Wayne Newton performs with 13 instruments. Fourteen, if you count electric clippers.
Mr. Las Vegas showed up to shorn down Monday night at The Composers Room at Historic Commercial Center. Newton was the unbilled legend lending his time and, for a time, barber skills to shave this scribe’s dome for charity.
Having just finished his show at the Flamingo, Newton arrived deep into the show dubbed “All Vegas All Night.” Damian Costa, who has the city’s entertainment and hospitality in his blood, operates the venue. The event was our annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation event to support the organization’s fight against childhood cancer.
Newton showed up at the packed venue just as Kelly Clinton-Holmes was turning in her terrific impression of The Midnight Idol. Or, in this instance, the 10 p.m. Idol.
Clinton-Holmes started “Danke Shoen” when Newton arrived, halting to mug with music director and co-host Kenny Davidsen. He then grooved behind Clinton-Holmes and grabbed her shoulders, the song braking.
“Wait a minute!” Clinton-Holmes called out. “What’s your name?”
“Kelly Clinton!” Newton called out. Clinton-Holmes then knocked off her black wig, which was voluminous, and scrambled from the stage.
The bit was decades in the making. Clinton-Holmes was one of Newton’s backing singers in her early 20s. Other than an impromptu performance from the crowd at a Newton’s show at Bally’s in 2018, she had never performed the tribute for the superstar.
Newton was then provided a pair of clippers from J.J. Jones and Traci Simon, the married couple who co-owns of Get a Haircut at New Orleans Square in Commercial Center. The shop’s catch phrase: “Combining classic cuts with classic rock!” They are rock-obsessed at this place.
Newton made a reverse-Mowhawk pass and messed me up pretty well. We then called out to auction the balance of the shave, with annual St. aldrick’s supporter Brenda Williams taking the $1K prize. Williams topped last year’s shave auction at The Space, too.
It was the type of event where you could introduce broadcast icon Al Bernstein to pop icon Debbie Gibson. They had never met. Who of these two sang? Bernstein. Gibson’s voice was a croak, but the crowd was happy to selfie-up with the “Only In My Dreams” hitmaker.
Las Vegas native Franky Perez unloaded “Proud Mary” to open. Brian Newman showed up as a guest but wound up performing “New York State of Mind.” This is which is what you get when you’re Lady Gaga’s bandleader, on your way to Bruno Mars’ Pinky Ring, and you show up with your trumpet.
Stand-up star Luenell cut through the live-music energy to deliver a great set, just before returning to Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, where she slays on Sundays and Mondays.
Vegas’ great impressionist Johnny Di Domenico sang a custom-lyric to “King Herod’s Song” from “Jesus Christ Superstar.” He re-wrote that song with Vincent John of Bronx Wanderers, who later sang ELO’s “Don’t Bring Me Down.”
Stand-up star Luenell cut through the live-music energy to deliver a great set, just before returning to Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, where she slays on Sundays and Mondays.
In all, we took in more than $6,800, combining ticket sales and straight donations. We offer a social media post for any donation at or above $100 (StBaldricks.org is the site). That opportunity is ongoing, through the March 16 shaving event at New York-New York’s Brooklyn Bridge.
We give a nod to those who participated. The stars of the show, not quite in order of appearance:
The D.C. Magic Tones (David Copperfield-sponsored ensemble): Davidsen on keys; Brandon Turchiano on trombone; Kevin Mullinax on trumpet; Rob Stone on sax; David Ramirez on drums; Christian Phifer on guitar; Dennis Blair on bass; backing singers Paige Strafella, Jerry Jones.
St. Baldrick’s speech: Brian McMullan
Luenell: Stand-up set
Franky Perez — “Proud Mary” – Tina Turner.
Dana Daye: “Unchained Melody” – Righteous Brothers.
Brenda Mandabach: “River Deep, Mountain High” – Celine Dion.
Carl John: BattleBorn (Vegas Golden Nights) – John.
Chadwick Johnson: “Simply The Best”- Tina Turner.
Rita Lim: “I Honestly Love You” – Olivia Newton-John.
Bernstein: “Going To Chicago.” – Joe Williams.
Clint Holmes: “Stand By Me” – Ben E. King.
Amanda Lee Myers: “The Wizard And I’ – “Wicked”
Di Domenico: “King Herod’s Song” – “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
Zonya De La Guardia: “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor.
Stephanie Calvert: “I See Red” – “Everybody Wants To Be An Outlaw.”
Vincent John & Vin Adinolfi: “Don’t Bring Me Down” – Electric Light Orchestra.
Keith Thompson: “I Can Give You Anything But Love.”
Chris Phillips & Kendra Daniels: “APT.” – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars.
Monique Maffei Hester: “Not While I’m Around” – Barbra Streisand.
Kelly Vohnn: “Don’t Rain On My Parade” – Streisand.
Seth Robichaux: “That’s Life” – Frank Sinatra.
Joe DiNunzio: “Philadelphia Freedom” – Elton John.
Chris Marion: “Takin’ It To The Streets” – Doobie Brothers.
Christina Balonek: “Love On The Brain” – Rihanna.
Nieve Malandra: “To Love Somebody” – Nina Simone.
Enoch Augustus Scott — “Lady Is A Tramp” — Frank Sinatra.
David Nicoll – “Boy Band Remix.”
Jerry Jones: “Can’t Buy Me Love” – The Beatles.
Paige Strafella: “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” – Nancy Sinatra.
Kevin Mullinax: “Walking In Memphis” – Marc Cohn.
Clinton-Holmes: “Dancing On The Ceiling” – Lionel Richie; Bald Headed Men.
Kenny Davidsen: “Saturday In The Park” – Chicago.
Dennis Blair — “Take It To The Limit” – The Eagles.
Christian Phifer: While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Beatles.
Nelson Teran:“Piano Man” — Billy Joel
Brian Newman: “New York State Of Mind” – Joel.
Christine Shebeck: “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” – Sara Bareilles cover.
And, yours truly, with “(Everything I Need) Almost” – Blues Brothers.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
Following are the entertianers and song, in rough order, from Monday night’s St. Baldrick’s/Johnny Kats birthday party event, “All Vegas All Night” at Damian Costa’s The Composers Room at Historic Commercial Center.
Music director-host: Kenny Davidsen
“Auxillary” host: Kelly Clinton Holmes
The D.C. Magic Tones: Davidsen on keys; Brandon Turchiano on trombone; Kevin Mullinax on trumpet; Rob Stone on sax; David Ramirez on drums; Christian Phifer on guitar; Dennis Blair on bass; backing singers Paige Strafella, Jerry Jones.
Celebrity superstar guest-shaver: Wayne Newton
St. Baldrick’s speech: Brian McMullan
Luenell: Stand-up set
Dana Daye: “Unchained Melody” – Righteous Brothers
Brenda Mandabach: “River Deep, Mountain High” – Celine Dion
Carl John: BattleBorn (Vegas Golden Nights) – Carl John
Chadwick Johnson: “Simply The Best”- Tina Turner
Rita Lim: “I Honestly Love You” – Olivia Newton-John
Al Bernstein: “Going To Chicago”
Clint Holmes: “Stand By Me” – Ben E. King
Amanda Lee Myers: “The Wizard And I’ – “Wicked”
John Di Domenico: “King Herod’s Song” – Jesus Christ Superstar
Franky Perez — “Proud Mary” – Tina Turner
Zonya De La Guardia: “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
Stephanie Calvert: “I See Red” – Everybody Wants To Be An Outlaw
Vincent John & Vin Adinolfi: “Don’t Bring Me Down” – Electric Light Orchestra
Keith Thompson: “I Can Give You Anything But Love”
Chris Phillips & Kendra Daniels: “APT.” – ROSÉ & Bruno Mars
Monique Maffei Hester: “Not While I’m Around” – Barbra Streisand (Db Major – D Major)
Kelly Vohnn: “Don’t Rain On My Parade” – Barbra Streisand
Seth Robichaux: “That’s Life” – Frank Sinatra
Joe DiNunzio: “Philadelphia Freedom” – Elton John
Chris Marion: “Takin’ It To The Streets” – Doobie Brothers
Christina Balonek: “Love On The Brain” – Rihanna
Nieve Malandra: “To Love Somebody” – Nina Simone
Enoch Augustus Scott — “Lady Is A Tramp”
David Nicoll – Boy Band Remix
Jerry Jones: “Can’t Buy Me Love” – The Beatles
Paige Strafella: “These Boots Are Made For Walkin'” – Nancy Sinatra
Kevin Mullinax: “Walking In Memphis” – Marc Cohn
Kelly Clinton-Holmes: “Dancing On The Ceiling” – Lionel Richie; Bald Headed Men; (as Wayne Newton); Danke Schoen
Kenny Davidsen: “Saturday In The Park” – Chicago
Dennis Blair — “Take It To The Limit” – The Eagles
Christian Phifer: While My Guitar Gently Weeps – The Beatles
Nelson Teran:“Piano Man” — Billy Joel
Brian Newman: “New York State Of Mind” – Billy Joel
Christine Shebeck: “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” – Sara Bareilles cover
John Katsilometes: “(Everything I Need) Almost” – Blues Brothers