Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2007 | 7:23 a.m.
Who: Petula Clark
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Where: Suncoast
Tickets: $39.95 and up; 636-7075
Petula Clark was the second star to play at Caesars Palace when it opened in 1966.
Clark, who was riding the success of "Downtown" and "A Sign of the Times," sang the first concert at Caesars. Andy Williams opened the showroom with the stage production "Rome Swings."
The youthful 74-year-old Clark returns to Las Vegas to perform this weekend at the Suncoast.
She was a star of English radio and television when, in 1949, she cut her first record, a cover of Teresa Brewer's "Music! Music! Music!" But her career was on the wane when "Downtown" - a song meant for The Drifters - caught her attention and catapulted her into international stardom in 1965. She followed with a string of hits, including "I Know a Place," "I Couldn't Live Without Your Love," "My Love," "Don't Sleep in the Subway" and "Kiss Me Goodbye."
During a recent telephone interview from her home in England, Clark says she can't remember when she last performed here - it has been many years - but she does remember the first.
Q: Tell us about that first engagement.
The first time I was in Vegas? I'm bad about anything to do with numbers. I think I was the second date at Caesars Palace. Andy Williams opened Caesars and I was the next to perform there. I went in with Woody Allen, which was great fun.
You had a huge career in Europe - starting out as a child star in London - before fans in the United States became aware of you. Have things gone the way you wanted?
I don't think you're ever quite in control. My career has been sort of organic. I started when I was a kid - that, of course, I couldn't really choose what I was doing.
At first I wanted to be an actress. I didn't want to be a singer, actually, when I started. I was about 6 and my dad took me to see a play and I was totally mesmerized by the whole experience. My dad said to me afterward, because I was very quiet, he said, "What are you thinking?" and I said, "That's what I want to do. I want to be an actress," but I was 6 years old and there was not a lot going for girls 6 years of age in England at that time.
Was your father in show business?
No, not at all. I came form a middle-class family. When World War II happened, he was in the army. He was a nurse, actually, he was a nurse in a hospital, and so was my mother. We weren't wealthy. We didn't have any influence. It really just sort of happened. I was a singer first and became an actress a bit later on. I had a nice little voice. I wasn't a great singer, but I sang in tune, I sang in tempo, which are the basics you have to have.
When was your first professional performance?
Singing professionally, being paid, my first paid date I was 8. I was paid with a tin of coffee. I thought that was pretty great, actually.
You've had such a great career, enough for two or three lifetimes. Why not retire and live on a beach?
I don't think I would last very long on the beach. I mean I do like the beach. Don't get me wrong, I'm very good at just hanging out and relaxing, but not for too long. Why has my career lasted this long? I really couldn't tell you. I really just do what I like to do. It's true there have been several different phases in my career and obviously the '60s, as far as the public is concerned, was perhaps the most memorable time, but I was around before the '60s and I've done a lot of quite interesting, exciting things since the '60s.
I haven't been to Vegas for a long time, that's true, but there are lots of things apart from Vegas. I've done Broadway. I've done the London stage. I've been doing a lot of writing. I do my concert all over the world.
Are you still recording?
I am, actually. I have a CD album coming out very soon of duets. I know everybody is doing duets these days, but this is a bit different. These are duets I've done over the years - a famous one I did with Harry Belafonte; a duet with Oscar Peterson playing piano for me; a duet with Bobby Darin; Andy Williams; one with Dusty Springfield (who died in 1999).
I recorded the duet with Dusty a year ago. We used a tape that she had recorded but it was unfinished. Through the magic of technology I had the opportunity to go in and sing with her.
And I'm doing an album with Rod McKuen (Bay Area poet/author/songwriter big in the '60s and '70s). I've known him for years, and admired him for years before that. We always said we would record together one day, and the day has finally come.
Do you have a preference in what you do, or do you like the diversity?
I do like the diversity, but if I had to choose what I would really like to do most, it would be live performance, pretty well what I will be doing in Vegas. To me that's what this business is about and has been about for thousands of years, long before there was electricity and all the rest of it, you know. The business of an artist performing to an audience has been there for a long, long time, and I think that's really basically what our business is about. And to me there is nothing more wonderful than that feeling of communing that you have with an audience when you're performing live.
Do you do a lot of concert dates?
I do quite a lot. Sometimes I work a lot, then relax for six weeks, but never more than that. I do mostly live performances all over the world - after Vegas I will be in New Zealand and Australia. I work all over Europe. Yeah, that's really what I do. Live performances is what I do.
Was your first connection with Andy Williams at Caesars Palace?
I didn't perform with him at that time. I did several performances with him on his television show, but the first time that I really spent time with him was when I performed with him at his (Moon River) theater in Branson (Mo., in 2005). I found myself really becoming friendly with him. We do a great fun show together. That would be a great show to do in Vegas. He's a lovely guy and he still sings beautifully.
Las Vegas has changed a lot since those years. The venues have gotten larger. Do you prefer performing for larger audiences or smaller?
It's all pretty well the same to me, although there is a slight difference performing to a smaller audience - but it's all pretty well the same. A 2,000 seater is about the right size.
It's big and exciting but not too big that people can't really see you. It's two-way traffic - it's not just about me, it's also about the audience.
Have you performed in Vegas a lot over the years?
Quite a lot in the '60s and '70s, but I haven't performed there for a long, long time. I can't remember when I was there last. But I performed at Caesars Palace many times. I was at the Riviera, the Desert Inn.
What can fans expect from the show?
I would get lynched if I didn't do the usual things, the usual suspects. But I also will do some new things. I haven't quite worked out my program yet. I probably won't work it out till I get there. I've got a lot to choose from - my usual act is about 2 1/2 hours.
Can we expect you to perform more here in the future?
I don't really know. I'm kind of putting my toe back in the water. I haven't been to Vegas for a long time. We will have to play it by ear.
It's going to be great fun for me. I know it's changed a lot, but then I've changed a bit, too, so it should be interesting to see how we get on together.
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