As those of you who are regular readers know, every so often I like to give you a close and personal look at one of our town's entertainers and today is one of those days. I recently went to see Gordie Brown at the Golden Nugget and had such a good time watching this very talented singer/impressionist perform, I knew I had to interview him.
Several weeks later, I got my chance and as you're all my friends (well, other than those of you who send me hate mail) I will share that interview with you.
Brown hails from Montreal and began his working career as a political cartoonist for an Ottawa newspaper. His fellow workers secretly entered him in a contest after listening to him do some impressions in the office. He reluctantly entered, but ended up winning. That, he says, "Got a lot of media attention and then everything snowballed from there."
Brown says he always had aspirations to go into some form of show business. "I was in a school play, West Side Story when I was 15. I had the lead role and at the end of the performance, when people gave us a standing ovation, it was such an amazing feeling of adrenaline. I knew then that I wanted to be an entertainer. I didn't know when it would happen, or where or when, or even what I would do, but I knew that I wanted to do it. That was the defining moment."
He says that when he entered the contest, "That was a big move for me, because I was basically shy, so winning the contest gave me the self confidence to continue. Many entertainers, whether they be actors or singers, are shy, so they create an alter ego to perform. In my case, I've taken that alter ego to the max because I can step into so many different people's heads with my impressions."
Brown began by writing songs and joining a band. He says, "The impressions really didn't take hold until after I'd seen Rich Little perform. Before that, I'd done a bit of Elvis and Michael Jackson, but that was it. When I went to see Rich Little, I was in the front row and he shook my hand and I was so awed by his performance, I went home that night thinking, 'if I can do two impressions, why I can't I learn more?'
"Initially, I started out doing Rich's material, but little by little started writing my own. I've always had a comic sense and my mind always thought that way. When I was on stage it was always easier for me to ad lib then to labor over writing a joke. So between the ad libbing and the writing, it all started to come together at the right time."
As for his singing, Brown says he never did have a good singing voice. "In fact, when I did sing, people would tell me to shut up. But that spurred me on. It's like when someone tells you that you can't do something, you want to prove them wrong. I've been very fortunate in the fact that I didn't listen to people."
He first came to Las Vegas in the late '80s to look for work. "I was single at the time, but left a girlfriend behind in Ottawa. I auditioned, but things didn't happen and I ended up going back home. I had left tape with the mother of Melissa, the First Lady of Magic, and three months later, after she got around to looking at my tape, she hired me."
From there, he says, it was like climbing stairs, working in Las Vegas shows, moving up to work with his idols, Paul Anka, and later Rich Little. He then moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, had some success, but returned to Las Vegas to do a gig at the Golden Nugget.
The then-president of the hotel nicknamed him Downtown Gordie Brown, a moniker he has since dropped. His contract ends in December, but he is hoping it will be extended. "The Golden Nugget people have been wonderful. I've been happy with them and they with me, so it's worked out well."
For now, Brown's happy to be living and working in Las Vegas. It's great when you can be home with your family every day. He and his wife (that girlfriend he left behind in Ottawa) have four children, ranging in age from nine months to 10 years. I just want to keep entertaining and building my name in this town." So far he's doing a great job at both. Catch his show. You won't be disappointed.
HARRAH'S MAKING MOVES
Harrah's, after making its mega move to buy out Caesars Palace, Paris,, Bally's, Flamingo etc. is continuing its assault on the Strip with its soon-to-be purchase of the Imperial Palace. It's not final, but I'm sure if the price is right, the IP and its 20 acres of land will become part of the Harrah's family. The deal makes sense and in my opinion, will be good for our town.
BE A LEGEND
And speaking of the IP, its quarterly "Be A Legend" Celebrity Impersonator Karaoke Contest begins tomorrow (Aug. 18) at 7 p.m. The winner gets a chance to earn a spot in a Las Vegas show and to compete for the top prize of $750, as well as an audition for the hotel's show, "Legends In Concert."
Contestants will be impersonating a variety of celebrities, such as Christina Aguilera, Prince, Elvis, Patsy Cline, Kenny Rogers and more. The show is free and takes place in the hotel's Strip-front karaoke club - Tequila Joe's. Should be great fun, so if you don't have plans, you know where to go.
Good luck and I'll see you on the Strip.
If you have a question or a Las Vegas experience you would like to share with my readers, please e-mail me at lennylv@cox.net. Please include your full name and the city or town where you live.
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