Wayne Newton

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By Leila Navidi · May 15, 1905 · 9:55 a.m.

Known as "Mr. Las Vegas," Wayne Newton has dazzled audiences in many Strip casinos, including the Flamingo, Stardust, Las Vegas Hilton, Desert Inn, Frontier, Sands, Bally's, Caesars Palace and the MGM Grand. He now performs at the Tropicana in his new show, "Once Before I Go."

Wayne Newton's abandoned jet rots at Michigan airport: Thursday, February 4, 2010; Associated Press; WATERFORD, Mich. -- Officials say singer Wayne Newton owes a Detroit-area airport more than $60,000 after abandoning his plane more than three years ago and leaving it to gather mold.

Readers' Memories of Wayne Newton: Tuesday, November 10, 2009; As part of our blowout coverage of Wayne Newton, we asked our readers for their favorite memories of Mr. Las Vegas.

Wayne Newton performs as a photo of him as a young man flashes on the screen during the opening night performance Wednesday of "Once Before I Go" at the Tropicana. The show traces Netwon's career and has him singing duets with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, who appear on video screens.

Wayne Newton: The story, but not the sound: REVIEW: The only thing fans will enjoy about this show is the memories it evokes; Monday, November 2, 2009; By Joe Brown; I had been warned that Wayne Newton can’t sing anymore. Apparently it’s been common knowledge for years that his voice is shot.

Wayne Newton sued twice this week over alleged unpaid bills: Courts:; Friday, July 17, 2009; By Steve Green; Entertainer Wayne Newton has been sued twice this week by creditors claiming to be owed tens of thousands of dollars. In one lawsuit, Newton is accused of failing to pay $32,384 for hay delivered to his Las Vegas ranch -- presumably for consumption by his horses at the ranch.

Showtime: How Sin City evolved into 'The Entertainment Capital of the World': Thursday, May 15, 2008; By Ed Koch, Mary Manning, Dave Toplikar; Before central air conditioning and eye-catching neon lights, the Las Vegas Strip entertainment scene started in the western-themed El Rancho Vegas, a motor lodge located on Highway 91.

Wayne Newton owned the Strip: 'Mr. Las Vegas' will go down as entertainer, but also owned the Aladdin; Thursday, May 15, 2008; By Ed Koch; In 1980, Wayne Newton, affectionately known as “Mr. Las Vegas,” got a taste of what Frank Sinatra had experienced for much of his life — accusations of mob association.

All the Joy and Wayne: Deep into a career that started in Las Vegas lounges nearly 50 years ago and made him a cultural icon, Mr. Las Vegas still does it his way.; Friday, December 7, 2007; By John Katsilometes; The car sits stationary, gleaming in the sun, but the wheels in Wayne’s Newton’s brain are spinning, burning rubber. His Rolls-Royce is dented. It’s the slightest imperfection, no larger than a dime, appearing as if someone has pressed a thumb hard into the car’s fender. The disfigurement is so indecipherable that it has long escaped notice by dozens of discriminating eyes that tend to the structures, vast menagerie and exotic vehicles at his home, Casa de Shenandoah.

Viva Wayne Vegas: Friday, June 10, 2005; By John Katsilometes; It is Wednesday afternoon, and Casa de Shenandoah is Casa de Chaos. Wayne Newton is conducting an orchestra of animals -- penguins, ducks, geese, cranes, horses, wallabies, swans, peacocks and an umbrella cockatoo -- as he performs promos for an MTV "TRL" crew. The assorted cameramen, producers and publicists are shooting a half-dozen or so spots featuring Newton at his famous ranch with his assortment of animals as part of the "TRL: Summer On The Strip" series.

Today, fans are the voice of Wayne Newton: Friday, May 2, 2003; By Jerry Fink; Wayne Newton is a phenomenon, a living icon -- of Las Vegas, of show business, of patriotism -- who continues to be a must-see for fans even though his singing voice has become troublesome.

Wayne's (other) World: World-renowned Arabian horses remain a passion for Mr. Las Vegas: Wednesday, April 23, 2003; Elizabeth McCall; The two are reunited in time to join five other foals and mares in a grass pasture flanked by white fences and shady trees. Newton is just warming up. He next grabs the lead rope to the glistening stallion, WN Ibn Ali, who is prancing and snorting, clearly intent on impressing two mares in an adjacent paddock.

Newton takes on role of gaming advocate: Monday, March 12, 2001; By Jeff German; The casino industry has enlisted the help of entertainer Wayne Newton in the first nationwide, grass-roots campaign to bolster its political clout in Washington.

Brush fire spreads onto Wayne Newton property: Monday, August 21, 2000; Mary Manning and Jean Reid Norman; An urban wildfire Sunday in a Clark County park scorched 37 acres of a nature preserve before jumping a 10-foot wall and burning an acre of brush on the property of entertainer Wayne Newton. The fire also burned 11 acres adjacent to the park that are believed to be owned by Newton.

Wayne Newton recalls resort's troubled past: Friday, August 18, 2000; By Ed Koch; Entertainer Wayne Newton marvels at the pending grand reopening of the Aladdin hotel-casino, a property he once owned, because he believes if Nevada gaming authorities of the late 1970s had their way, it would have vanished forever.

Newton proves he's still a master in Stardust debut: Friday, January 28, 2000; Joe Delaney; Wayne Newton had a blue-ribbon audience with celebrities plus local movers and shakers for his opening night Monday in the newly renamed Wayne Newton Theater at the Stardust.

New Year's Eve was a full day for Mr. Las Vegas: Monday, January 3, 2000; By John Katsilometes; I'm riding shotgun with my new very good friend, Wayne Newton, in a shiny black Rolls-Royce with the initials "W.N." painted in small letters on each door. We're screeching along Industrial Road, late for an interview with tiny broadcast journalism superstar Connie Chung at the Bellagio.

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The Kats Report

Life in the Limelight: Wayne Newton

2:00 a.m. 11

Wayne Newton is going to tell a story, and it’s not about his playing poker with Sinatra, recording with Bobby Darin or counseling Elvis about his divorce. It’s about the day he realized Vegas was home. It speaks volumes about Newton, 50 years a Vegas showman and now headlining through April in what might be his final residency in Las Vegas, the autobiographical “Once Before I Go” at the Tropicana.

The Kats Report

Newton's recounting of Beach Boys controversy a telling moment in 'Once Before I Go'

Wayne Newton performs as a photo of him as a young man flashes on the screen during the grand opening night of Wayne Newton's "Once Before I Go" at the Tropicana in Las Vegas Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009.

5:32 p.m. 6

In 1983, James Watt warned against "the wrong element," ditching The Beach Boys in favor of Wayne Newton, who still considers the event a "down moment" in his career.

Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch

News from Wayne, Holly, Vanna, Tracey at Wayne Newton’s premiere

Tropicana CEO Alex Yemenidjian and Vanna White at the grand opening of Wayne Newton's Once Before I Go at the Tropicana on Oct. 28, 2009.

12:31 p.m.

Wheel of Fortune TV personality Vanna White also plays the role of Beverly Hills, Calif., landlord in real life, and she once turned sufficient letters to evict ...

Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch

Photo Galleries: Wayne Newton’s DWTS partner surprises at premiere

Wayne Newton during his Once Before I Go grand opening show at the Tropicana on Oct. 28, 2009.

7:37 a.m.

It was a guest appearance that lasted less than 60 seconds, but it brought the house down! The entertainment legend had just told his opening-night audience ...

The Kats Report

Mr. Las Vegas seeks to keep nickname, which is fine with New Mr. Las Vegas

Wayne Newton answers questions Wednesday from the Tiffany Theater in the Tropicana. Tropicana announced Newton's new show "Once Before I Go" opening Oct. 14 and continuing through April.

6:38 p.m. 12

Wayne Newton has been known for decades as "Mr. Las Vegas," but George Wallace has been dubbed "The New Mr. Las Vegas." Can they co-exist?

The Kats Report

Newton's autobiographical 'Once Before I Go' set for Tropicana's Tiffany Theater

6:53 p.m. 3

Wayne Newton will relate the stories of his career during the show, but it is more than just a monologue.

Wayne Newton

Occupation: Singer, actor
Venue: Moved Oct. 14 to Tropicana's Tiffany Theater from MGM Grand.
Official Web page: www.waynenewton.com
Birthday: April 3, 1942, at Norfolk, Virg.
Birth name: Carson Wayne Newton
Years performing: Since 1962
Early life: He showed early skills at music and could play the guitar, steel guitar and piano by the age of 6. He appeared with his older brother, Jerry, on the Grand Ole Opry and auditioned for Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour. His severe asthma led his family to moved to Phoenix, Ariz., in 1952. When Wayne was in high school, an agent saw the two brothers perform and booked them jobs in Las Vegas for five years.
Breakthrough: A performance on "The Jackie Gleason Show" on Sept. 29, 1962, won him national acclaim. He became an opening act for Jack Benny and when Benny's show ended, he received his own headliner show. He also had many appearances on "The Jackie Gleason Show" and played characters on "The Lucy Show" in 1965 and "Bonanza" in 1966. He also has appeared in several films over the years, including "National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation" in 1997 and "Ocean's Eleven" in 2001.
Hits: Danke Schoen, 1963, reached No. 13 and became his signature song. His biggest hit was "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast," which reached No. 4 on the Billboard charts in 1972.
Notable: He has performed more than 30,000 solo shows in Las Vegas across 40 years, earning him the nickname, "Mr. Las Vegas."
Tickets: Vegas.com.