Congratulations Judy Tenuta!
October 25, 2018
The Las Vegas Walk of Stars will honor legendary comedian, actress, author and “Love Goddess”, Judy Tentua with the 85th star dedication ceremony on Wednesday November 7 , 2018 at 2:00pm in the Mona mi Gabi restaurant at Paris Hotel and Casino located at 3655 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada. The star will be placed in the sidewalk at a later date.
Judy Tenuta, has been a frequent quest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong. You’ve seen Judy appear in shows in Las Vegas and on stage and television from “The Vagina Monologues” to “Menopause the Musical.” Her stand-up specials have aired on Showtime, HBO, and Lifetime. Judy was featured as the national spokesperson for a series of Diet Dr. Pepper commercials.
The self-described “Love Goddess” and “Aphrodite Of The Accordion” has made hundreds of guest and co-hosting appearances on such popular television shows as “The View,” “Late Night With David Letterman,” “Larry King Live,” “Entertainment Tonight,” and “Comics Unleashed.”
Judy is a two-time Grammy Award Nominee. Her comedy albums include “Attention Butt-Pirates and Lesbetarians! ,” and “In Goddess We Trust,” Judy was the first female stand-up comic to win “Best Female Comedian” at the American Comedy Awards.
Judy has costarred in several independent films, including “Going Down in Lala Land”, “Gibsonburg”, and most recently, “Garlic and Gunpowder”. You’ve also seen her on “General Hospital,” “Corey In The House,” and alongside Hillary Duff in “Material Girls.”
Hurray For Marriage Equality! Judy Tenuta, The Love Goddess, is an ordained minister of Judyism and is available for same sex marriages! For availabilities, bookings, and more
“We are very proud to honor Judy Tentua, said Bob Alexander, Founder of the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.
The Las Vegas Walk Of Stars will be replacing these stars soon; Bobby Darin, Dick Feeney, Abel Quinonez, and Pedro Haces Burba, ‘Don Bull’.
TweetKevin Cronin, Little Anthony
June 14, 2018
Audio of interviews will be posted below
Iconic Lead Singer of REO Speedwagon Kevin Cronin guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Loosely formed in 1967 playing frat parties at the University of Illinois, REO Speedwagon signed with Epic Records in 1971. The band released nine albums throughout the ‘70s, culminating with the twice-platinum “You Can Tune a Piano but You Can’t Tuna Fish” in 1978.
REO Speedwagon exploded to the top of the charts, setting the bar for other rock bands with their 1980 release “Hi Infidelity.” The colossal hit spent 15 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 10 million copies. The group’s most commercially successful album, it remained on the charts for 65 weeks and spawned the #1 single “Keep On Loving You” as well as hits “Take It on the Run,” “In Your Letter” and “Don’t Let Him Go.”
The band continued releasing hit albums into the ‘80s, including 1984’s “Wheels Are Turnin’ and its #1 single “Can’t Fight This Feeling.” REO Speedwagon released “Find Your Own Way Home,” their 15th studio album, in 2007. Two years later, they teamed up with fellow Midwestern rockers Styx for the single “Can’t Stop Rockin’,” which became the title track for the groups’ hit summer tour with .38 Special.
The current lineup includes founding member Neal Doughty, iconic lead singer Kevin Cronin, longtime bass player Bruce Hall, former Ted Nugent guitarist Dave Amato and former Wang Chung drummer Bryan Hitt.
Little Anthony & The Imperials
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Little Anthony guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Little Anthony and The Imperials are appearing at The Orleans Showroom on June 16 & 17, at 8pm.
They were one of the finest vocal groups to emerge from the talent-rich New York scene. Moreover, they enjoyed unusual longevity for an act of that type, having hits in both the Doo-Wop Fifties and the soul-music Sixties. They outlasted their peers by virtue of “Little Anthony” Gourdine’s powerful, beseeching vocals and the consummate professionalism of the Imperials, who mastered a broad range of material and knew how to work a stage.
“Tears on My Pillow,” their first single as the Imperials, was released on End Records. This classic vocal-group ballad was one of the biggest hits of 1958, reaching #2 on the R&B chart and #4 on the pop chart. Little Anthony and the Imperials were suddenly stars. The story might have ended there, with “Tears On My Pillow” fondly recalled as a vocal-group classic from one of the many one-hit wonders from that era. In fact, some of their followup singles did flop, strong as they were. But the group rebounded with an uptempo number, “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko Bop,” that capitalized on a dance craze.
Other hits include “Hurt So Bad,” and “Going Out of my Head.”
They received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and have been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In 2008, Little Anthony and the Imperials released You’ll Never Know, an album of new songs and rerecorded oldies to celebrate their 50th anniversary as a group.
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Otis Williams, Olate Dogs
May 10, 2018
Audio of interviews are posted below
Otis Williams, original founding member of The Temptations, and Nick Olate & Olate Dogs, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” winner 2012, guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
You can catch Otis Williams w/ The Temptations at The Orleans
Orleans Showroom, May 19 & 20 at 8:00pm
For more than 40 years, The Temptations have shined as pioneers of popular music, with decades of smash hits and sold-out performances. An essential component of the original Motown machine invented by Berry Gordy, The Temptations began their musical career in Detroit in the early ‘60s. In 1964, Smokey Robinson wrote and produced “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” the first major hit for The Temptations. An avalanche of hits followed, including “My Girl,” “It’s Growing,” “Since I Lost My Baby,” “Get Ready,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep” and “I Wish It Would Rain.”
Hear the stories behind the hits in this very candid interview.
For more about Otis Williams, click here.
For more about The Temptations, click here.
NBC’s America’s Got Talent Winner 2012 – “Olate Dogs”
For more about Olate Dogs, click here.
Live in-studio, on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong, are Richard and son, Nick Olate, and four of the Star Olate Dogs that won the million dollar prize this year on NBC’s America’s Got Talent.
Richard Olate is from Chile South America. He is the second youngest in a family of 22 children. His family was very poor. There were many times when they would not have enough to eat for days at a time. His story is not a sad one though. At age 12 he got a dog from the street. He loved the dog and found that he might have a feel for training. There are many dogs roaming the streets in Chile, so guess what……? When he had put together a routine, he, with his mother’s help, booked his amateur act at schools and small circuses. He quickly got a regular performance schedule but needed more help. His older brother soon joined him and together they decided they could do something special. They were right! They worked hard creating a very unique dog act. They spent the next few years traveling with different circuses throughout South America and in 1989 they premiered in the United States of America. They have been here ever since. Richard has appeared with his dogs in many television shows, made commercials, been in a movie, and worked in stage, night club and circus performances. A true testament that, no matter where you come from, hard work and determination makes dreams come true.
TweetBurton Cummings, Tom Cotter
March 29, 2018
Audio of interviews are posted below
Former Lead Singer of The Guess Who, Burton Cummings and Comedian Tom Cotter, 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 March 31, April 1, 5, 6.
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.
TweetJim Belushi, Tony Butala
March 15, 2018
Audio of interviews are posted below
Comedian, actor and blues musician Jim Belushi guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Jim Belushi is known worldwide for making people laugh as a regular on “Saturday Night Live,” his long-running comedy series “According to Jim” and his many film appearances. In addition to his film and TV career, Belushi’s music career blossomed in 1995 when he joined forces with House of Blues regulars, The Sacred Hearts. Soon after, friend Dan Aykroyd asked Belushi to join him as part of the Blues Brothers. To get ready to play with the Blues Brothers, Belushi would crash rehearsals of The Sacred Hearts. He had so much fun jamming with them, they eventually collaborated and have been performing as Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts ever since.
Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts have played for many notable figures including Al Gore, former President Bill Clinton and former California Governor Gray Davis. The band frequently headlines shows at the House of Blues venues, benefits and hundreds of corporate events.
The band’s first CD, “36 x 22 x 36,” was released in 1998 and delivered a blend of Memphis rhythm & blues seasoned with a lot of soul. Additionally, the “According to Jim Soundtrack” was released in 2005, containing music by Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts featured in fan-favorite series episodes. Much of the show’s music was written and recorded by Belushi and bandmates Johnny Rubano and Tony Braunagel, who also made regular guest appearances on “According to Jim.”
Belushi is known for his work on the live stages of Second City and “Saturday Night Live,” to the sound-stages of “About Last Night,” “K-9,″ “Mr. Destiny,” “Return to Me,” and in ABC TV’s breakout comedy series of 2002 “According to Jim.” For the concert with The Sacred Hearts at The Orleans, Belushi will sing, talk, flirt, dance on table tops and do at least one back flip.
Tony Butala, original founding member of The Letterman
Tony Butala, original founding member of The Lettermen guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote The Lettermen’s upcoming engagement at The South Point Showroom on March 16-18 at 7:30pm.
Butala estimates that the group made some 200 appearances on television shows such as Dick
Clark’s “American Bandstand” series, “Shindig”, and “Hullabaloo” were interviewed and
performed on talk shows and variety shows with Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas, Merv Griffin,
Jack Paar, Milton Berle, Steve Allen, Dinah Shore, and many others throughout the 60’s and 70’s,
cultivating new crops of fans.
Over its 50 years, the trio has gone through a few personnel changes. Engemann left in 1967,
replaced by Gary Pike, Jim Pike’s younger brother. A few years later, due to vocal problems,
Jim left the group and was replaced by his even younger brother, Donny Pike. The group stayed
stable, with this combination all through the seventies and early eighties led by the constant
member Tony Butala. Since then, Mark Preston, Ernie Pontiere, Bobby Poynton, Darren Dowler,
Don Campeau, Chad Nichols and Donovan Tea, have each had stints as members of The
Lettermen.
Eddie Money, Crystal Gayle
February 1, 2018
Audio of shows will be posted below
Eddie Money guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote his upcoming appearance at The Golden Nugget on Feb. 2.
After signing a recording contract with Columbia Records, Money burst onto the scene with his eponymous debut album in 1977. Fans immediately fell in love with Money’s sound, and the album, which went double platinum, featured hits like “Baby Hold On” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.” Money followed the success of his debut album with a stream of Top 40 hits, as well as some of the era’s most creative videos for songs like “Think I’m in Love” and “Shakin.” In 1986, Money released Can’t Hold Back, which featured the classic, Grammy-Nominated duet with Ronnie Spector, “Take Me Home Tonight.” The song reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album went platinum and also featured the hit “I Wanna Go Back.”
These days, Money continues to delight new and old fans alike at venues throughout the country. Having opened the summer concert season at the famous DTE Energy Music Theatre in Detroit for nearly 20 years, Money draws fans from all over who are eager to see the legendary musician. Ask any concert attendee and they’ll tell you he retains his signature style and performs with the same passion today as he did more than 30 years ago.
In addition to maintaining a busy touring schedule, Money has featured on hit television shows like “The King of Queens,” where he performed for his good friend Kevin James, and “The Drew Carey Show,” where he played Mimi’s ex-husband.
In recent years, Eddie has been joined on tour by his daughter, Jesse Money. Jesse, who was on MTV’s “Rock The Cradle,” is a talented and charismatic vocalist who has chosen to follow in her father’s footsteps. While on tour with Eddie, Jesse sings back-up vocals and adds an exciting twist to the duet “Take Me Home Tonight.” Eddie and his wife Laurie also have four sons – Zachary, Joseph, Desmond, and Julian.
Along with having sold more than 28 million records, Money’s songs have appeared in dozens of movies and television shows, and have recently been included in hit video games like “Grand Theft Auto” and “Guitar Hero.”
For more go to http://www.eddiemoney.com
Grammy Award Winner Crystal Gayle
Grammy Award Winner, Crystal Gayle guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong. As always, Michele gets “personal with the stars,” asking Crystal about what it was like to start out in the shadows of her sister Loretta Lynn, and many other things that are not the normal struggles of every singer.
In the wake…her hit list of platinum and gold record sales was to be matched only by her awards and accolades. CMA’s “Female Vocalist Of The Year,” for two consecutive years, she became a Grammy Award Winner for “Best Female Vocal Performance,” thanks to her beloved “Brown Eyes” – a song that she today admits she has never grown tired of singing. Crystal swept the Academy Of Country Music Awards for three of their “Top Female Vocalist” statuettes. As her music and her career path widened to mainstream audiences—so did her accolades. She is the recipient of three “American Music Awards” –voted by the nation as America’s “Favorite Female Artist.”
The glamour and the mystique of the Crystal Gayle phenomena made her an instantly “ in demand” artist. From symphony halls to Carnegie Hall…from the best kept stages in Las Vegas to the prestige of the London Palladium… one word—“Crystal”—crossed musical genres and oceans.
Crystal Gayle will be appearing at Riverside Resort Hotel & Casino, Laughlin NV, Feb. 15-18
For more about Crystal Gayle: crystalgayle.com
