The Buzz: Oh What a Night!

The crowd gathered Monday Night, February 1, at the Bootlegger Bistro for Kelly Clinton’s Open Mic Cabaret. As the room filled with artists, fans and friends the buzz was “Who will Kelly be tonight?” and “OMG, Bill Fayne is here!” Bill’s been out of the scene for several months but he is now on the road to a full recovery. Many of you know Bill Fayne as the musical director for headliner, Clint Holmes, and a member of the popular show group, the Las Vegas Tenors.

The much anticipated “special guest performance” kicked off the entertainment with Kelly's farewell tribute to Bette Midler, who we all know closed with her final performance at Caesar’s Palace last weekend. The musical comedy sketch with Kelly as the Divine Miss M, and Lena Prima and Elisa Fiorillo as “The Harlettes” was AWESOME and the embellished Mermaid costumes (Lena’s touch) were absolutely fabulous! Kelly’s musical director Mike Clark also got into the act wearing a blonde curly wig ) and a sparkling underwater blue shirt. ("Ala" The Diva’s MD-Bette Sussman ). Bet this number will be a hit on Youtube.

The beautiful and so very talented, Michelle Johnson led the open mic lineup of outstanding performers. ( Michelle has performed and recorded with the likes of Paul McCartney, Sheena Easton, and Gladys Knight to name a few!) Newly signed recording artists with World Movement Records, our very own, Michael Cagle, and country artist, JP Cates stepped up to the mic. Sitting at their table was Cagle’s manager Lynn Green, Lamont Patterson, CEO of World Movement Records and record promoter, Stan Dorris.

Las Vegas headliner, and Kelly’s husband, Clint Holmes called for a “Jam” right after Elisa Fiorillo’s outstanding solo. Gayle Thompson-Steele and Michele Johnson joined Holmes and Fiorillo in an off the cuff rendition of Summertime. Oh what a night! It was just great. Domenick Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Turner, and Bill Fayne were all sitting at Holmes table enjoying the great entertainment.

Gayle Thompson-Steele, who has to be the best jazz/blues singer in Vegas, was up for her own solo performance a little later in the show.

Some of the evening’ special guests were, Suncoast show producer, Ed Matthews, Kelly Clinton’s manager, Frank Lieberman and his wife Karen Lieberman, and outstanding musician and currently Lance Burton’s manager, Peter Reveen and his wife Coral Reveen.
Singer/comedienne, Kelly Vohnn had the crowd rolling with laughter and Donny Evins had them reminiscing with his stylistic version of “Georgia On My Mind.” Another Bootlegger favorite, Lou De Meis, killed with “The Impossible Dream” from the musical, Man of La Mancha.

Vegas 5W’s host, Kaci Machacyk sang while 5W’s creative director, Tommy Vinci sat in on the drums. Vegas 5W is an internet broadcast show so the team was also there to interview Kelly and some of the people in the audience for a feature they are doing on Kelly Clinton and her Open Mic Cabaret.

Freddy Walker performed at the piano, a one-name singer called Ben stepped up to the mic, Sophia Lelis took to the stage for her performance, and Bootlegger host, J.T. Thompson got in close to the audience for his number. DJ, Kevin Cordova, who runs tracks for some of the performers, stepped out of his usual space and belted out a James Ingram number. Kevin can sing!

Winding up the night was singer, Justina Lee Black, a Detroit native now living in Las Vegas. Black just returned from North Carolina where she recorded eight original songs with producer, Benny Caruso.

The band did a great job with Kevin Lyon on guitar, Billy Adams on drums, Steve Johnson, sitting in on sax, and the leader of this awesome mesh of top musicians, Michael Clark on the keys.

Come on down to Kelly Clinton’s Open Mic Cabaret every Monday night at the Bootlegger Bistro. Invite your friends, dine in, get on the mic, have a blast!!!!
Dining reservations: 702-736-4939=