He carried a guitar, was baby-faced and wore buckskins. His older brother also toted a guitar and wore a buckskin suit.
They were appearing on a local television show, 'Lew King's Rangers' on KPHO Television in Phoenix, AZ. I had succeeded in booking my brother, Legs, on the same show.
Lew King was the stage name for Lou Klein from New Kensington, PA. He dressed up in a cowboy suit and provided local talent for his TV audience. He featured clowns, country western music, bad jokes, and his two feature performers was a brother act, Wayne and Jerry Newton.
My brother was half of a duo known as Legs and Dave. His partner was a guitar player with a low voice who thought he could write music. Dave Pritchett had penned a song called 'Come On Home' that he had tried to sell to a Phoenix recording studio, VIV Productions.
The song wasn't bad. It wasn't good but it wasn't bad. It would never hit the charts.
What none of the performers realized was that at the moment the show was going on, television star Jackie Gleason was on a train in a private coach heading for Las Vegas. The train stopped in Phoenix and Gleason caught Wayne Newton's act.
Gleason was impressed with Wayne's baby-faced appearance and his high-pitched voice. Before he left Phoenix, he had contacted Wayne's agent and invited the kid to appear on his TV show in Las Vegas.
Here is what is funny. Everybody who heard my brother and Wayne Newton sing that day said my brother had the better voice. Such is fame.
Today Wayne Newton is nicknamed Mr. Las Vegas. He is reportedly the highest paid performer in Las Vegas, surpassing even Frank Sinatra.
He lives on an Arabian Horse Ranch called Casa de Shenadoah, where he prides himself in raising champion Arabians.
Newton has performed in some of the biggest casino resorts in Las Vegas. He has made movies including a memorable appearance in the Chevvie Chase comedy, 'National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation.' And he is a supporter and friend of Donald Trump.
Wayne is one of the longest appearing stars in Las Vegas history. He has made many records including 'Dunke Schoen', 'Red Roses for a Blue Lady' and 'Summer Wind.'
Age has been kind to him. He still retains his baby good looks despite being 74 years old.
Except for some problems with bankruptcy and lawsuits, Wayne Newton maintains a clean image for a celebrity. He has won some of his lawsuits and he has lost a few.
Once Newton appeared as a guest on 'Larry King Live.' During the interview, he revealed a long-standing feud between him and Johnny Carson. Wayne said for some reason, Carson delighted and telling jokes about him. He said he had no reason why Carson did this and called him 'mean-spirited.'
In the year 2000, Newton was elected to the Gaming Hall of Fame.
But he still draws sellout crowds at the Las Vegas casinos where he performs and these days he wears a tuxedo, not buckskins. Three cheers for Mr. Las Vegas. He has earned them.
Geno 7 years ago
Wayne Newton launched his singing career in Phoenix, AZ. He loved horses then and still loves them now. Thanks, Rose, for your comment.
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rferry5 7 years ago
Wayne I love you even more knowing that you raise Arabian horses and live on a ranch. Someone with your status you would think you would live in a penthouse beings you are Mr Las Vegas himself God Bless You Wayne and keep on trucking pa loves you thansk rose
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Geno 7 years ago
Years ago he ran an Arabian horse ranch in Scottsdale, AZ. that was quite successful. I remember attending one of his sales. It drew buyers and sellers from all over the world.
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Vanenhox 7 years ago
I believe I saw a 60 Minute report on him years ago, which reported that he was actually the owner or part owner of one or more casinos. Sorry my memory is fuzzy, but the point of the report was that he started with nothing as an excellent singer and his skills as a business man took him to dizzying heights of success their...
I believe I saw a 60 Minute report on him years ago, which reported that he was actually the owner or part owner of one or more casinos. Sorry my memory is fuzzy, but the point of the report was that he started with nothing as an excellent singer and his skills as a business man took him to dizzying heights of success their in Vegas...most impressive
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