Posted on 03/23/2020 1:51:38 PM PDT by simpson96
(snip)...
1. By Age 6, He Had a Daily Radio Gig
At the tender age of 4, Newton had already decided a life onstage was his career calling, and he set about learning piano, guitar and steel guitar by ear. Unbelievably, by the age of 6 he was performing on a radio show every morning before going off to elementary school.(snip)
2. "Danke Schoen" Wasn't His Only Unusual Hit
(snip) In 1972, he scored again with "Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast," in which a little girl begs her daddy not to leave the family home.(snip)
3. He Works Hard for His Money
So, here's the million-dollar question: How does Wayne Newton consistently draw such large crowds to Vegas despite only having a handful of hits? Let's quote from this 1980 Washington Post article that wondered the same thing: "He bites into 'I Can See Clearly Now' in his bronchial Brenda Lee tenor, eye-contact spraying around the room. He grins, he winks, he glides, he spins, working harder than a man changing a tire in the rain. He slams into his second number. Other performers make it look easy, but Wayne Newton wants to sweat, straining at the long holds in 'Staying Alive' from 'Saturday Night Fever.'(snip)
4. He's Been Involved in Several Lawsuits
In 1980, NBC News reported that Newton had ties to the Mafia. At the time, Newton was part owner of the Aladdin hotel, which gave rise to other news reports that he was a "frontman" for the mob. Newton sued NBC for defamation and won.(snip)
5. His Other Great Love Is Horses
Next to music, Newton loves nothing more than Arabian horses. In fact, he owns around 45 of them, and is considered one of the world's top breeders of Arabians.
(Excerpt) Read more at entertainment.howstuffworks.com ...
He was great in Ford Fairlane.
#6. Cousin Eddie is a fan.
“Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast”
Makes me cry every time! *SNIF*
In 1980, I attended a rally for Reagan on the occasion of his birthday, which Newton hosted. Guests included Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, who led the audience in singing "Happy Birthday."
I saw Wayne Newton in one of his last performances at the Tropicana, in 2004 or 2005. The show was fantastic.
His orchestra consisted of a string section in which every single violinist was a beautiful female. Their seating appeared to float into place from opposite sides of the stage; the seating assembled itself into an orchestra behind Mr. Newton as he sang.
The star of the band was the bass player, who absolutely made the show. Unbelievable energy and drive power.
Mr. Newton wasn’t at the top of his form voice-wise, but his rapport with the audience was at full strength, and he was terrific.
As a musician, I wanted to see him just once, he’s an icon.
I remember as a child seeing him on I Love Lucy. You just knew he had “IT”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63bvnkk1n8M
I always wondered why Wayne Newton’s Las Vegas act was so popular. In November 1984 Ronald Reagan held his last campaign rally in San Diego, his lucky city. Wayne Newton brought his entire orchestra, including the harp, his golden microphone, and EVERYTHING. There was a huge brass section. It was a big band like I had never seen before. Wayne Newton performed for free for about three hours in a shopping center parking lot before President Reagan arrived. Wayne Newton played his entire Las Vegas show and then he took requests for the audience. Wayne Newton is the greatest showman I have ever seen. He loves his audience and the audience loves him. You have to see it.
Same here!
I saw him in January of 1981 at Reagan’s inauguration. He was passing the area of lower-level campaign staffers on the Capitol lawn on his way up to a closer VIP section. He was with Ed McMahon.
I use to work with the 1st Miss Indian USA Martha Moore Barker of the Ponca Tribe.
Wayne use to call our office all the time and send her photos of a horse he gave her
The best thing about Wayne Newton is the time he burst into Johnny Carson’s office and threatened to beat up Carson if he didn’t stop telling jokes implying Newton was a fag. And Carson stopped.
You’re lucky! Always wanted to see him!
“Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast” was a great song. I wonder how many marriages it saved?
In '97, I co-directed a TV show called AMERICAN EQUESTRIAN. I got to hang out with Wayne and Kathy in the stables, alone for quite a while, which was somewhat surreal. I was pretty young, so I was fairly intimidated. Super nice guy, though!
Danny Koker visited Wayne Newton during an episode of “Counting Cars” to see his car collection - which is mind blowing.
Isn’t he part Indian (i.e., Native American) himself?
Damn. I tear up watching Frozen with my granddaughter.
Wayne played a great part in the Chevy Chase movie-—Vegas Vacation.
He spots Ellen and gets a crush on her.
He sends her a fancy dress and tickets to his show.
Wayne gets Ellen to come to see him........alone.
Scenes of Wayne and Beverly D’Angelo (Ellen) were shot at his Casa Shenandoah home.
Alas, she leaves Wayne in the lurch......faithful to Clark.
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