Mick Foley, “The Reverend” Bob Levy
Jan. 28, 2016
Audio of interviews are posted below
Mick Foley, legendary professional wrestler, turned multi best-selling author, turned stand-up comic, “spoken word performer,” guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong, together with “The Reverend” Bob Levy, to promote their upcoming dates at The South Point Showroom Feb 5 & 6 at 7:30pm.
One of the cornerstones of WWE’s meteoric rise in the late 90’s, Mick Foley earned the nickname ‘The Hardcore Legend’ for his ability to absorb seemingly inhuman punishment in some of the most dramatic matches in sports-entertainment history. Already a respected veteran for his 11 physically punishing years wrestling under the name Cactus Jack, Foley’s career soared to new heights in WWE as ‘Mankind’, a character Foley claimed was inspired by a combination of reading ‘Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein’ and listening to the music of Tori Amos.
As Cactus Jack, Foley won the 1995 ‘King of the Deathmatch’ tournament in Yokohama, Japan, and continued wrestling, despite the amputation of his right ear, in a match against Vader in Munich, Germany in 1994. As Mankind, Foley was a 3-time WWE Champion, but is best known for his epic and brutal battle with The Undertaker in 1998’s ‘Hell in a Cell’ match, during which he was knocked unconscious after falls both off of and through the 16 foot Cell structure. Despite the injury, Foley finished the match – with one of his front teeth lodged in his nose.
With retirement looming as a result of that physically demanding style, Foley penned his own memoir, ‘Have a Nice Day’ without the aid of a ghost-writer – writing 200,000 words in longhand in 50 days. The book showcased Foley’s paradoxical blend of wit and wisdom, wildness and warmth, and shocked the literary world by hitting number one on The New York Times best-seller list in October, 1999. The book remained on the Times list for twenty six weeks. A follow-up, 2001’s ‘Foley is Good’ hit number one on The New York Times list as well. Foley has published a total of ten books; four memoirs, four children’s books and two novels.
After speaking at some of the United Stated most respected colleges and universities – including MIT, Syracuse University, Notre Dame and The University of Miami, Foley decided to take his verbal skills to the stand-up comedy stage in 2009. 2012 saw Foley earn rave reviews for his comedy sets at ‘Just for Laughs’ in Montreal, and the ‘Edinburgh (UK) Fringe Fest’ – the two largest comedy festivals in the world. He is currently represented by Innovative Artists.
Foley’s acting credentials include ’30 Rock’, ‘Warren the Ape’, Now and Again’, ‘G vs E’ and ‘Boy Meets World’ and he was featured in the critically acclaimed documentary ‘Beyond the Mat’ He has done voice work on ‘Squidbillies’ ‘Celebrity Death Match’ and ‘Avatar: the Last Airbender’ and was featured in a 2012 episode of ‘Celebrity Wife Swap’. His list of guest appearances include ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, ‘The Late Show with Jay Leno’, ‘Late Night with Conan O’Brien’, ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’, ‘Good Morning America’, ‘Family Feud’ ‘Redeye’, ‘Larry King Live’ and several appearances on ‘Today’.
He was featured in a 2010 story on ‘ABC’s World News Tonight’ for his work as an online volunteer with RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization. Foley was also recognized for his work with RAINN at 2010’s ‘Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear’ – where he was awarded a Medal of Reasonableness’ from Jon Stewart.
Foley lives with his wife and four children on Long Island. His latest book, ‘A Most Mizerable Christmas’ will be published in October, 2012 by DK Books. The Foley’s have sponsored children with Child-Fund International for twenty years.
“The Reverend” Bob Levy
“The Reverend” Bob Levy guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong, to promote his upcoming dates at The South Point Showroom on Feb. 5 & 6 with Mick Foley.
Levy is a stand-up comedian, radio personality and former wrestler who is best known as being a regular personality on The Howard Stern Show as well as being the co-host of the Miserable Men show on Howard 101. He has often been the host of comedy roasts, is a frequent guest on the Opie and Anthony Show and was a stand-up comedy performer on the Killers of Comedy tour.
Bob was raised on Great Kills, Staten Island. Before his career as a comedian, Levy worked as a landscaper, a painter and a wrestler at the semi-professional level under the name “Heartbreaker” Bobby Slayer.
During Levy’s early days in comedy, former Stern show writer Jackie Martling awarded Levy the title “Reverend.” When asked why he was given the name in an article, Levy replied “…because I was a filthy fuckin’ pig, and he wanted to call me the opposite of what I was doing onstage…”.
Levy was heard daily on the Kidd Chris morning show on WYSP in Philadelphia as an on-air guest, until they were fired in May 2008. Levy also opened a weekend comedy club in Levittown, Pennsylvania and three other comedy clubs in Easton, Florida.
He hosted two radio shows. One was on WNJC 1360 AM in the Philadelphia area, ‘Rising with The Reverend Bob Levy’ (with co-hosts Will Bozarth and John Kensil). The other was on WUFC 1510 AM in the Boston area, ‘The Bob Levy Show’ (with co-host Joe Conte). Both stations have changed formats and no longer air the shows. Bob currently produces podcasts of his shows available on the Radio Misfits website. He is in the upcoming film documentary “Whats a Podcast” that’s currently in pre-production.
TweetBurton Cummings, Tom Cotter
Jan. 7, 2016
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Former Lead Singer of The Guess Who, Burton Cummings and Comedian Tom Cotter, last year’s runner-up on NBC’s America’s Got Talent guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Famed musician and songwriter Burton Cummings will bring his timeless sound to The Orleans Showroom on January 14-17.
Cummings began his music journey as the lead singer of the Canadian band The Guess Who, whose hits included “These Eyes,” “Laughing, No Time,” “American Woman,” “Share The Land,” and “Hang On To Your Life.” The band was the first Canadian group to reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts, as well as the first to earn a platinum album for sales of more than 1 million copies in the United States. For more about Burton Cummings: http://www.Burtoncummings.com
Tom Cotter
Being a stand-up comedian is one thing, but being a stand-up comedian on a nationally televised reality competition show is an entirely different level of stand-up-ness (cause we just made that a thing). Tom Cotter jumped into the spotlight as the runner up during the 2012 season of America’s Got Talent and has seen an instant increase in national bookings that have changed his life as a professional comic.
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Tony Orlando
Dec. 17, 2015
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Tony Orlando guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote his annual Christmas Christmas Show at The South Point Showroom.
Tony Orlando brings to the stage a warmth and exhilarating energy that electrifies an audience. From million selling records (five number one hits), a popular television variety series, movies and Broadway (Barnum and Smokey Joe’s Café), Tony Orlando has conquered every facet of show business.
Through no plans of his own, Tony was coaxed into putting his voice on a demo record for a song titled “Candida” for his friends Hank Medress and Dave Appell at Bell Records. The record was released under the name of the record promotion director’s daughter, Dawn.
“I think it is really the rule of show business that every big break you get you back into it without knowing it at the time. A few weeks after recording ‘Candida’ I had forgotten all about it. And then Hank Medress calls me and says, ‘Hey man, we’ve got a hit!’ The crazy thing was the song kept climbing the charts till it hit number one,” says Orlando.
Hoping lightning would strike again, Medress had Orlando recorded “Knock Three Times.” The song not only became number one, it was the tip song of 1971 selling over six million copies worldwide. The immense popularity of the song is still evident today. Tony’s recording of the song was featured in the hit movie Now and Then.
Realizing it was probably safe to give up his successful career at CBS Records, Tony decided to jump full force into what was already a meteoric rise to the top. Along with Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent Wilson, Tony Orlando and Dawn became an international sensation.
Amazingly enough, Tony hadn’t even begun to scratch the surface of his stardom. In 1973 he recorded “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Ole Oak Tree.” The song was number one for the year, became Orlando’s theme song and grew into an American anthem of hope and homecoming, reunion and renewal.
More about Tony Orlando here–>
You can catch Tony Orlando headlining at South Point Showroom.
The Showroom at South Point, Dec. 17-20 at 7:30pm
Charlie Daniels, Cowboy Bill Martin
Dec. 10, 2015
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Charlie Daniels, and Comedian Cowboy Bill Martin, guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
The Charlie Daniels Band will bring their unique blend of country, southern rock and Christian music to The Orleans Showroom, December 11 and 12, as part of Boyd Gaming’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo entertainment line-up.
His signature song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” topped both country and pop charts and brought him international recognition. The single was certified platinum, earned three CMA awards, became a cornerstone of the soundtrack for the movie “Urban Cowboy” and propelled Daniels’ “Million Mile Reflections” album to triple-platinum levels.
In September, Daniels released “It Don’t Get No Better Than That,” a track dedicated to the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR) in Las Vegas and its contestants. Proceeds from the song benefit the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, an organization that provides financial assistance to athletes injured through their participation in professional rodeo.
Cowboy Bill Martin
Comedian Cowboy Bill Martin guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Bill will be playing Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, December 7th – 13th and the DVD of his first one-hour TV Comedy Special on CMT comes out on December 21st.
Martin has toured over the years with George Strait, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Jones and the famed Blue Collar Tour. He’s also had the privilege of entertaining our soldiers in the Middle East. But, the comedy veteran credits his rise in popularity to his last five years working tirelessly with Carnival Cruise Lines’ Punchliner Comedy Club Presented by George Lopez. “Because of Carnival, I knew the show was ready. After all, each week I’m doing 2 ½ hours of material in front of 2500 people,” “The next logical step was to make a move to TV. I’ve watched other comedians shoot their own specials, and I thought; why can’t we do the same thing?” said Martin
In his spare time, Martin is the Founder and CEO of the non-profit organization “Cowboys Who Care Foundation” which provides Free Resistol cowboy and cowgirl hats to kids with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, delivering more than 4,100 hats to kids across the country since 2012.
For more information, please visit: www.cowboybill.com
TweetHappy Thanksgiving!
Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show will return on Dec. 10
