When Vegas tenors perform Sunday, original member won’t be singing along

By Jerry Fink (contact)

Friday, May 30, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Fans of the four Las Vegas Tenors will notice something missing from the photo advertising an upcoming performance at the Las Vegas Hilton.

The picture shows only three tenors — the image of Mark Giovi has been neatly cropped from the lineup.

Perhaps the group didn’t have time to shoot a new photograph and so did the expedient thing by simply excising Giovi.

Dissension in the ranks surfaced recently when it was announced that Giovi was dropping out of the group because he didn’t want to travel and wanted to pursue his own career.

That isn’t true, says the 39-year-old Giovi, who is known for his wide vocal range and a repertoire that spans rock, pop and opera.

“The only thing I can say is that what was in the news release was not accurate,” Giovi says. “Maybe it was just a misunderstanding on their part, but I want to let people know I didn’t leave to start a solo career or because I couldn’t travel.”

He declined to go into detail about the split, which caught many off-guard.

“The reason for the split-up, I guess I would say, is that there were some business differences we couldn’t resolve,” Giovi says. “Because we couldn’t resolve them I didn’t figure it was going to progress in a positive fashion, so instead of waiting for it to get worse, I guess I wanted to get out as friends and loving everybody in the group.

“I’m not mad at anybody. It might be a difference of opinion. That’s really all it is. I think they are great guys and I wish them all the best of luck in the world. They’re all great singers and great performers and I enjoyed performing with them. But I think it’s time I moved on and do something else, with myself or some other people. I have a few things I’m thinking of now I could possibly put forth.”

Including, he says, his own version of the Las Vegas Tenors. Meanwhile he continues to be a cast member of the late-night musical “Bite” at the Stratosphere. And he has a backup band he performs with at corporate gigs and other events and will devote more time to that side of his career.

The Las Vegas Tenors were organized by Bill Fayne three years ago. When the group debuted at the Bootlegger Bistro on May 22, 2005, it consisted of Fayne, Giovi and Bobby Black. Teddy Davey joined later.

The popularity of the group has been steadily rising, perhaps following the increased interest in “popera” — the blend of opera and pop music. The Tenors have performed at several venues in town as well as in a couple of out-of-town gigs. Their next engagement will be Sunday at the Las Vegas Hilton, the site of their first major engagement, about a year ago.

Chris Coyne, a singer with “Folies Bergere” at the Tropicana, has replaced Giovi for the Hilton engagement. It is not certain whether he will be a permanent replacement.

“We’re not really trying to replace Mark,” Fayne says. “I don’t know if we will replace him. We may just go with the three of us or have a guest performer.”

The split seems amicable. Neither side expressed bitterness with the other.

“There are no hard feelings,” Fayne says. “We love Mark. We’re going to miss him in the group. He brought so much to us. His leaving was not our decision, it was his decision. Whatever he says the reasons are, are his reasons. We didn’t have any musical differences.”

Both Fayne and Giovi say a reconciliation is possible.

“I would still love to sing with all of them again,” Giovi says. “But I’m not planning on sitting around doing nothing. I’m going to move forward. I’m not going away.”

Fayne says, “Mark and I talked. We haven’t closed the door.”

But for now, the Las Vegas Tenors have lost one of their founding members.

“They give their all,” Giovi says. “They’ll do great at the Hilton. I want to come by and see the show. It might be a little weird, but it’ll be nice to sit in the audience and watch them.”