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November 12, 2009

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Howard taking his versatile show to Stardust

Friday, Nov. 11, 2005 | 10 a.m.

Who: Robbie Howard.

When: 2 p.m. today, Monday and Tuesday. The show closes after Tuesday.

Where: Westward Ho's Crown Room.

Rating (out of five stars): ****

Watching Robbie Howard perform you wouldn't know that his last performance at the Westward Ho will be Tuesday.

Of course he won't be without an audience long -- he debuts Nov. 21 at the Stardust's Starlight Lounge, where he will perform two shows daily beginning at 1 p.m.

Howard never seems to let things bother him.

He exudes enthusiasm as he works his fans, wringing out the laughter and applause that have been driving him since he began in show business more than 25 years ago in Anaheim, Calif.

The show opens with a lively "Jump, Jive and Wail" and rarely slows down after that.

It's a bargain, especially for the price of admission -- a $6.95 drink minimum.

The hour zips by.

"When I was 9 years old I dressed up as Elvis Presley and won my first contest," Howard chatted with the audience after the opening. "My folks said to me, 'Son, someday you're going to play Vegas and charge upwards of $6.95 a drink minimum.' "

He said he was brought up attending a Baptist church. To build up attendance the preacher had him sing before services.

"Pretty soon we had so many people we started charging a $6.95 drink minimum," Howard joked.

The hour is filled with jokes, impressions and music.

He noted that he once dated a beautiful, but dumb, girl. They parked in his truck, and after 45 minutes of kissing, he asked, "Do you want to get in the back of the truck?"

"No," she replied. "I want to stay up here with you."

Howard's backup band includes three of the best musicians in Vegas -- drummer Jimmy Racey, keyboardist Pat Marlin and saxophonist David Poe.

Poe and Marlin play several instruments. At one point both play two saxophones at the same time.

And Poe does a great New Orleans jazz number on a clarinet.

Marlin does an impression of Willie Nelson, joining in a duet with Howard as Julio Iglesias.

After the duet, Howard (as Iglesias) spends time mingling with the audience, explaining how to make love to a woman.

Howard, as Johnny Carson, introduces himself as Tom Jones, Randy Travis and others.

His closing includes a bit in which he does a rapid-fire series of impressions, from Wayne Newton to Roger Whitaker.

Howard announced to his fans earlier this week the show was closing because the Westward Ho was going to be torn down and replaced by condominiums.

"I can't imagine paying $3 million for a condo to look out the window at a McDonald's," he said.

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at jerry@lasvegassun.com.

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