Columnist Jerry Fink: At any age, Sonny King still draws a crowd

Friday, April 8, 2005 | 8:30 a.m.

No one knows for sure how old Sonny King is -- not even Sonny King.

"The big question is how old am I," he said following a birthday party last Friday at the Bootlegger Bistro. "When someone asks I say, 'Can you keep a secret?' and they say, 'Sure,' and I say, 'Well good because I've got a secret.' "

King, born on April 1, once commented that he started performing around the age of 10 and he gave so many different ages over the years that he isn't sure anymore which one is correct.

It's probably a safe bet that he's in his early 80s, probably 83 or 84.

But whatever his age in years, King will always be young at heart -- especially when he steps into the spotlight and entertains fans.

And there was a roomful of them at King's birthday party, which was combined with the fourth anniversary of the debut of "Off the Cuff," the late show King hosts Friday and Saturday nights.

Among the well-wishers was state Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, a friend of King's who got to know the singer in the early '60s, when Raggio was Washoe County district attorney and King was performing in Reno, Tahoe and Vegas as the opening act for Jimmy Durante.

Also on hand was Maynard Sloate, who produced shows in the Tropicana Blue Room from 1965 to 1971 before moving to the Plaza, where he produced several Broadway shows well into the 1980s.

But most of the honoree's closest friends came to perform, court jesters for the King. The full evening of entertainment was put together by Peggy King, his wife of seven years.

Comedian Joey Villa, filling in for an ailing Freddie Bell, hosted the evening, which included performances by such notables as jazz great Buddy Greco, impressionist Babe Pier and Frankie Scinta of "The Scintas" at the Rio.

Entertainer Carme Pitrello yodeled, comedian Peter Anthony befuddled everyone with his rapid-fire one-liners and Darin Ames sang.

Comedian Kathleen Dunbar got off several good zingers.

"I went to see the Titanic exhibit at the Tropicana the other day," she said. "Sonny, they found your luggage."

Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, owner of the Bootlegger, sang for King. So did her companion, Dennis Bono.

And then Bono and Hunt performed a duet, "Slow Boat to China."

"My father would make me watch Jimmy Durante on TV when I was a kid," Bono said. "He said, 'Durante is a real performer -- watch how his sidekick works with him.'

"The sidekick was Sonny King, and never in my life did I ever think I would get the chance to meet and become a friend with Sonny King. My grandfather would be very proud."

It was an evening filled with affection for King, who was suffering from a cold and allergies but was temporarily healed by the glow of the adoration and the spotlight.

Ron Mancuso, Hunt's son, created a video of King -- splicing together performances from TV in the early '60s and from the 1964 film "Robin and the Seven Hoods," starring Frank Sinatra.

One clip was of King performing with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.

King introduced the legendary duo, and when they first teamed up he actually performed with them as part of the Three Lads -- but he soon left for a gig in the Catskills and then, in the early '50s, came to Las Vegas, where he worked for years in various lounges.

Throughout his long career, King has made countless friends.

"The people that show up for the party, (they) put a thrill in me," he said. "You know, I've seen it all and I've done it all, but I miss my friends that are gone -- Dean and Frank.

"I want to live as long as I can, but if I should die tomorrow I will have no regrets."

Lounging around

Cash Farrar and his Sax Express Trio are performing at Thumper's, 3870 E. Flamingo Road, from 9 p.m. to midnight Saturdays. Catch Farrar from midnight to 4 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays at Steven David's, 545 E. Sahara Ave.

Vocalist Karin Denise has joined Lou Martinez at Zingers, 1000 E. Sahara Ave. Denise will perform from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and then join Martinez from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.