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Friday, February 04, 2000
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
COLUMN: NORM!
Ross, Wilson setting aside past differences for Supremes tour
It's no longer a rumor.
Diana Ross and Mary Wilson, after years of being on the outs, are publicly acknowledging a Supremes reunion tour is in the works.
We told you so in October. Wilson told "Access Hollywood" on Wednesday that it's going to happen.
The newest development, however, has Ross visiting Las Vegas this weekend, reinforcing speculation that Las Vegas will be among the tour stops. The Supremes' most recent reunion -- Ross, Wilson and Cindy Birdsong -- was in 1988, when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Rehearsals tentatively are scheduled to start in May, with a late summer tour kickoff. Details are still being worked out, including a formal news conference.
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Fan, as in fanatic: When it comes to fanatical David Cassidy fans, Carol Bennet and Christine Wilson are in another league.
In the past 2 1/2 years, the two Englishwomen have traveled to Las Vegas seven times and attended almost 100 Cassidy shows -- 91 of "EFX" and five more this week at Cassidy's "At the Copa" co-starring Sheena Easton.
Cassidy shared some time with them Tuesday night, a day before their return to London.
Now a schoolteacher, Bennet first saw Cassidy in 1972. She was arrested for chasing him through London's Heathrow International Airport. Wilson, a social worker, saw him in person for the first time in 1974.
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Bassey's best decision: Over the years, Shirley Bassey stuck to one hard and fast rule: Don't bother bringing your music without words. But she's glad she made an exception.
"John Barry, my conductor, came to me one day (in the early 1960s) and said, `Break your rule. ... You must listen to this.' "
Bassey listened to Barry's creation: "I got goose bumps. It was the first time that ever happened to me." It was the title music to "Goldfinger," the first James Bond movie and a runaway hit song for Bassey.
Barry came to her again with "Diamonds are Forever" and, later, she landed "Moonraker," two more 007 hits.
"I was supposed to do `What's New Pussycat,' but they gave it to Tom Jones." Jones, also from Wales, turned it into one of his biggest hits.
Bassey has a five-show engagement at the MGM Grand today through Wednesday, her first shows in Las Vegas in about 20 years.
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The Scene and Heard: Las Vegas resident Richard Steinberg has a best seller on The New York Times book list. "Nobody's Safe" (Bantam, $6.50 in paperback) ranks 29th this week. The plot has a thief witnessing a murder during a routine burglary and landing in the middle of a government conspiracy. Steinberg, who previously wrote "The Gemini Man," includes Las Vegas scenes sprinkled throughout the book. ... I hear ESPN has eyes for the Motown Cafe and its location in New York-New York, with hopes of putting an ESPN Zone franchise there. ... The San Francisco Giants have a 10-year deal with Cirque du Soleil to bring the "Dralion" production to the baseball team's new ballpark every two years.
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Sightings: Retired NFL All-Pro Reggie White, who is spending most of his time behind a pulpit these days, told passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight this week that he was heading to Las Vegas for, what else, a little gambling. ... Smokey Robinson, filming a documentary outside the Stardust, the La Concha Motel and the Flamingo Hilton earlier this week. ... Prominent fashion designer Stephen Yearick, at the grand re-opening of "Splash" at the Riviera on Wednesday to see his costume creations. Twenty-two of the past 27 Miss America pageant winners have worn his gowns.
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The Punch Line: "There is no such thing as fun for the entire family." -- Jerry Seinfeld.
Norm! appears in the Review-Journal on Friday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. Call Norm! at (702) 383-0244 or e-mail him at Norm@lasvegas.com.
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Printable version of this story
Entertainer David Cassidy shares a moment after his show at the Rio on Tuesday night with English fans Carol Bennet, left, and Christine Wilson. The two fans have traveled to Las Vegas seven times in 2
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