The Talk About Las Vegas Podcast | a podcast by Ira Sternberg

This week, Ira spoke with Dennis Blair.

Comedian Dennis Blair is an accomplished screenwriter, award-winning songwriter and comedic actor.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Blair talks about his beginnings as a musician and his decision to add comedy to his act; becoming Rodney Dangerfield’s protégé; performing as the opening act for George Carlin for more than 18 years; the difference between the live stage and movies; and his upcoming jazz album.

Blair conceived and co-wrote Rodney’s hit movie, “Easy Money,” and also played two cameo roles. He co-wrote and was a featured actor in two Dangerfield specials on ABC, and was creative consultant for the album “Rappin’ Rodney.” The title song (which he co- wrote) was nominated for a Grammy Award.

His post-Rodney career has seen him opening for a multitude of celebrities such as Tom Jones, The Beach Boys, Melissa Manchester, Joan Rivers, Elayne Boosler, George Wallace, Gloria Estefan, Joy Behar, and Jackie Mason.

http://www.dennisblair.com

This week, Ira spoke with Jeff Hanna.

Jeff Hanna is one of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, performing at the Orleans July 7-8.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Hanna talks about the origins of the group; the influences and pressures that led to success; their 1972 groundbreaking "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" album, which has been inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress as well as the Grammy Hall of Fame; performing with his son, who has joined the band; and always keeping it fun on stage.

The iconic and influential Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is often cited as a catalyst for an entire movement in Country Rock and American Roots Music.

With multi-platinum and gold records, strings of top ten hits such as "Fishin' In The Dark" and "Mr. Bojangles", multiple Grammy, IBMA, CMA Awards and nominations, the band's accolades continue to accumulate.

http://www.orleanscasino.com

http://www.nittygritty.com

This week, Ira spoke with Dave Itzkoff.

New York Times Cultural Reporter Dave Itzkoff is the author of “Robin,” the biography of comedian Robin Williams.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Itzkoff talks about the life of comedian Robin Williams, his unique upbringing, his struggles with relationships and challenges in his career, his Las Vegas connection, and his impact on comedy and culture in America.

Itzkoff is the author of “Mad as Hell,” “Cocaine’s Son,” and “Lads.” He is a culture reporter at The New York Times, where he writes about film, television, theater, music, and pop culture. Itzkoff previously worked at Spin, Maxim, and Details, and his work as appeared in GQ, Vanity Fair, Wired, and other publications. He lives in New York City.

On Twitter: @ditzkoffPhoto by Chad Batka

This week, Ira spoke with George Christie.

Former Hells Angels leader George Christie is starring in "Outlaw," a new, one-man theatrical show at the Art Square Theatre June 22-24.

Based on his memoir “Exile on Front Street: My Life as a Hells Angel and Beyond,” the show explores how the son of poor Greek immigrants became one of the most influential leaders of the world’s most infamous motorcycle club.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Christie talks about his more than three decades as president of the Ventura Chapter of the Hells Angels, his troubles with the law, his time in jail and his decision to leave the club and begin a new life.

Christie left the Hells Angels in 2011 and began writing, speaking, promoting concerts and consulting for defense attorneys. In 2015, The History Channel produced a documentary series about him, titled “Outlaw Chronicles: Hells Angels.”

While the documentary focused on the Hells Angels, “Outlaw” playwright and co-producer Richard La Plante said the new stage production will offer a more personal portrait of Christie.

http://www.artsquaretheatrelv.com

http://www.georgechristieoutlaw.com

This week, Ira spoke with Aaron Neville.

Singer and musician Aaron Neville, performing at the Orleans Casino showroom June 23, began his musical career in 1960 and his since then impressed countless fans with his top R&B and soul hits, including “Tell It Like It Is,” “Don’t Know Much,” “Everybody Plays the Fool,” “All My Life” and “Don’t Take Away My Heaven.”

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Neville talks about the impact of his first hit, “Tell It Like It Is", working with the Neville Brothers, his successful solo career, the musical influences of his life, why gospel is important to him, and what keeps him motivated today.

Most recently, Neville released his newest album “Apache,” bringing audiences his holistic soul sound as well as his hard R&B style. For the second time in his more than 55-year career, Neville has co-written nearly the entire “Apache” album and he also helped write and produce the music for the album along with Eric Krasno, guitarist for Soulive and Rustic and Dave Gutter, frontman for the Rustic Overtones.

The album will take fans back to the golden age of R&B in a musical revival with a modern twist. Neville’s “Apache” includes hits like “Fragile World,” which features references to Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.”

http://www.orleanscasino.com

http://www.aaronneville.com

This week, Ira spoke with Connie Francis.

In 1958, Cashbox, Billboard and the Jukebox Operators of America named Connie Francis (whose new book is “Among My Souvenirs-The Real Story”) as the #1 Female Vocalist. She was named Top Female Vocalist by all the trades for six consecutive years – a record never surpassed.

As well, England’s prestigious New Musical Express also named her the World’s #1 Female Vocalist. She earned two gold records for “Who’s Sorry Now? and “Stupid Cupid.”

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Francis talks about her long career and hit records, her growing up with the mob, setting records as the youngest singer in Las Vegas, her relationships with Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra, and the two people she considers responsible for her decade-long success: her father and Dick Clark.

Francis has lived one of the greatest American Dream lives of the 20th century. In the 21st century, she continues to live that dream with conviction and purpose.

At one time, when asked what she would like her legacy to be, she said, “I would like to be remembered, not so much for the heights I have reached, but for the depths from which I have come.” Today, she puts it more simply, by merely saying, “I hope I did O.K.”

http://www.conniefrancis.com

This week, Ira spoke with Jim Florentine.

Jim Florentine, headlining in the Laugh Factory at the Tropicana Las Vegas through May 26, is a stand-up comedian, TV host, actor, podcaster and voice artist. He is best known for co-hosting VH1 Classic's heavy metal talk show series "That Metal Show" that ran from 2008-2015. Florentine is also known for his work on Comedy Central's show “Crank Yankers” where he performed the voice of Special Ed and Bobby Fletcher. He is the author of “Everybody Is Awful: (Except You!)”

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Florentine talks about his decision to pursue a comedy career because of the influence of Andrew Dice Clay and Rodney Dangerfield; the role of the comic in society and the difference between west coast and east coast comics; his time in Las Vegas making an album; and why people crazily seek approval using social media.

http://www.troplv.com

http://www.jimflorentine.com

This week, Ira spoke with Dustin Wax.

Dustin M. Wax is the Executive Director of The Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas. The nonprofit museum’s mission is to preserve, celebrate, and inspire the art of burlesque.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Wax talks about the history of burlesque, the impact of the art on American culture, why Las Vegas is now home to the this unique museum, and why it continues to appeal to both an American and global audience.

He holds an M. Phil. (ABD) in cultural anthropology from the New School for Social Research in New York City, and has taught anthropology and gender studies at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and the College of Southern Nevada since 2003.

Wax is strongly committed to Nevada arts and culture and has served on the boards of several local arts and cultural organizations. He currently sits on the board of the Nevada Museums Association.

http://www.burlesquehall.com.

This week, Ira spoke with S.D. Moore.

Multiple award-winning Author S.D. Moore writes in spite of being a brain and heart damaged Air Force veteran with Lupus.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Moore talks about her journey from stroke to success in writing, her unique approach to producing books, how she incorporates real people with fictional characters, and how she segues from horror to humor.

She is the author of the dramedy, “Before We Were Perfect,” the novel “Wicked Prayers” (was Readers’ Favorite 2017 International Gold Medal (1st place) winner, the award-winning “Adventures of PJ and Split Pea” and “Basics to Business: Minding Your Business with Excel.”

Moore also is a patented inventor of The Portable Hot Sink System; has an ABD towards a Doctorate of Education, holds dual master’s degrees in management and human resources development,

http://www.sdmooreauthor.com

This week, Ira spoke with Sue Costello.

Comedian Sue Costello is headlining in the Laugh Factory at the Tropicana Las Vegas through May 6.

In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Costello talks her unique approach to comedy, her blue-collar background and self-education, why she decided to always become vulnerable when she performs on stage, and why people from all walks of life connect with her.

Costello has appeared on countless television shows including "NYPD Blue” and "Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn” on Comedy Central. After starring in two TV pilots for CBS, she earned her own self-titled television series, "Costello," in which she also served as a producer and the co-creator.

She was also a guest host on NBC's "Later,” performed on Comedy Central's "Premium Blend,” and made it to the finals of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” Costello has also been seen on "Comics Unleashed" with Byron Allen.

Costello was cast in such films as "Southie" starring Donnie Wahlberg and directed by John Shea; "Once in the Life," with Laurence Fishburne; and “The Fighter” with Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale.

http://www.troplv.com

http://www.suecostello.com