theater (Rio); Marlene Ricci (Riviera); Steve Wyrick, plus "Bravo" starring Charo in separate theaters (Sahara); Wayne Newton (Stardust); Eddie Money (Suncoast); Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, First Lady of Magic, 7 p.m. and Anderson starring in "The Main Event" (Venetian).

Welcome back, Society of Seven, to Golden Nugget's showroom ... The Casino Center hotels catering to mainland visitors from Hawaii and elsewhere in the Pacific should be a natural audience source, plus the locals who remember that the group has always been a top-quality act.

The annual Joe Williams Community College of Southern Nevada Scholarship Fund Concert will be at The Orleans at 2 p.m. Sunday, Mother's Day ... Anderson, Holmes and Pete Barbutti will perform, backed by the Community College of Southern Nevada's All-Star Big Band, directed by Tom Ferguson, with special guests Barbara Morrison and Artie Butler.

LV Little Theatre presents "Stand-up Shakespeare," a play with music, for three weekends starting Friday; and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" concludes with a 2 p.m. performance Sunday.

The Mexico Vivo Dance Company, a 30-member troupe of singers, dancers and musicians, will perform Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (Winchester Community Center) ... Walter Boenig's Big Band will perform at the Mayor's Mother's Day Concert at 2 p.m. Sunday (Reed Whipple Cultural Center), with a 12:30 p.m. brunch with the mayor, $12 ticket includes brunch and special concert seating.

Sunday at 4 p.m. UNLV's "World Stage Series" concludes with Sweet Honey in the Rock at Artemus Ham Hall, a full-family treat ... Recommended: Singer Jo Belle and guitar virtuoso Joe Lano, plus Joey Singer, piano, Chris Gordon, bass, and Chris Beham, drums, plus special guests, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday and Monday, MGM Grand Entertainment Dome Lounge (also known as the Show Bar).

Final weekend this visit, Saturday through Monday in the Lady Luck Lounge, for rock-and-blues guitarist Cheryl Justice; singer Rachel Leslie; Mike Hardin, keyboards; Paul Pesco, bass guitar; and Brett Barnes, drums ... Good news: Riviera's "Splash" has extended its two-for-one policy for Nevadans and students through Aug. 31 ... See you Friday.