Monday, April 28, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

COLUMN: Norm!

Question lingers for 'Big Elvis': love child or unchained melody

Barbary Coast headliner Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee has completed DNA tests to determine whether he is Elvis' love child, his manager says. COURTESY PHOTO

It's official: It's still unofficial.

We're taking this with a grain of salt, make that a King-sized shaker: The manager for Barbary Coast headliner Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee claims the 500-pound singer has completed DNA tests to determine whether he is the love child of Elvis.

"We're waiting for an OK from our legal people before announcing anything," Lucille Star said.

"His mother has indicated he indeed is Elvis' son," Star said.

Vallee's mother, Delores, who lives in Las Vegas, was a singer in Nashville, Tenn., in the 1960s and friends with Kitty Wells, who appeared on the Louisiana Hayride with Elvis, Pete Vallee said last summer.

"Our legal people aren't satisfied yet that the chain of custody is complete," Star said. "The chain of custody has to be verified, and that's taken almost a year.

"We are not coming out and saying that this is the case beyond a doubt."

Asked how Elvis' DNA was obtained, Star said, "I can't disclose that yet."

This much is undeniable: Both Elvis and Big Elvis like to eat.

Sonny day

Veteran Las Vegas entertainer Sonny King will be honored at the Nevada Legislature today with a Senate resolution introduced by Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno.

The Senate is honoring King for "his lifetime contribution as an entertainer in this state and throughout the world."

While Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt presides over the Senate and will be there for the event, she also performs with Sonny and her husband, Blackie, at the Bootlegger, which her family owns.

King, whose birth name is Louis Antonio Donato Schiavone, began his career in Hudson, N.J. He and Dean Martin were roommates, and King later joined Jimmy Durante in an act that lasted 28 years. He was closely associated with the Rat Pack.

The Scene and Heard

How many local properties are going to be on the telephone today, calling "American Idol" Kelly Clarkson? Her debut album, "Thankful," came out at No. 1, selling more than 297,000 copies its first week. ...

Game Show Network's new original show "National Lampoon's Funny Money" is taping six shows today and Tuesday at The Improv at Harrah's. Magician Lance Burton and ventriloquist Ronn Lucas are competing in the show, which includes comedians Elizabeth Beckwith, Bobby Collins, Jeff Dunham, John Mendoza and Rick Overton. The public is invited. Free tickets are available at the Carnaval Court box office at Harrah's.

Sightings

Celine Dion, thanking her cast and crew at a post-show gathering for 250 at Terrazzo Lounge (Caesars Palace) on Saturday. She announced she's appearing on Jay Leno on Tuesday and recording an album in French during her two-week break. ... Hall of Fame slugger Reggie Jackson, CART driver Paul Tracy, Justin Jeffre of 98 Degrees, Harland Williams (the state trooper in "Dumb and Dumber" and Darren in "Freddie Got Fingered") and Backstreet Boy Howie Dorough at Rain (Palms) on Saturday. ... At Tabu (MGM Grand) on Saturday: Howie Mandel and Robin Leach (not together). ... At the Beastie Boys after-party at Bikinis (Rio) on Friday: Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels of Run D.M.C., Ad-Rock (Adam Horovitz) of the Beastie Boys and James "Munky" Shaffer, bassist for Korn.

The Punch Line

"Shut up and put down that gun."-- An ape on the original "Planet of the Apes," yelling to Charlton Heston's character. Heston made his final appearance as president of the National Rifle Association on Saturday in Florida.

Reach Norm Clarke at 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com.