Vegas vocalists join Griffin for annual concert

Friday, March 4, 2005 | 8:28 a.m.

What began as a one-time-only concert three years ago has become an annual affair -- "Grant Griffin in Concert" at the Orleans.

Griffin, who is blessed with an amazing lyric baritone voice, will be joined Tuesday by three of Las Vegas' top female vocalists -- Patricia Welch, Jeneane Marie and Michaelina Bellamy.

Welch (who performed on Broadway with Yul Brynner in "The King and I") recently completed a concert tour with Robert Goulet. Michaelina performs at the Sahara's Casbar Lounge and Marie is busy touring and performing local gigs.

Griffin has sung for presidents (including Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan) and for British royalty during his more than 40 years as an entertainer.

They dynamic singers will be backed by conductor Lon Bronson and a 21-piece orchestra, with Bob Rosario on piano.

"There is nothing of this type of show in town," said Griffin, who first performed in Vegas at the Sahara in 1965. "It's a classy show that spans eons of time of great music that has stayed with us down through the years -- from Broadway to opera to middle of the road to bilingual songs."

The concert is co-produced by Griffin, Joe Corosh (an artist and restaurateur), Larry Matzkin and Larry Hart (who has produced, written and directed each of Griffin's recent concerts).

"We would like to do this once a month, or once a week," Griffin said. "It has such big, glorious music -- we are a Boston Pops type of show, but it isn't a stiff, black-and-white tuxedo affair.

"It is casual, very informal, and it spans such a great amount of music that it hits everyone from the teens to 120."

Griffin is known for his diversity -- singing Broadway tunes, pop and opera -- as are his three guest performers.

Welch grew up in a household that preferred country music but is a trained opera vocalist who is equally at ease with pop and Broadway.

"In Grant's show I wear the opera hat, but I'm not an opera singer," Welch said. "I have a four-octave range -- I sing everything from opera to country; that's what I am.

"About 90 percent of the time I'm doing Celine Dion or Faith Hill, the stuff out there in the pop industry today."

Welch says she is excited to be part of Griffin's production.

"I wish there was that one element here in Vegas that Grant's show has," Welch said. "His show has a level of class -- Vegas has so many great shows, but there is one element missing.

"If somebody would take that chance, it would add a new dimension to Vegas."

She noted that the upcoming show capitalizes on the diversity of the talent.

"We have everything that makes it a beautiful, high-talented, artistic show," she said.

Griffin said the show appeals primarily to locals.

"We do it during the week, so they don't have to fight the crowds on weekends," Griffin said. "It has worked out very well."

Although the cast is well-known locally, Griffin said the names aren't the draw.

"It's the quality of our show," he said. "That's what carries it, that and the talent of the performers -- all the girls have fabulous, powerful voices, unique in their own style."

Griffin said the concert will include about 25 songs, among them "Mariah," "Day In and Day Out," "Angelito Negro," "Sempre Libre" and "Danny Boy."

Each of the co-stars will sing two numbers and a duet with Griffin.

"Patricia has one of the finest soprano voices I have ever heard in my life," Griffin said. "She belongs at the Met; she belongs on Broadway.

"Jeneane Marie is a soul-type singer with a big voice and a style of her own. She can sing any kind of music.

"And the talented Michaelina, famous for her jazz, will be the Latin side of our show."

Griffin described the production as "majestic -- secular because of the quality of the music, all of which is specially arranged. Everyone does their own interpretations."