Friday, Oct. 24, 2003 | 8:31 a.m.
Stuck in the middle of one of Las Vegas' less-affluent areas, it often is overlooked when folks hungry for entertainment go foraging in showrooms around town.
It's a shame, because Windjammer Lounge, which converts into a showroom, frequently presents entertainers who could compete on the Strip.
"Sixtiesmania," a show band that pays tribute to the music of the '60s, consistently filled the room for almost six months. The group of talented Australian performers left in June and are appearing at Greek Isles, a little closer to the star-studded Strip but a venue that also suffers from a lack of respect.
A couple of months ago, "Motown & Oldies Forever" debuted at the Castaways.
Producer Tom Biscardi has assembled a cast of doo-wop tribute artists who are as good as any in town -- and better than most. For now the production consists of tributes to the Temptations, the Platters and the Shirelles.
Biscardi's company, Celebrity Images, has a stable of 42 tribute groups who will take turns in the Castaways' spotlight. The cast will change about every six weeks.
The age of doo-wop may have been brief in musical history, lasting from the early '50s to the early '60s, but it packed a powerful wallop. Its influence is still felt today, some 40 years later, with several groups in Vegas successfully paying tribute to various artists who made the genre so popular.
The style of music usually involves four singers, with one lead vocalist and three others harmonizing. Its roots go back to the '40s, when The Ink Spots established the use of the tenor and bass singers as the core of the quartets.
Other local productions include one at the Sahara's Congo Room, "The Platters, Cornell Gunter's Coasters and Beary Hobbs' Drifters." Tickets for the show on the Strip range from $37.95 to $43.45. At Castaways, you can enjoy the same nostalgic feeling for only $21.95.
Steve Rossi, formerly of the Allen & Rossi comedy team, is the production's host and comic relief. He's a nice touch to a show that relies on memories and draws a decidedly older crowd. Rossi and Marty Allen came to prominence during the heyday of the doo-wop era -- they teamed up in 1954 and were the heir-apparent to Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis when that famous duo split.
Rossi was the straight man who sang, a la Martin.
Today he relies heavily on comedy, as he does while hosting the show at Castaways.
Truthfully, Rossi should do more singing. His voice has weathered the years quite well, but not the jokes. He could use some new material.
"I just signed a five-year contract with the Castaways," he says. "Now I'm waiting for them to sign."
Or ...
"I said to my wife, 'How come you never tell me when you have an orgasm,' and she said, 'Because you're never there.' "
Rossi is still a popular entertainer, even after 50 years in the business. Fans at the Castaways enjoy his friendly demeanor and he provides an easy transition between the doo-wop groups.
The Platters are first in the lineup, getting the audience into the mood with such hits as "Only You," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "Magic Touch" and "Great Pretender."
The original group formed in 1953. It consisted of Buck Ram, Tony Williams, David Lynch, Alex Hodge, and Herb Reed. Zola Taylor later replaced Hodge, and eventually left the group and formed the Zola Taylor Platters.
Freddie Davis Jr., one of the cast members at the Castaways, performed with the Taylor group at age 17. He also has performed with The Drifters' tribute group and with various Coasters.
Biscardi notes that each of his tribute groups has at least one member that is somehow connected to the originals.
Following the Platters were the Shirelles, featuring Mary Williams (she sang lead vocals and background for Doris Jackson, a founding member of the original Shirelles).
Among the original group's hits performed by the Castaway tribute artists were "Soldier Boy" and "Tonight's the Night."
Last, but not least, were the Temptations.
Formed in Detroit in 1960, among the hits of the originals were "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" and Smokey Robinson's "The Way You Do The Things You Do" and"My Girl."
David Ruffin joined the Temptations in 1964 and was with the group for some of its greatest hits.
When Ruffin left, he formed his own version of the Temptations.
Several of the cast members of the Temptations tribute group at Castaways performed with Ruffin, including Cleveland Jones Jr., Gerald Stephen Bell and Al Boyd.
With today's musical entertainment leaning heavily toward the younger crowds, it's nice to find a production older fans can enjoy -- and for that you've got to respect the Castaways.
archive
