Friday, March 11, 2005 | 6:11 a.m.
WEEKEND EDITION
March 12 - 13, 2005
Entertainer Kelly Clinton effervesces. She bubbles with enthusiasm regardless of what she might be doing, whether hosting Celebrity Karaoke at Bootlegger Bistro on Monday nights or performing Fridays and Saturdays at the exclusive Turnberry Place's Stirling Club, where she also is entertainment director.
When Clinton is on she sings, clowns, does impressions, tells jokes, smiles, laughs, draws everyone around her into her world of fun.
And she is rarely off.
Clinton moved to Vegas from New Jersey with her family at age 12; entertainment has been the essence of her life since age 19.
In 1983 she performed in a showcase at the now-defunct Maxim and was chosen to join the casino's house band, Mainstream.
She was with Mainstream for two years, and went on to perform with Wayne Newton, Engelbert Humperdinck, Sandy Hackett and a long list of other headliners.
Along the way she has performed as a comedian, an impressionist and (briefly) a television personality (on the now-defunct TV talk show "Vegas Live! With Clint Holmes and Sheena Easton").
Clinton, who declined to give her age, recently took time out to talk to the Las Vegas Sun about her latest gig as the entertainment director of the Stirling Club, where she is trying to re-create the atmosphere of old Las Vegas:
Las Vegas Sun: How is life treating you?
Kelly Clinton: Can I interview you first? Will you dance? Will you sing?
Sun: No. What is it like being the entertainment director of the Stirling Club?
KC: Actually, I love it. I'm really enjoying it. It's like being on both sides of the fence at once. I have much more respect for those in charge.
Sun: Have you ever done anything, professionally, besides entertain?
KC: I worked at a car wash when I was 18, which is how I paid for my first microphone.
Sun: What are your duties here?
KC: I sing on Friday and Saturday nights. I book the entertainment for Wednesdays and Thursdays. I book bands to do parties.
Sun: How did you get the gig?
KC: Michael Emery, the general manager, approached me about singing here. He had seen me on the television show, "Vegas Live," and he asked me what was I doing now that the show isn't on the air anymore. I told him I was doing what I had been doing forever, singing and being crazy.
He said, "Why don't you sing here?" He offered me the job with just the piano player and myself. I thought, "I don't know. The Stirling Club? A gown, a microphone and a piano? Do they know what I do?" Anyway, Michael came to the Bootlegger and heard me sing and offered me a few weeks here. Then they invited me back a few times. They liked me and then they had the idea for me to be the entertainment director.
Sun: How did your Friday and Saturday night shows evolve?
KC: When I first came in to sing, some of my friends that sing would come in and sit in with the band. It was kind of loose and fun and people liked it. Gordie Brown, Clint Holmes, Bill Fayne, even Sheena Easton came in.
I guess the management liked the energy of what was happening and thought maybe this was a way to get things going -- kind of a hangout for entertainers and singers -- and the residents and members responded well.
A lot of comments I get are like, "There's life happening again in the room. It was a little too quiet for awhile."
Sun: You have other entertainers on Wednesdays and Thursdays. What do they do?
KC: We ask singers to start out with dinner kind of music, but later on it usually turns into a party.
We have someone different in each week. Once Bill Fayne, Clint Holmes' musical director, did a special night. We had "Shades of Sinatra" -- three Frank Sinatra tribute artists on one stage. We're doing that again (Saturday).
I'm the only female member of the Elvis Choir -- nine Elvises and me. We did a convention party recently and I talked all of them into coming over here in Elvis suits -- full garb. It was so much fun. The people here didn't know what hit them when we came in. It was like the invasion of the Elvises. Nobody here recognized me.
Sun: Who is in your trio?
KC: Howie Gold on piano. Paul Stubblefield on drums and vocals and Tom Steele on everything -- saxophone, flute, clarinet, keyboards and vocals. He's 12 guys in one.
Sun: What do you like about the gig?
KC: The chance to perform Friday and Saturday nights. I can try all kinds of different songs. I can sing every song I ever wanted to, and with the caliber of my musicians I can do anyting.
Also, I get to hire people I admire, like (vocalist) Denise Clemente. It's exciting. I'm working on some new ideas too, sort of like "Shades of Sinatra" and the Elvis Choir.
Sun: You're very busy. What else are you working on?
KC: "The Entertainer," Wayne Newton's reality show. I worked with Wayne many years ago as a backup singer. He called me when they were filming "The Entertainer" and said he would like me to come in and do a special spot on the show -- I can't tell you what it is because it hasn't aired yet, but the contestants had to work us into their act, myself and this comedian/singer.
They had to work us into their act within 10 minutes -- stuff goes on, but I can't tell you what it is.
Sun: Are you doing any recording?
KC: I would love to record. So far my only original song is "The PMS Blues."
Sun: There have been a lot of changes in Vegas since you first arrived. Are they for better or worse?
KC: Vegas is still a really special place. I've gotten to meet some of my heroes -- Tony Bennett, Engelbert Humperdinck.
But the entertainment it isn't as much about entertainers as it used to be.
Sun: You've spent your entire adult life as an entertainer. What's the worst part about the business?
KC: The uncertainty. It's so unpredictable -- but that's also part of the excitement.
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