Columnist Jerry Fink: Love is in the air at Tropicana lounge

Friday, Feb. 6, 2004 | 8:31 a.m.

There seems to be a trend setting in of former soap opera actors becoming musicians and performing in Las Vegas lounges while they develop shows.

But it isn't a big trend. As far as I know so far there are only two such cases.

Joy Gian, who appeared as Tom Ryan in the prime-time soap "Knots Landing," performs Wednesday nights at the Bootlegger. The former rocker (he placed second in the Ed McMahon-hosted "Star Search" in 1985) leans toward standard tunes these days.

Gian, who still has an acting career going in Hollywood, says he came to Vegas to develop a couple of shows he wants to stage locally.

The singer/actor should drop by the Tropicana's Celebration Lounge and say hello to singer/actor Peter Love, who might be best known for his role as Ricardo Castillo on the daytime soap "Santa Barbara" and as Mark D'Angelo in "Ryan's Hope."

Love (a guitarist) and his combo TKO recently began a six-month gig on the Strip. The band also includes vocalist Maralee Marquette, vocalist/bass guitarist Tony Love (no relation to Peter) and drummer/percussionist Mario Basner.

The California-based group originally came to the Tropicana for a week but their mix of music has been so popular with the diverse crowds that TKO's contract was extended. During any given show (8 p.m. to 1:45 a.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays) fans might hear disco, Latin, classic rock, alternative rock, country, hip-hop and R&B.

"I haven't seen anything like this in Las Vegas yet," Love said. "We are extremently different from the norm here. We do a really wide variety of music. We try to appeal to everyone from ages 21 to 60."

He said his eclectic taste in music comes from his background.

"I've always loved a wide variety of music," Love said. "My mother is Spanish and likes Latin. My father likes country and western. I like R&B and rock. Growing up, I listened to jazz and classical. So I like pretty much everything."

Music may be in the family genes.

There's no evidence, but he could be related to Beach Boy Mike Love.

"Supposedly we may be distant cousins, going back to our ancestors in Ireland," Love said.

Love was happy with being given an extended contract. It gives him the chance to develop "Casino," a daytime soap opera that would be based in Las Vegas.

"That's really what brought us here," he said.

Love says he has written the pilot, which has been funded. After it's shot he will present it to the networks.

Meanwhile, he's having a blast knocking out the fans with TKO at the Tropicana.

Love says he hopes to incorporate jam sessions, a night when local entertainers come and perform with the group.

"We're going to make this the place to be," he said.

Lounging around

A going-away party for popular lounge entertainer and Frank Sinatra tribute artist Gary Anthony will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Capozzoli's, 3333 S. Maryland Pkwy.

Anthony, who has been performing in Vegas for 10 years, recently signed a deal with Spirit of the Dance, a production company that produces the show of the same name along with other shows.

The company has hired Anthony and his Rat Pack tribute group (including Bill Whitton as Dean Martin and Allen Gregory as Sammy Davis Jr.) to perform with the organization for three weeks in Johannesburg, South Africa, beginning Feb. 15. When the tour ends, Anthony says he and his crew will join "Spirit" for a two-year engagement at the the Palace Theater in Myrtle Beach, S.C., beginning March 20.

Comedian Bernie Allen, who died Jan. 16, would have celebrated his 88th birthday Feb. 25 at the Bootlegger, 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South. For the past three years the party was used as a means of collecting clothing for the homeless, a cause dear to the heart of the comic who was brought to Las Vegas in the '60s by Frank Sinatra.

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt (owner of the Bootlegger) and other friends of Allen are going to continue the tradition, hosting a memorial birthday party in his honor from noon until 4 p.m. on Feb. 25. The price of admission is an article of clothing, a blanket, food or toiletries.

Keyboardist Dennis Mellen, who hosts a jam session Wednesday nights at Capozzoli's, is now performing Monday and Tuesday nights at the City Lights Bistro, 4850 W. Flamingo Road.

City Lights formerly was the Kitchen Cafe, where Mellen held jazz sessions for several years until the Kitchen closed last year. Restaurateur Michael Karafantis took over the site, remodeled it and is now working to bring back the musical atmosphere that was so popular at the old location.

Vocalist Lou Martinez, another regular at Capozzoli's (Thursday nights), now heads a dance band Friday and Saturdays at Cafe Nicolle, 4760 W. Sahara Ave. The music begins at 9 p.m.