Monday, May 15, 2006 | 7:19 a.m.
Bobby Morris is a living encyclopedia of Las Vegas entertainment history.
I came to town in the early 50s as a drummer, Morris recalled, sitting in his office, which is lined with photographs of Elvis, Barbra Streisand, Billy Eckstine and dozens of other celebrities.
He became the drummer for the orchestra that played for shows at the Last Frontier, now the New Frontier.
Gene Krupa was in the lounge.
Sometimes he was a little lazy and asked me to play for him, Morris said. He was a wonderful man.
When Louis Prima came to town in 53, Morris was playing at the Black Magic, a local jazz hangout.
All the greatest jazz players would come in and sit in with us, Morris said. At the time, Las Vegas had big bands Count Basie, Harry James, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw; every top jazz player would come down to the Black Magic.
Sam Butera, saxophone player for Louis Prima and Keely Smith, eventually made his way to the club.
One evening he said Louis wanted to talk to me, Morris said.
Prima invited him to join the group, pointing out they were about to make it big with records and performing on TV specials for Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra.
I said I was happy where I was, Morris said. He asked me how much I was making, and I told him $200 a week he offered me $250.
And so for about 10 of Primas most productive years, Morris was his drummer performing in local lounges, on national tours and on television and records.
We recorded one album after another, and Prima became very, very big, Morris said. I was on all of his original recordings.
But eventually the ride came to a stop.
We were performing in Philadelphia when Louis and Keely split up, Morris said.
He chose to go with Keely because she paid more.
She offered me 2 1/2 times what Louis paid, Morris said. He was not a good paymaster.
He toured with Smith for a couple of years and then joined singer Bobby Darin. Once, while in Miami at a gig with Darin, he was asked to fill in for Sinatras drummer, who fell ill. The drummer was Irv Kluger, a longtime Las Vegas resident who died earlier this year.
I finished the week for Irv, and when it was over Sinatra invited me to his suite, and Jilly (Rizzo) gave me an envelope with $5,000 in it, Morris said.
In the late 1960s, in addition to performing, he opened a talent agency and began representing some of the top entertainers. Butera. Robert Goulet. Jerry Vale. Sonny King. Freddie Bell.
I was the No. 1 agent in Las Vegas at one time, Morris said.
He says he had 15 to 20 acts going at any given time.
Every lounge was a mini-theater and I had performers in all of them, Morris said. It was wonderful. And I had 76 bands working in Vegas and around the country this was before the disco era.
Eddie Fisher was one of two best men at his wedding. The second was someone he knew initially only as Dr. Goldberg.
I was introduced to this guy called Dr. Goldberg, Morris said. Thats what I called him for many years, Dr. Goldberg.
One day, Dr. Goldberg invited Morris to his villa in Mexico. When we got there, there were guys on the roof with machine guns, Morris said. I asked him why the machine guns and he said, Well Bobby, some people dont like me.
At that point, Morris said, Dr. Goldberg introduced himself as Sam Giancana.
Sam Giancana was a best man at my wedding, Morris said of the late Chicago mob kingpin.
In 1968 Morris was hired as the musical director and conductor for the new International Hotel (now the Las Vegas Hilton).
Harry James was supposed to be the conductor, but for some reason he decided not to do it, Morris said.
In addition to being the conductor for the venues house orchestra, Morris became conductor for the venues biggest star Elvis.
Col. Tom Parker, Elvis manager, took Morris to Hollywood to meet his one client and he ended up staying about six weeks helping Elvis put together his concert.
Elvis was a wonderful guy, a sweetheart, Morris said.
About 2,200 fans, mostly celebrities, turned out for the opening.
Streisand, who had opened the International showroom, asked him to introduce her to Elvis, and they became very good friends.
The names of those Morris worked with and befriended over the years would fill a celebrity telephone book. Donald OConnor. Bill Cosby. Buddy Rich. Connie Stevens. Louis Armstrong. Engelbert Humperdinck. Peggy Lee. The Mills Brothers.
He mentored Jaki Baskow, now one of the top talent agents in Las Vegas, if not the country.
I love Jaki, Morris said. She had a desk here at my office and would answer phones for me and for herself when she was just getting started.
The entertainment business has changed dramatically over the years.
The people that have taken over are corporate minded, only interested in the bottom line. The kids in charge of entertainment, to them entertainment is a lounge group that plays the Top 40.
Until two years ago, Morris had all but put aside his drumsticks, focusing on producing and running his agency, but a couple of years ago, public relations guru Sig Rogich asked him for a favor.
The Bohemian Club in San Francisco was having a tribute to Louis Prima and he asked me and Louis Prima Jr. to fl y up to perform, he said.
The gig went so well Morris was invited back to perform New Years Eve. Thats how it all started, Morris said. Im back to playing again.
He organized a group called the Divas three female vocalists with a 10-piece backup band who perform around town. The vocalists include Joanie Grant, who does a tribute to Peggy Lee; Ronnie Fabre, who does a Judy Garland tribute; and Mary Oliver, who pays tribute to Billie Holiday. Soon they will go on a 14-theater tour in Florida.
Morris also will soon be bringing jazz to the Downtown Coffee Club at Third Street and Bridger Avenue.
Although he has been working in Las Vegas more than 50 years, he shows no signs of slowing down.
Asked his age, he said. Age is just a number and in my case its unlisted.
Jerry Fink can be reached at 259- 4058 or at [email protected].
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