John Melendez/Stuttering John
Jan. 22 & 24, 2015 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & Web
Audio of interviews are posted below
Comedian John Melendez/Stuttering John guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote his upcoming engagement with Jackie “The Joke man” Martling, and Bobby Slayton, “The Pitbull of Comedy,” at The South Point Showroom, Jan 30 & 31 at 7:30pm.
John Melendez worked as a staff writer on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Melendez also appeared in some of the show’s comedy sketches. Melendez, who began with The Howard Stern Radio Show as an intern in college, landed on the air almost immediately. During his 15 seasons with Stern, Melendez gained national acclaim and recognition as “Stuttering John”, with his daring and irreverent interview style and prominent personality. In addition to interviewing countless celebrities on the radio, Melendez was simultaneously hired as a field reporter for the nationally syndicated Howard Stern Television Show, where he worked for two seasons as an interviewer and in sketch pieces for the show’s man-on-the-street segments. He continued his television work for Howard Stern on the highly rated E! television show. He became known for asking impertinent questions of celebrities on the red carpet and at press conferences with his stuttering. Following a guest appearance on The Tonight Show to promote I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2003, Melendez received the offer from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
For more go to: John Melendez’s Official Site http://www.johnmelendez.tv/
Tweet
Mary Wilson, Julie Budd
Jan. 15 & 17, 2015 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Mary Wilson, founder of The Supremes, guests on LV Backsage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote her appearance at the Suncoast Showroom January 17-18 at 7:30pm.
While growing up in Detroit’s Brewster Projects, Wilson befriended Florence Ballard, Betty McGlown and Diana Ross at age 13. The quartet later formed a singing group, The Primettes. Wilson, Ballard and Ross were signed to Motown Records and became known as The Supremes.
The Supremes were nominated for a Grammy Award in 1965 and 1966, garnering an unprecedented 12 #1 hits, including four in a row – “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” “Stop, In The Name Of Love” and “Back in My Arms Again.” In 1977, Wilson released her first solo album, “Mary Wilson,” which yielded the dance hit “Red Hot.” In 1992, Wilson released her first album in 13 years, “Walk the Line,” which included the single “One Night With You.”
Wilson became a best-selling author with her autobiography, “Dreamgirl… My Life As A Supreme.” The book has sold more than 250,000 copies in hardback, becoming one of the most successful rock and roll autobiographies of all time.
Wilson created a traveling exhibit of 70 gowns worn by The Supremes throughout the years and can be seen on tour at countless cities across the United States. The exhibit is currently being housed at the African American Museum in Philadelphia.
Julie Budd
Award-winning Singer Julie Budd guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Julie is considered to be one of the most exciting singers on the scene today, and last week won The Broadway World Award for Best Show. She has also landed a residency at The Metropolitan Room in NY starting in April 2015.
“ They Wrote The Songs “ Julie Budd has enjoyed a very multi -faceted career, that ranges from, television to film, along with the New York stage & symphonies all over the country. “ The New York Times ” raved with a full two page glowing retrospect of Julie’s career, declaring Ms. Budd “The Consummate Performer”. She began her professional career at the tender age of 12, after meeting record producer / orchestrator Herb Bernstein. Herb Bernstein, who produced Laura Nyro’s first Hit Album, was at that time, recording Merv Griffin as well. Herb immediately took Julie under his wing, and introduced her to Merv Griffin at the
recording session in New York City. And, after Merv heard Julie sing, this “Mini Girl with the Maxi Voice “
was invited to appear on more than 100 of Merv’s shows. From there, Julie went on to appear on “The Tonight Show, Entertainment Tonight , and every major TV show in the country. In the years that followed, Julie co-starred with such legendary performers as, Frank Sinatra , Liberace , and Carol Burnett. As Julie Recalls; “What a way to grow up and start in this business “
“These people were wonderful to me “Some kids went to school, but I went to work and learned from the Best” “Each one of these performers was a professor to me, and I was so lucky to have had the opportunity to know them all” And Now, Today..while touring in her One Women Shows, Julie’s concerts have included performances at Lincoln Center , Carnegie Hall , The Kennedy Center , The London Palladium. Tel Aviv’s Israel Performing Art’s Center, Venues in La Vegas, and Major Symphony
Halls all over the United States. Julie also toured as Guest Artist for seven years , with The late great Marvin Hamlisch .
Julie has become a favorite to Many of the Symphony Orchestras . Julie Budd has also pursued an exciting acting career and is in the process of writing a book about her days as a Child prodigy. Julie’s CD Pure Imagination {After9 Touchwood } was named
Top Ten Cd By ” Entertainment Today ” And received a ****Four Star Rating {4Stars }
For more about Julie and how to buy her CD’s go to www.juliebudd.com
Bob Anderson, Bobby Slayton
Jan. 8 & 10, 2015 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Singing impressionist Bob Anderson guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
A Legend is Brought to Life as “FRANK – The Man. The Music.” Debuts at The Palazzo® Las Vegas
Starring Bob Anderson and featuring a 32-piece orchestra under the musical direction of Vincent Falcone, the show celebrates Frank Sinatra’s timeless sound, beginning Jan. 24. “FRANK – The Man. The Music.” performs Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Fridays at 9 p.m. at The Palazzo Theatre starting Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. Tickets are now on sale. For up-to-date schedule information, including dark dates, or to purchase tickets, visit any Box Office at The Venetian or The Palazzo, go online at www.venetian.com/frank, or call (702) 414-9000.
Conceptualized and brought to life by an all-star creative team, “FRANK – The Man. The Music.” is produced by Hoboken Productions in association with Stephen Eich. Bob Anderson, a revered singing impressionist, is transformed into Sinatra with the help of Oscar®-nominated makeup artist Kazu Tsuji, who aged Brad Pitt in the movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.”
A Las Vegas legend in his own right, Anderson moved to Las Vegas from Detroit at the age of 22 and got his start performing with Nancy Sinatra as a singer in her show at the Sahara Hotel and Casino. When Sinatra took him with her for a performance on the “The Merv Griffin Show,” Griffin discovered his ability to recreate the voices of others, a skill that made him a regular on nearly every talk and variety show in the country. Anderson went on to have his own showroom in Las Vegas for more than a decade and in 2002 was inducted into The Casino Legends Hall of Fame.
Bobby Slayton, “The Pitbull of Comedy”
Comedian Bobby Slayton, “The Pitbull of Comedy,” returns to Vegas on Jan. 30 & 31 at The South Point Showroom with Jackie “The Joke Man” Martling, and John Melendez, “Stuttering John.”
Audiences around the country may recognize Bobby from his many scene stealing roles in movies such as “Get Shorty”, “Ed Wood”, “Wayne’s World 2”, “Bandits”, and “Dreamgirls.” He’s appeared on dozens of television programs including “The Tonight Show”, “Home Improvement”, and his own Comedy Specials on both Showtime and HBO. He was a series regular on the HBO series “Mind of the Married Man” and played Joey Bishop opposite Ray Liotta and Joe Mantegna in the critically acclaimed film, “The Rat Pack”. Slayton’s distinct gravelly voice has often been heard on dozens of radio commercials and animated shows like “Dr. Katz” and “Family Guy”, and welcomed over the years on hundreds of syndicated and local radio shows with everyone from Howard Stern to Larry King. The NY Daily News called Slayton “armed and dangerous” and the Las Vegas Review Journal pointed out that “Slayton’s refusal to compromise his art has always made him worth a special trip.”
Don Brewer, Al Bernstein…
Jan. 1 & 3, 2015 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Grand Funk Railroad
Don Brewer, original founding member, co-lead singer and drummer for Grand Funk Railroad guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Known as “The American Band,” the high-energy five-piece group will play forty shows all over the USA this year. Grand Funk Railroad includes original founding member Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the multi-million selling hit, We’re An American Band) and bassist Mel Schacher, “The God Of Thunder.” Joining Don and Mel are true “All Stars.” Singer Max Carl is a rock veteran from 38 Special. Max penned and sang 38’s biggest hit “Second Chance” and was co-founder of California’s legendary Jack Mack and the Heart Attack. Don refers to Max as “the best blue-eyed soul singer on the planet.” Lead guitarist Bruce Kulick is best known for his 12 years with KISS and also has credits with Michael Bolton, Meatloaf and Billy Squier. (KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley were influenced early on by Grand Funk.) Keyboardist Tim Cashion has a master’s degree in music from the University of Miami. Affectionately called “Dr. Tim,” his credits include stints with Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band and English soul man Robert Palmer.
Grand Funk Railroad is appearing at Orleans Showroom Jan. 10 & 11
Kevin Downey Jr.
Comedian Kevin Downey Jr. guests on LVBST radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Kevin has headlined clubs everywhere in the U.S., and can be heard regularly on “The Bob and Tom Show”, as well as, Sirius and XM Satellite radio. He is also a proud member of Armed Forces Entertainment and he travels the world performing for the troops. Some of the bases he’s been to include Pearl Harbor, Guam, Roi-Namur, Kwajalein Atoll, Singapore, Diego Garcia.
Kevin has also appeared on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, “Comedy Central”, “What Not to Wear” and “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.” Kevin appears at the Trop’s “Comedy Stop” in Las Vegas at least four times a year. He truly appreciates his ever-growing fan base. Kevin authors a column called, Drinking on $11 a Night, which can be read in “Bachelor Pad Magazine” and “GC” magazine, and online at usedwigs.com. Kevin’s song, “Secret Garden of Dirty Little Whores (who think they’re better than me)”, can be heard on college and traditional radio stations throughout the country. His nationally-released DVD called, “I’m not Gay, but Don’t Stop” can be found on both Amazon.com and Netflix.
Legendary “Voice of Boxing” Al Bernstein
2012 International Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee
Al Bernstein returns on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong on 1230AM KLAV in Las Vegas, and The Web.
For just over 30 years, Al Bernstein has been one of the most recognizable and respected sportscasters in America. In those three decades, the “voice of boxing” reported the funny, poignant, and bizarre events that helped shape sports television, ESPN, boxing, Las Vegas, and Showtime. With an eclectic cast of characters that includes every big name in boxing, including Marvin Hagler, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, as well as such names in the entertainment world as Rodney Dangerfield, Sylvester Stallone, Russell Crowe, and Jerry Lewis, Bernstein’s memoir will have you in stitches.
Al Bernstein has written a new book, “30 Years, 30 Undeniable Truths about Boxing, Sports and TV,” and has already received a great reception. People from the sports, entertainment and media world are talking about this book.
TweetRobin Meade, Tony Orlando
Dec. 20 & 25, 2014 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Singer Robin Meade, longtime host of “Morning Express with Robin Meade” (HLN), guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.
To celebrate the spirit of the holidays, Las Vegas headliners Human Nature launched a brand new show titled “Christmas, Motown and More” in The Sands Showroom at The Venetian Las Vegas, with Special Guest Robin Meade.
Human Nature’s “Christmas, Motown, and More” started on Dec. 12, with a special 1 p.m. matinee show on Christmas Eve.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.humannaturelive.com or www.venetian.com or call (702) 414-9000.
Robin Meade is a New York Times Bestselling author and a singer-songwriter with 2 music albums. She’s jumped out of a perfectly good plane with President George HW Bush, hosted “Ask Oprah’s All Stars” at the mogul’s request, and belted the anthem to millions of Nascar & NFL fans. She’s performed with Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker, Richard Marx, David Foster & The Tenors among others. She wrote 14 of the songs on her debut & followup albums “Brand New Day” & “Count On Me”, while her New York Times Best Selling book, “Morning Sunshine!” chronicled her rise over crippling panic attacks. Robin’s quick wit lands her visits to the “Steve Harvey Show”, “Wendy Williams” & “Extra” while her passion-filled vocals earn her a standing ovation on stages like the Grand Ole Opry.
Tony Orlando
My buddy Tony Orlando returns on LV Backstage Talk in backstage interview from The South Point Hotel & Casino.
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.
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–>
Tweet
Carlos Mencia, Mathew Nelson
Dec. 18, 2014 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & Web
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Comedian Carlos Mencia, The Nelson Twins guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk Radio Show with Comedian Michele LaFong on 1230AM, KLAV in Las Vegas and The Web.
In a candid “comic to comic” videotaped interview at Treasure Island, following Mencia’s phone interview on our radio show, Carlos answers accusations of stealing comedy material from his peers, which led to the cancellation of “Mind of Mencia” on Comedy Central.
One of the controversial youtube videos that LaFong discussed with Mencia is posted on the link below:
Comic Joe Rogan confronts Carlos Mencia about stealing material from fellow comics during a set he was performing at The Comedy Store. http://youtu.be/gdugSUFbzws
Currently on the road with his “C 4 URself” Tour, comedic superstar Carlos Mencia. Mencia has appearances on television shows including “In Living Color” and “An Evening at the Improv.” In 2000, he released a comedy album called “Take a Joke, America” that showcased his brand of confrontational humor. In 2002, he received a CableACE Award nomination for “Best Stand-Up Comedy Special” for his HBO special, and was featured on “Comedy Central Presents” later that year. In early 2005, “Mind of Mencia” debuted on Comedy Central, which drew an average of 1.5 million viewers. His most recent Comedy Central special, “New Territory,” debuted in December 2011.
His acting credits include starring opposite Ben Stiller and Michelle Monaghan in 2007’s “The Heartbreak Kid,” and in 2010 he starred in “Our Family Wedding” with Forrest Whittaker and America Ferrara.
Mencia will be featured in Michele LaFong’s Syndicated Monthly Columns, “Las Vegas Backstage Talk,” in Casino Player Magazine, and “Getting Personal with The Stars” in Gaming Today, and Feature Interviews in CP (Casino Player Magazine.)
For more about Carlos Mencia, click here–>
Mathew Nelson (The Nelson Twins)
Mathew Nelson of The Nelson Twins guest on LV Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Their music has stood the test of time. Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, revered for unforgettable past hits, explore fresh creative territory in the present with their new project, “Lightning Strikes Twice”. Magical melodic songwriting and soaring sibling harmonies continue to ensure that this dynamic duo is still a vital part of the music scene’s future.
“After the Rain” was the debut multi-platinum album by NELSON, the band led by twins
Matthew and Gunnar in the early 1990s. They zoomed to number one with their hit song,
“(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” which made history landing America’s iconic Nelson family (bandleader Ozzie Nelson, rock legend Rick Nelson, and twins Matthew & Gunnar) into the Guinness Book of World Records as the ONLY family in Entertainment with 3 successive generations of #1 hitmakers. NELSON’s “After the Rain” record and tour became a phenomenon just prior to the rise of grunge. The last major success of the good time rock’n’roll era, NELSON has had (1) Number One, (4) Top Ten, and (5) Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hit singles, plus (5) #1 MTV videos and has sold over 6.5 million albums worldwide!
For more go to http://www.Nelsonrocks.com
Tweet