Jim Belushi, Tony Butala
Oct. 29, 2015
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
(Jim Belushi, (L) Sonny Charles (R))
Comedian, actor and blues musician Jim Belushi guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Performer Jim Belushi, along with blues band The Sacred Hearts, will bring high-energy, soulful hits and a lot of laughs to The Orleans Showroom Oct. 31 & Nov. 1.
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 soundstages 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 Oct. 30-Nov. 1 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.
Marty Allen, Emilio Castillo
Oct. 15, 2015
Audio of interviews are posted below
Comedy Legend Marty Allen & Co-Star, Karon Kate Blackwell, guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong. Marty Allen is from the famous comedy team, Allen & Rossi.
In the 1970s and 80s, Allen made hundreds of television appearances, becoming a regular on “Hollywood Squares.” He also appeared on “Circus of the Stars,” in a cameo on “The Mario Brothers Show,” as a guest star on game shows such as “Password”, and in ten made-for-television movies.
At only 91 years of age, Allen has no intention of retiring and still works a full year and runs two miles on a treadmill daily.
“I feel like the Energizer Bunny. I just keep going,” Allen remarks. “I enjoy it. I can’t stop. People ask me where I get all the energy from to keep going and I joke that I’m on the pill. They believe me and want to know where to buy it for themselves.”
Allen met his co-star Blackwell in the mid-1980s, and the duo began performing together, combining his comedy with her music.
Emilio Castillo, founder and leader of Tower of Power
Emilio Castillo, Founder and Leader of Tower of Power guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong in Las Vegas and The Web.
Tower of Power’s musical odyssey began in 1968 when tenor saxophonist/vocalist Emilio Castillo met baritone sax player Stephen “Doc” Kupka in July of that year. Originally named The Motown’s, the guys paid homage to the R&B sound that influenced them while adding their own personal twist. In 1970, the now renamed Tower of Power landed its first record deal with Bill Graham’s San Francisco Records. Their next album, Bump City, was recorded on Warner Brothers and produced a string of hits giving the band its first national exposure. At least 60 talented musicians have toured or recorded with the band in its 45 years and they have been featured with artists as diverse as Aerosmith, Elton John, Little Feat, Phish, Santana, Heart, and many others, forever infusing the radio airwaves with Tower’s musical DNA. Each year Tower of Power tours the United States, Japan and Europe, playing sold out shows all over the world. Recent releases include “Great American Soulbook”, a collection of classic soul tunes, and the 40th Anniversary Concert DVD. Tower has never been busier or more in demand.
For more: www.towerofpower.com
Tower of Power is appearing at The South Point Showroom on Oct.17 & 18 at 7:30pm
TweetDave Coulier, Margaret Cho
Oct. 8, 2015
Audio of interviews posted below
Full House’ star Comedian Dave Coulier and Comedian Margaret Cho guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong to promote his upcoming dates at The South Point Showroom Oct. 9-11 at 7:30pm.
Dave Coulier’s career goes outside of his “Joey Gladstone” persona – as he acted in many television shows and movies, and has been performing live comedy for decades – but he always includes the beloved show in his stand-up acts.
Full House aired for eight seasons (1987-1995, with 192 episodes produced) and can now be seen on the Nickelodeon and ABC Family network lineups. Additionally, the show is currently in worldwide syndication in over 100 countries.
Dave followed this success by hosting his second prime-time hit series, America’s Funniest People, which ran on ABC for four seasons.
His stand up show – which he said is eclectic– is a preview for a special he’s filming called “Glorified Birthday Clown” that will be released early next year. Also next year, Dave will be seen starring in the highly anticipated spinoff “Fuller House” for Netflix.
Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho guests of Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong when performing her “Mother Tour” and will be performing her upcoming hilarious “PsyCHO Tour” at Treasure Island Oct. 16.
Beloved by fans for taking on social and political problems through comedy — especially issues of race and sexuality — Margaret Cho is a pioneer in the world of comedy. She has been recognized by civil rights groups for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of women, Asians and the LGBT community. Cho has long used her place on the stage to channel her vocal support for civil rights causes. Her observational comedy about race, sexuality, drugs, politics, celebrity, and everything in between always leaves audiences laughing out loud.
Margaret Cho started performing stand-up at age 16 in a comedy club called The Rose & Thistle, located above a bookstore that her parents ran. Soon after, she won a comedy contest where first prize was opening for comedian Jerry Seinfeld.
In her early twenties, Cho hit the college circuit, where she became very popular and garnered a nomination for Campus Comedian of The Year. She performed more than 300 concerts within two years and won the American Comedy Award for Female Comedian in 1994. Her short-lived ABC sitcom, “All-American Girl,” soon followed.
In 1999, Cho’s off-Broadway show, “I’m The One That I Want” toured the country and was made into a movie. The show and tour garnered good reviews and won “New York Magazine’s” Performance of the Year award and was named one of “Entertainment Weekly’s” Great Performances of the Year.
In 2001, Cho wrote material for her new show, “Notorious C.H.O.” She also toured to support her book’s release (also called “I’m The One That I Want”). In 2003, Cho went on the road again with her “Revolution” Tour, which was nominated for a Grammy award. In 2004, the tour was turned into a concert film and was released on DVD. She also launched the “State of Emergency” tour in 2004 during the presidential elections. This tour later emerged as a new tour called “Assassin.”
Cho launched her variety show, “The Sensuous Woman,” a mix of burlesque, comedy and belly dancing in 2006. In 2007 she received the first ever Best Comedy Performance award at the Asian Excellence Awards, the First Amendment Award from the ACLU of Southern California and the Intrepid Award from the National Organization of Women.
Cho was nominated for a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, for her stint on “30 Rock” as former North Korean President Kim Jong Il. Her U.S. national tour, “The psyCHO Tour” will bring all new material based on her famed taboo truths for a string of shows that will undoubtedly be hilarious.
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Rob Schneider, Don Brewer, Russell Peters
Sept. 3, 2015
Audio of interviews posted below (Scroll down)
Rob Schneider guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong, the only show that “Gets Personal with the Stars.”
After opening for comedians such as Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld, Schneider made his network television debut in 1987 on “The David Letterman Show.” In 1990, “Saturday Night Live” producer Lorne Michaels saw Schneider’s appearance on HBO’s “13th Annual Young Comedians Special” and hired him to be a regular on SNL. During his four seasons on SNL, Schneider was nominated for three EmmyR Awards and a Peabody Award..
Schneider is well-known for his longtime collaboration with Adam Sandler and Sandler’s production company, Happy Madison. Schneider has starred in several Happy Madison projects, including “The Benchwarmers,” “50 First Dates,” “The Longest Yard,” “Eight Crazy Nights,” “Little Nicky” and “Mr. Deeds.” Schneider co-wrote and starred in “Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo,” “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo,” “The Hot Chick” and “The Animal.”
Schneider was the star of the new CBS show, “Rob,” about a lifelong bachelor who married into a tight-knit Mexican-American family. Rob is a successful architect who elopes with Maggie in Las Vegas after a whirlwind romance.
For more about Rob Schneider, click HERE.
Rob Schneider is appearing at The South Point Showroom Sept. 4-6
Don Brewer (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 The Golden Nugget Sept. 4
Comedian Russell Peters
Russell Peters returns on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Celebrated comedian Russell Peters returns to The Pearl inside Palms Casino Resort on Aug. 2, 2014 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $49, plus any additional service fees.
Russell Peters is back and exploring new material! After the very successful release of Notorious on Netflix, Peters finds himself back on the road putting together new material as he works through a handful of 2014 dates. Fans can be prepared for some crowd work and…some randomness, all mixed with the comedic styling Peters is known for.
This year has been big for Peters who signed on to be a judge for this season’s NBC “Last Comic Standing.” He joins the likes of Roseanne Barr, Keenen Ivory Wayans and JB Smoove as they search for the funniest talent in America (premiered May 22).
Peters spent most of 2013 touring with the Notorious live show which followed a string of special performances and appearances including being the first comedian to play Brooklyn’s new Barclays Center in November 2012. More than 10,000 fans attended the show, making it the largest comedy show ever in the history of the New York City borough.
Peters’ special, The Green Card Tour LIVE From the O2 Arena, was recorded in London in 2010. The special was broadcast on Showtime, Comedy Central, Netflix USA and Netflix UK. In 2009, Peters set a UK attendance record for the highest attendance for a one-off comedy show with more than 16,000 fans attending his show at the O2 Arena. Peters also went on to have the highest attended comedy shows at Sydney, Australia’s Acer Arena and Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena in 2010.
Starting in 2008, Peters was one of the first stand-up comedians to self-finance, self-produce and distribute his own comedy specials and DVDs, with Red, White and Brown and 2011’s, The Green Card Tour LIVE from the O2 Arena. The DVDs went on to sell more than 250,000 units across North America. Peters is currently developing original programming for Netflix.
Listed on the Forbes List as one of the top ten Highest Earning Comics in the U.S. in 2009 and 2010, Russell Peters has spent the past 23 years building a career to become one of the biggest comics in the world.
Russell Peters is at The Pearl Theatre at The Palms Sept. 6.
TweetGary Puckett, Amazing Johnathan
Gary Puckett
(Audio of interviews are posted below except with Internet Explorer)
Gary Puckett and The Amazing Johnathan guest on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
Gary Puckett performs at The South Point Showroom June 5 & 6 at 7:30pm.
GARY PUCKETT and the UNION GAP was one of the most successful musical groups of the sixties. Gary’s unmistakable signature voice garnered six consecutive gold records and top ten Billboard hits. GARY PUCKETT has performed on more than thirty network television shows and prime time specials during his career, even adding a command performance for the President and Prince Charles at the White House. The Union Gap disbanded in the seventies. In 1974, “Young Girl” was reissued in England where it received a silver record award for attaining a top five position on the pop charts, several years after its initial release.
Gary continues to tour nationally & internationally, has a new album out now, “GARY PUCKETT – LIVE”, and has recently released his first ever Chrismas CD, entitled “At Christmas”.
The Amazing Johnathan
The Amazing Johnathan returns to Las Vegas Backstage Talk with Comedian Michele LaFong.
The Amazing Johnathan, is an American stand-up comedian/magician. His act is mostly composed of hijinks, interaction with one specific audience member, and a few legitimate magic tricks. Since 2001, he has been a year-round headliner in Las Vegas. Self-described as the “Freddy Krueger of Comedy”, Johnathan usually performs wearing his ever-present headband and his shows frequently use gore, such as pretending to suck on his own hanging eyeball, cutting his wrists, and skewering his own tongue. He is also good friends with fellow performer Criss Angel, and has helped Angel perform a variety of illusions, most notably during his three guest appearances on Mindfreak.
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Tom Papa, Tony Butala
March 19, 2015 6pm-7pm PST 1230AM in LV & Web
Audio of shows posted below
Comedian Tom Papa guests on Las Vegas Backstage Talk radio show with Comedian Michele LaFong.
The twenty-year stand up comedy veteran, actor, writer and television and radio host brings the laughs to the Suncoast Showroom on March 20 and 21.
After touring with Jerry Seinfeld for several years, Seinfeld personally selected Papa to be the host of The Marriage Ref, which ran for two seasons on NBC. In 2013, Papa portrayed Ray Arnett in Steven Soderbergh’s Emmy Award-winning HBO film Behind the Candelabra. He also appeared on Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer, The New Adventures of Old Christine and with Clive Owen this season on The Knick.
On the big screen, he has made appearances in movies such as Analyze That with Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal, Comedian with Jerry Seinfeld and alongside Matt Damon in The Informant! He also provided voices and worked as a writer on 2007’s Bee Movie.
Papa’s first hour-long special, Tom Papa Live in New York City, premiered on Comedy Central in January 2012. His Rob Zombie-directed second stand-up special, Tom Papa: Freaked Out, was named one of the 10 Best Comedy Albums of 2013 by Laughspin.com. His hit SiriusXM show, Come to Papa, airs weekly on channel 99.
Tony Butala- Original founding member of The Lettermen
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 20-22 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.
