By Valerie Milano
Las Vegas, NV (The Hollywood Times) 9/18/23 – The fans have spoken, and “Mister Las Vegas” listened.
The legendary Wayne Newton has announced he will be extending his residency at the Flamingo Las Vegs past its scheduled end on December 30th and into June 2024. Newton currently is celebrating his 64th year of performing in Las Vegas.
“Boy, time flies when you’re having fun,” he said, noting that he made his first headlining performances in 1963 at the Flamingo. “I can’t think of a better place to spend my 64th year performing in Las Vegas.
Newton has come to define Las Vegas during his remarkable career as an actor, singer, USO Ambassador and passionate supporter of veterans and active-duty service members.
Revered around the world, Newton is known for his iconic signature song, “Danke Schoen” in addition to countless other top hit singles including, “Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast,” “Red Roses for a Blue Lady,” “At This Moment,” “The Letter,” “Summer Wind” and “Years.”
To date, he has recorded an astounding 165 albums and has performed live in front of more than 40 million people during a record-setting run of 50,000-plus shows in Las Vegas, alone.
Newton also is a gifted musician, performing on 13 different instruments on stage, all without being able to read a single note of music.
In addition to his live prowess on stage, Newton has long since established himself as an accomplished and sought after actor, both in movies and on television.
Newton was discovered as a child by legendary actor Jackie Gleason, who became his mentor. Newton’s first roles as a kid were on “Bonanza” and “The Lucy Show,” and he appeared in such movies as “National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation” and the classic James Bond thriller, “License to Kill.” Most recently, Newton appeared in the hit comedy series “Hacks.”
Newton has also been recognized by the United States Department of Defense with its highest civilian award for being the only American entertainer to have performed in all of the respective countries of conflict.
Las Vegas saluted Newton by making him one of only two people to receive the city’s own Medal of Honor. In addition, he was also named the “Ambassador of Goodwill” by the state of Nevada.
Among other honors, Las Vegas McCarran International Airport’s main thoroughfare had been renamed “Wayne Newton Boulevard,” and the city named him one of the “Top Three Entertainers of the Century in Nevada and Around the World,” joining his dear friends and fellow performers, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.
“I’m thrilled to continue performing my show Up Close and Personal at the Flamingo, entertaining audiences who travel from all over the world,” Newton said.
“Wayne: Up Close and Personal,” at the theater that bears his name inside Bugsy’s Cabaret, will play to its final audiences on June 26, 2024, adding an additional 62 shows.
