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“Melody of Musical Love”
Make those reservations right away for Bobby Vinton's July 5th (Saturday) appearance at the Tropicana Express in Laughlin.
Bobby was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania (a suburb of Pittsburgh), the son of a locally popular band leader, Stan Vinton. When he was a young boy, his parents encouraged him to study music, and at the age of sixteen formed his first band. He graduated with a degree in Musical Composition at Duquesne University. A short while later, his career exploded into stardom. He has sold over 75 million records.
Currently, Bobby continues to headline in Atlantic City and Las Vegas in addition to playing dates around the world. His songs are recognized as standards and his music has retained its vitality and relevance through our changing times. (Bobby even had a short spell as an actor, co-starring twice with John Wayne – “Big Jake and “The Train Robbers.”)
Bobby's hit-making capability was evidenced with the release of 1974’s “My Melody of Love,” when it became a Top 5 song and was embraced by Polish Americans around the country as their new national anthem. He also created his own theater in Branson, Missouri -- The Bobby Vinton Blue Velvet Theatre -- a 1,600-seat European style theatre complete with ceiling murals, Italian tile and blue velvet accents. He has since sold it, saying -- “the theater was operating fine, but the offer was simply too great to pass up. This was a very difficult decision for me to do because my family was here along with so many friends and great audiences."
Vinton also has a star on the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard. The “Blue Velvet” crooner had over 30 charted hits in the 60’s and 70’s including four number one hits -- “Mr. Lonely,” “There! I’ve Said It Again,” and his first huge tune back in 1962, “Rose’s Are Red.”
He has one performance only at the Tropicana Express in Laughlin on July 5th at 8pm. Tickets are priced between $39 and $49. For reservations and information, call 1-800-435-8469.

In a tribute to comedian George Carlin, who died earlier in the week, HBO is airing encore specials of more than 30 years of his comedy shows for the next week or so.
Carlin began giving performances on HBO in 1977, almost since the network's inception. Carlin was 71 years-old when he died of heart failure on Sunday in a Los Angeles-area hospital. An HBO rep says -- "No performer was more important to helping our network define itself in its early years."

Obama’s iPod Shows Who’s
“The Boss”
So, the word is out on who the performers are on Barack Obama’s iPod. “Rolling Stone” magazine reveals who he is listens to during his relaxing moments on the campaign trail. It’s a somewhat diverse list. They include -- Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder (his idol,) Elton John, Miles Davis, Yo-Yo Ma, Sheryl Crow, Jay-Z and The Boss – Bruce Springsteen. Obama says,. "I have pretty eclectic tastes” he said in an interview published Friday's in the magazine.
He grew up in the '70s and listened to the Rolling Stones, and Earth, Wind and Fire. His favorite tune is The Stones' "Gimme Shelter." Obama’s iPod playlist contains about 30 songs from Dylan and the singer's "Blood on the Tracks" album. Jazz legends Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker are also in the mix. "Actually, one of my favorites during the political season is 'Maggie's Farm,'" he says of one Dylan track. "It speaks to me as I listen to some of the political rhetoric." In the song, Dylan sings about trying to be himself, but everybody wants him to be just like them.
Obama says he hasn't met Springsteen, but the two have talked over the phone."Not only do I love Bruce's music, but I just love him as a person," Obama said. "He is a guy who has never lost track of his roots, who knows who he is, and who has never put on a front." So, does he call him The Boss? "You've got to. Don’t you?"

Does McCain’s iPod Show
ABBA’s “Winner Takes It All?”
In fairness, Rolling Stone magazine owes Senator John McCain equal time. He’s from another era. His website only says “John McCain carries an iPod filled with his favorite music: 50's and 60's Rock 'n Roll.” Perhaps it’s Elvis, Buddy Holly, and The Beach Boys. But, he did close his New Hampshire campaign with the 1976 Orleans' hit celebration of monogamy, "Still the One." What’s funny is that its writer and founding member of the band is now a New York Congressman –a Democrat – John Hall, who hates McCain using the song. Also, John Mellencamp asked McCain to refrain from using any of his tunes like “Our Country” and “Small Town.” Hmmm, outside of the Dixie Chicks country music might be the way for the senator to load up his iPod. Tim McGraw will not get riled like some of the liberal rockers.
However, here is a direct quote from McCain as he told the “Austin American-Statesman – “I love ABBA.The background music would be ABBA in the elevators all over the White House if I’m elected.” He adds knowingly – “ABBA was the largest selling recording act ever. Nobody likes them, but they sold more records than anybody in the history of the world, including the Beatles. But everybody hates them.” Finally, perhaps tongue in cheek, he says “You’re a no-class guy if you like ABBA. Why does everybody go see ‘Mamma Mia?’ Hypocrisy! Rank hypocrisy! I’m not embarassed to say I like ABBA and ‘Dancing Queen.’”

Robert DeNiro, Will Smith and Oprah Winfrey attended a private dinner to celebrate the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela on Wednesday night. The former South African president hosted the dinner in London's Hyde Park In a tribute to the former premier, Oprah said: "What is so special is that you spend 27 years in prison, you come out and you do the thing that everyone thought was impossible to do - become president of the nation and change the way people feel about Africa, and then you get to live to celebrate 90."
It was uncomfortable for a few minutes as Oprah encountered Bill Clinton. She supports Obama for President, but was formerly close friends with the Clintons. They barely said hello.

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