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Press Area
NORM: 'Kelvis' shimmys on ABC tonight (Jan 07, 2010) Kelly Clinton takes her Kelvis act coast to coast tonight on ABC's "Nightline." Clinton, the only female member of the locally produced Elvis Choir, is joining other Elvi on "Dateline" on the eve of what would have been Elvis' 75th birthday. She's been billing herself as Kelvis, "the imaginery love child of Ann-Margret and Elvis," since she was in high school in Palisades Park, N.J. She has Ann-Margret's flaming red hair and Elvis' many moves. While filming with an ABC interviewer this week, "I Elvis-ed out with all my moves and shimmys and scared him, I think," she said. She was new in town, working in a lounge at the old MGM Grand (now Bally's), when she caught her big break. Wayne Newton saw her walk-on performance at Bourbon Street in 1987 and had her join his show for a 10-year Elvis anniversary tribute. Elvis is just one of the characters she's created. The rest of the time she's a solo singer and comedian at the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place (Saturdays) and the Bootlegger Bistro (Mondays). http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/may/28/back-popular-demand-bootleggers-open-mic-night/ Open Mic Night (May 28, 2009) A popular weekly open mic night returns to the Bootlegger Bistro on Monday. The misnamed “Celebrity Karaoke” was one of the most popular weekly entertainment events in town during a three-year stay at the Bootlegger. It drew standing-room-only crowds every Monday night to hear a wide variety of entertainment, from rank amateurs to some of the most talented performers in town. There were singers and musicians and jugglers and comedians and puppeteers. And all of it was free. Entertainer Kelly Clinton, founder of the showcase, ended the revue two years ago for a variety of reasons. And she’s decided to bring it back to the Bootlegger, 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South — for a variety of reasons — beginning at 9 p.m. Monday. This time it will have a more descriptive title: “Kelly Clinton’s Open Mic Cabaret.” “It never really was karaoke; it’s just a name that stuck,” she said. One of the strongest motivations to bring back the show was public demand. “Everywhere I went people would ask me, ‘When are you coming back?’ ” she said. Another reason was an inspiring trip Clinton made to New York with her husband, Clint Holmes, and Bill Fayne, who performed many times at the celebrity night event. “Most of the shows on Broadway are dark on Mondays,” Holmes said. “On Monday nights, many of the performers will attend ‘Jim Caruso’s Open Mic Cast Party.’ Caruso is Liza Minnelli’s musical director, so you’re liable to hear Liza or almost anyone at the show.” Holmes and Clinton performed at the “Cast Party” and came away with a desire to resume the revue that had been so popular in Vegas. In addition to the new title, there will be a few other changes in the Bootlegger show. In the past a trio backed up the performers; now Clinton’s music director, Mike Clark, will play piano. The rest of the music will be on tracks. “We have thousands,” Clinton said. Also, there will be a greater attempt to encourage entertainers from the Strip to perform, mixing in with new talent. Some of the top new performers will appear on the “Dennis Bono Show,” a syndicated radio program taped Thursdays at Sam’s Town. And they will have a chance to be highlighted at another Bootlegger weekly event — Celebrity Showcase. “Entertainment is what makes this town special,” said Lorraine Hunt-Bono, whose family owns the Bootlegger. “Kelly Clinton’s Open Mic Cabaret” will make it a little more special. Shecky unsure about return By all accounts Shecky Greene’s return to Vegas after a nine-year absence was a success. All three nights of his engagement at the 500-seat Suncoast Showroom were sold out. Greene was in his usual hilarious form. The 83-year-old stand-up comedian showed younger comics how to make an audience laugh. The uncrowned king of comedy has not forgotten his craft. His timing is perfect. Before he left town to return to Palm Springs, Calif., he said he was happy with his performance and his fans. He liked the room — “just like the one I had at the Riviera. “I felt a lot of love with those audiences,” Greene said. “I’m very happy that I did it — but I don’t know that I would want to do it again. I have no plans to come back, at least not on a regular basis.” He’s ambivalent about his entertainment future in Vegas. He left it all on the stage. He sweated profusely as he went through his routine, which was like breezing down a superhighway and suddenly taking an exit ramp to another route which he traveled for a while and then got back on the main road. Greene kept several story lines going at once, leaving one behind to pursue another and then returning to the original anecdote. By the end of the show he was exhausted. “When you get to a certain age ...,” he said, leaving the rest unsaid. In addition to his three nights, Greene joined a long list of entertainers who appeared at a benefit to help victims of the recent earthquake in Italy. He performed a 20-minute set. “I thought I could go through these three days like nothing,” he said. “But Sunday afternoon I did the benefit and Sunday night it hit me. I don’t know how Don Rickles does it. He’s phenomenal. He does a lot of work.” He noted the dramatic changes in the town’s entertainment. “There’s not so much of the individual performers anymore,” Greene said. “I think Vegas misses that. It needs a little bit more variety, like Old Vegas.” He said he’d like to come back again if for no other reason than to see if he is still a draw to the general public. “Most of those who came to my shows at the Suncoast were more like friends of mine,” Greene said. He said maybe he’d like to try it on the Strip. “I say that now, but probably when it comes up, I won’t do it.” Or he might. “It’s too early to decide about coming back. Maybe I would consider once a month or so. My wife said from now on, no more than two shows. I said, ‘How about no shows?’ ” He said the only thing that troubled him about his three shows at the Suncoast was that he didn’t get a chance to do his George Burns bit. “I kept saying I’m going to do it tonight, going to do it tonight, and I didn’t do it.” Oh well, he can do the bit when he comes back. Or not. http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/norm/nj013009.htm It's The Norm (Jan 9, 2009) If you weren't at the Bootlegger Bistro last Sunday night, then shame on you! Of course, you may have been one of the 150 that had to be turned away, and that is a shame. Lorraine Hunt, owner of the Bootlegger, made a wise choice when she asked, Ms. Kelly Clinton, to assist her with lining up weekend entertainment for the Bistro. Sunday was the "whipped cream on top of a lovely cake." It was one of
the finest evenings of great entertainment this writer has had the privilege to
see and hear in a long, long time. There are times when perfection is impossible
to obtain. Well, gang, Sunday was as close to perfection as you can get. Ms. Clinton had booked one of the Las Vegas Tenors to do her "Celebrity Spotlight" at the Bistro last Sunday. Teddy Davey, he's the short guy of the three, asked Kelly if he could do a salute to composer Stephen Sondheim, and invite a few friends to join him. "The night's yours, Teddy," she replied. And, with that, Davey put the word out to his many friends, and before you could say, "lickety-split," he had more than 21 singers signed up to perform one song each from the hundreds of Sondheim classics. Davey opened the special evening with new words to "Comedy Tonight," which, of course, set the mood for the entire evening. This writer, and my best friend, Nancy Barr, along with more than 200 others (it was honestly a crowded standing room only Bistro) knew this was truly going to be a special evening. The first to follow the host was, Rebecca Kaufman, who selected "Broadway Baby" as her contribution to the evening. Chris Coyne, the singing emcee for the "Folies Bergere" at the Tropicana Hotel, followed with a dynamic, "Everybody Says Don't." Ms. Gayle Steele, who has performed with the Las Vegas Tenors and her brother, Clint Holmes, performed a marvelous "Send in the Clowns," which was followed by, George DeMott and Cody S. Gay, singing "Agony." Doug Baker, a professor of Theatre at the College of Southern Nevada, sang a great "Anyone Can Whistle." Gloria Marinacci Allen, who has performed with some of the finest Opera Companies in the world, did a beautiful rendition of, "One More Kiss." Domenick Allen, former lead singer with Foreigner, who now calls Las Vegas his home, joined his wife, Leigh Zimmerman, a veteran Broadway, film and television actress, who recently starred in "The Producers" at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel, to sing a beautiful "The Little Things You Do Together." The proud papa and momma then introduced nine-year old Cayleigh Capaldi, who wowed the audience with, "Children Will Listen." This little tyke, who also sang in the Clint Holmes Christmas Show, is not only talented (she has the right genes, that's for sure), but cute as well. She has a wonderful future ahead of her. Next in the lineup of talented entertainers was vocal coach, Kevin Sherrell, who performed "Not While I'm Around." Mollie T. was next with "The Boy From..." who was then followed by Bobby Black (one of the Las Vegas Tenors) who sang a great "Johanna." Lorena P and Kristy Barnes teamed up to sing "Getting Married Today," with Vita Corimbi next performing "The Ladies Who Lunch." The Sweet City Dolls, comprised of Robin Vinvent, Connie Murray and Natalie Carson, were terrific singing, "You Could Drive a Person Crazy." Bill Fayne, founder of the Las Vegas Tenors, selected a song from the Follies, "Losing My Mind," with the host, Teddy, coming to the stage to perform "Not a Day Goes By." It was now Ms. Clinton's turn to wow the audience with a fabulous rendition of "Sooner or Later," who then introduced her husband, Clint Holmes, to close the show with "Being Alive." With some 21 singers, singing in various keys, it took great musicians to accompany them, and Davey got the best: Angela Chan on piano, Bob Sachs on bass and Davy Nathan on keys. Ms. Hunt, and her husband, Dennis Bono, said it all following the 90 minute show, "If you give them great music and wonderful singers, the people will come out and support you." Asked when "Celebrity Spotlight," produced by Ms. Clinton, will do another special spotlighting a single composer, Clinton smiled and said, "Real soon!" Let's be Frank - vegasinsidetips.com A city such as Las Vegas, where entertainment thrives, has a stable of performers that have found local success through the years. They may be best described as known unknowns. Kelly Clinton is one of these entertainers. Clinton is “a kaleidoscope of talent.” No matter which performing direction she turns – singer, actress, comedienne, impressionist, television personality, emcee or events host – her charismatic rays always shine through. Entertainment has been the essence of her life as long as she can remember. Her “career” began in her living room in Palisades Park, the New Jersey city made famous in song by Freddie “Boom Boom” Cannon. It was there that she watched and learned from her idols, Carol Burnett and Lucille Ball. “I knew back then that I wanted to be on a sitcom,” recalls Clinton. “We moved to Las Vegas when I was 12 and then I wanted to be a headliner. In actuality, I wanted to do everything. I could never choose one thing, I was happy doing it all. “If someone comes to see my one-woman show, they will get to know me because I start from the beginning of my life’s adventure into entertainment and share with them what I’ve been through all these years. I always identified with Burnett and Lucy’s style of sketch comedy and didn’t worry about any glamour. I was always going for the humor, mimicking family members and trying for a laugh. “I also always loved to sing and dance. I never, even to this day, could make a decision on what I favored most.” Clinton was fortunate. Right out of high school she found singing jobs, which were “blessings and curses all at the same time,” she says looking back. “It was the time I should have moved to Los Angeles to try to find work on a sitcom,” explains Clinton, “but I didn’t and I have no regrets. I don’t feel I missed out on anything because I don’t feel that I’m done. I simple don’t believe in the too old, too late theory. You’re not done until you’re dead!” She continued, “As an actor there’s always a place to play real life characters. You can be a mother, then a grand mother; you can be skinny and or fat; funny or serious. I don’t believe on setting limits.” And she hasn’t. Clinton is currently headlining at the exclusive Stirling Club at Turnberry Towers where she also serves as entertainment director. Being an “entertainers’ entertainer” Clinton draws many of Las Vegas headliners and performers to her shows. Saturday nights often turn into an old Vegas-style jam session with Clinton sharing her stage with the likes of Bill Medley, Jack Jones, Clint Holmes, The Scintas, Gordie Brown, Mary Wilson and other Strip entertainers. She recently performed her one-woman show at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino and will do the same on Nov. 15 at the Summerlin Starbright Theatre. She will be appearing the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy National Telethon and has appeared in many of the Strip hotels for special events performances. Her celebrity nights at the Bootlegger Bistro and other local hot spots in town have been a big hit for many years. Clinton’s television credits include “Vegas Live” alongside Sheena Easton and Holmes as she played the perfect comedy foil for the two entertainers. Her comedic spots were popular and gave even more credence to the fact that she was a winner on ABC’s “America’s Funniest People.” Additional television credits “Entertainment Las Vegas” celebrity interviewer and many appearances on popular national TV shows with Wayne Newton and Engelbert Humperdinck, who Kelly traveled with for many years as a backup singer. Clinton is also a comedic impressionist whose impersonations were featured in a Harrah’s Hotel show for two years. She also starred in dinner shows and Vegas lounges during her more than 20-year professional career. She has her own production company and is the creator/producer of “Shades of Sinatra,” a musical tribute to Frank Sinatra. The show has had successful engagements at many Vegas venues and recently opened for Don Rickles. Kelly Clinton Productions also plans, coordinates and books special events and promotes talent. Despite all these happenings, Kelly Clinton probably really started to live the best time of her life last November when she married fellow performer and her “life partner,” Clint Holmes. “My life with Clint is so special,” says Clinton, “he’s a great partner. We both understand the business so it just makes so much sense to be together. Our main conflict is scheduling; neither one wants to miss out on the other’s performance, especially when Clint’s play opens or I get steady job. “We encourage each other; we cheer for each other and we welcome being each others sounding board. Most important, neither one wants to stop the other from reaching their potential.” What’s in the future for Clinton? “Probably lots of frequent flyer miles and
costly long-distance telephone bills,” she says. Claire Voyant - Las Vegas OnLine Cousin Claire
has been hanging out with and writing about show folk for more
than three decades. She has been intrigued by who among these
people has longevity, who seems to come from nowhere (an overnight
sensation), have a career that lasts a few years and then fizzles
into oblivion, and who is a flash in the pan or, as they are
sometimes called, a one hit wonder. In trying to analyze the whys
and wherefores of success or failure, much of it seems to be
because many entertainers don't seem to realize that the
"business" part of "show business" is often more important than
the "show" part. Of course, there are exceptions. Locally, one
smart cookie comes to mind. The name is Kelly Clinton. "Karaoke at the Bootlegger"
by Megan Edwards
"Lounging
Around" by Jerry Fink LAS VEGAS SUN Kelly Clinton, entertainment director at Turnberry Place's Stirling Club, has created a clever novelty act -- three Frank Sinatra tribute artists performing on the same stage. "Shades of Sinatra" premiered Saturday night at the Stirling Club. Clinton, who portrays Nancy Sinatra ("These Boots are Made for Walkin' "), promises more shows in the future, but there are no firm dates. The stars of the show include Clinton, Ryan Baker, Carmine Mandia and Larry Liso. "Each of them brings something a little different to the show," said Clinton, who also is the producer. The entertainers perform separately, singing and sharing Sinatra stories, and sing several numbers together.
March 11
2005
LAS VEGAS
SUN WEEKEND EDITION Entertainer Kelly Clinton effervesces. She bubbles with enthusiasm regardless of what she might be doing, whether hosting celebrity karaoke at Bootlegger Bistro on Monday nights or performing Fridays and Saturdays at the exclusive Turnberry Place’s Stirling Club, where she is also entertainment director. When Clinton is on she sings, clowns, does impressions, tells jokes, smiles, laughs, draws everyone around her into her world of fun. And she is rarely off. Clinton moved to Vegas from New Jersey with her family at age 12. Entertainment has been the essence of her life since age 19. In 1983 she performed in a showcase at the now defunct Maxim and was chosen to join the casino’s house band, Mainstream. She was with Mainstream for two years, and went on to perform with Wayne Newton, Engelbert Humperdinck, Sandy Hackett and a long list of other headliners. Along the way she has performed as a comedian, an impressionist and (briefly) a television personality (on the now defunct TV talk show “Vegas Live!” with Clint Holmes and Sheena Easton). Clinton, who declined to give her age, recently took time out to talk to the Las Vegas Sun about her latest gig as the entertainment director of the Stirling Club, where she is trying to recreate the atmosphere of old Las Vegas:
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Entertainment in Las Vegas has evolved over the years, but on any given weekend in the Stirling Club’s piano lounge, multi-talented performer Kelly Clinton takes members on a journey back to the era of the Rat Pack and headlining names gracing all the hotel marquees. “The stage becomes a jam session where Strip entertainers perform after their shows and end their evening with a bang.” said Clinton, entertainment director of the Stirling Club. “The show at the club is the closest thing to the way Las Vegas was when the Rat Pack and headliners would perform up and down the Strip. Clinton, whose act mixes comedy and music, has garnered a regular following of club members, guests and other performers who want to become a part of the hottest ticket in town. Hosting celebrities is nothing new to the Stirling Club, which has been a gathering place for a variety of actors, comedians and singers since its opening in 2001. George Hamilton, James Caan, Rita Rudner and others have all been spotted in the Club. According to Strip Headliner and guest performer at the club’s piano lounge, Clint Holmes, there’s no other place in Las Vegas like the Stirling Club. “Because the club is private and not associated with a casino, it offers a different kind of venue for entertainers” Holmes said. “There’s a great energy and party-like atmosphere found there every weekend.” Clinton discovered that energy at the club about a year and a half ago when she began singing in the piano lounge accompanied only by a piano player. She had just wrapped up work on the former “Vegas Live!” television show featuring Sheena Easton and Clint Holmes. “I was asked to do a short engagement and I must have done something right because they asked me to come back,” she said. “When I came back I added a drummer, a saxophone and then a bass player.” Clinton’s band was not the only change at the piano lounge. Word spread fast among the local entertainment industry about Clinton’s act and a host of entertainers began to take notice and stop in to perform. “When my fellow performer heard what was happening here, they wanted to join in on the fun,” Clinton said. “Gordie Brown, the 5th Dimension’s Billy Davis Jr and Marilyn McCoo, singer Jack Jones, Bill Medley from the Righteous Brothers, the Scintas, Sheena Easton and more have taken the stage and celebrated with the crowd in the piano lounge. We all do shows so it’s hard to get to sing with one another. Now we have a venue where we can lay back, chill out and sing together. The venue is home to Kelly Clinton on Friday and Saturday nights from 8.30 to 12.30 am. When Clinton is not on stage, she makes sure it’s outfitted with top-notch entertainment on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Recent acts at the club include Shades of Sinatra, a trio that performs a tribute to Sinatra, with Clinton as Nancy Sinatra, Reggie Brown who performs with legendary singer Gladys Knight, the Three Tenors of Las Vegas whose songs range from opera to rock ‘n’ roll, and Jennifer Joseph, runner-up in Wayne Newton’s reality show “The Entertainer” and current back-up sing4r for Newton’s show at the Hilton. Clinton has been in the entertainment industry since she was 19 years old. She grew up in Las Vegas and has performed as a comedian, in film, on television and on stage along with Engelbert Humperdinck, Newton and more. Her versatility has shined throughout her career, but she admits that this is a very special time in her career and a great time to be a part of the entertainment scene in Las Vegas. “So many performers are fascinated by the headliners era in the city and how they used to get together after their shows. They want to keep that feeling alive and that’s what we’re doing at the club,” she said. Clinton also possesses a passion for mixing comedy and music into her act. “I am fortunate that I can do both at the club” she said. “It’s almost like a variety show where I can do it all. I emcee, I sing and I tell jokes. The best part about it is in the interaction with the crowd. According to Clinton, a lively crowd fills the lounge every weekend in anticipation of who might stop in that night. “I’ve worked with a lot of great entertainers and made a lot of friends over the years,” she said. “You never know who might come by to surprise me.”
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