Columnist Jerry Fink: Piano man Williams still at center stage

Friday, April 30, 2004 | 8:26 a.m.

Famed trumpeter and bandleader Harry James, who died in Las Vegas in 1983, had a profound impact on the life of cocktail pianist Bob Williams.

"In effect, he's why I ended up getting married and having two daughters," the 69-year-old entertainer recalled between sets at the Plaza's Center Stage lounge, where he has performed for three years.

The story of Williams' passing acquaintance with James began in Vegas in 1955, when the entertainment capital of the world was little more than a wide spot in the road.

Williams was an enlisted man in the Navy, en route to San Diego from Washington, D.C. He and three or four others were on a military hop.

"Some high muckety-mucks in San Francisco wanted the plane so we landed at Nellis Air Force base and gave us two extra days to get to San Diego."

It was a momentous two days, one full of vintage Las Vegas.

Williams said he had $60 in his pocket and free transportation.

"I checked into a dinky motel behind the Sahara," he recalled.

His next stop was the Sahara's Casbar Lounge, where the Mary Kaye Trio were performing.

"It wasn't very crowded, and I started kibbutzing with people," said Williams. "I was in uniform. They took pity on me."

Williams became acquainted with the group, especially with Frank Ross.

Then someone gave Williams a comp for a dinner show at the Sands.

"It turned out to be the opening show for Jerry Lewis right after his breakup with Dean Martin," Williams said.

The show was packed with celebrities, including James and his wife, World War II-era pinup legend Betty Grable.

After the show Williams returned to the Sahara, where he had an early breakfast with Ross.

"We were sitting down and Harry James came in," Williams said. "He was friends with the Mary Kaye Trio.

"He said, 'OK, who's going to buy me breakfast? I just lost my last dollar at the craps table.' "

Ross said he didn't have any money.

"We don't even have pockets," Ross said. "We just gave our last breakfast comp to Bob here."

Williams said he volunteered to buy James breakfast.

"At first he said he couldn't take money from a sailor," Williams recalled. "But then he said, 'OK, but only under one condition. After breakfast you stake me to a cab drive back to the Sands, and I'll get some money from Betty to repay you."

Williams rode to the Sands with James.

"He gave me $20," Williams said. "I had only spent about $6 on breakfast and the cab."

Williams hadn't had a chance to do any gambling, so he returned to the casino at the Sahara and sat down at a blackjack table where one other gambler was playing -- an older man who seemed to have trouble staying awake.

"I bet two or three hands and then someone tapped me on the shoulder," Williams said. "I looked around and there was Lou Costello.

"He said, 'Sailor, would you mind moving to another table? If you do, then they'll close this one and I can get Bud Abbott to go to his room.' I was playing with Bud Abbott and didn't even know it."

Costello also gave Williams $20.

Williams then continued his journey to San Diego, went overseas for a few months and then returned to his home port.

One weekend he went to Hollywood and happened to pass a nightclub where James was performing.

"I went in, thinking maybe I would get a free drink or something," Williams said.

Even though he was in civilian clothes, James recognized the man who had helped him out of a financial jam in Vegas.

Williams waited for James to finish a set.

"To kill time, I started dancing with a girl," Williams said. "Eventually, I married her."

Williams and his bride, Joanne, moved back to his native Virginia, near Washington, D.C. But when she became pregnant the couple returned to Los Angeles to be near her family.

He worked his way through college playing piano in cocktail lounges. Williams is a self-taught musician. He can't read music, but you would never know it.

"I plays by nose," he said. "If I knows it, I plays it. "

Williams lost his wife in '79. In '80 he returned to the Washington area to be with his aging parents. He made a living as a business consultant and piano player.

"I worked in the Pisces, one of the most famous private clubs in D.C.," Williams said. "It was in the Georgetown area. I played for Frank Sinatra, Liz Taylor and a lot of other celebrities.

"The Pisces was the only club, I think, that ever kept Robert Redford out because he didn't have a tie on."

In 2000, after his parents passed away, Williams returned to Vegas.

He started at the Center Stage Lounge in 2001 as a substitute for Joe Darro, the regular entertainer there.

The last time he saw James was in the early '70s. By then James and Grable were divorced.

"It was at a show at the Frontier," Williams said. "The performers were Phil Harris, Frank Sinatra Jr. and the Harry James Orchestra."

James remembered Williams from years earlier.

"I remember you," Williams quoted James. "Are you still married?"

Williams replied that he was.

"Well, you did better than I did," James said.

Lounging around

Look for multitalented vocalist Denise Clemente at the Cannery on May 4 through May 30. She will perform 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

On May 8, more than 20 belly dancers will participate in the International Belly Dancing Competition at City Lights Bistro, 4850 W. Flamingo Road.

From 8 p.m. to midnight Friday, May 7, and from 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday, May 8, dance band State of the Art will be performing at Addison's Lounge at the Rampart Casino in Summerlin.