Witnessing History

A number of Las Vegas celebrities are making arrangements to attend Barack Obama's inauguration festivities later this month.

Mary Wilson, one of the original Supremes, and longtime Las Vegas headliners Clint Holmes and George Wallace are among the locals who have been invited to various balls and functions.

Wilson is no newcomer to VIP parties in Washington, D.C. She performed her solo show for a millennium party in the East Room at the White House for President Clinton.

She raised the roof while performing her entire show featuring Supremes hits.

"Security had to come and get Chelsea and Bill out of there. They kept coming back. We partied until 4 a.m. It was a blast," said Wilson, who had a home in the Las Vegas area in 1989.

The Supremes, formed in 1959 as the trio of Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Wilson, churned out 12 No. 1 hits in a five-year span during the 1960s before disintegrating.

They gave their final performance as Diana Ross & The Supremes on Jan. 14, 1970, at the Frontier. "We had everybody there: Ed Sullivan, Dick Clark, Marvin Gaye. It was a major event," she said.

Holmes, who headlined at Harrah's Las Vegas from 2000 to 2006, is in talks to perform his recent song "Who Will Stand." It has been adopted as the theme song of a same-named documentary about American soldiers returning home with physical and other challenges.

Being able to perform that song would take it over the top, said Holmes, who said a music video is being made for the locally produced documentary that premieres Tuesday at a Los Angeles film festival.

Wallace, who has been performing his 10 p.m. stand-up comedy act at the Flamingo Las Vegas for several years, has been planning the trip since Obama was elected president.

"I know he's going, because he told me he couldn't believe what hotel rooms were going for," said Laura Herlovich, Wallace's publicist.

JACKSON TO BOUNCE BACK

Peruvian shamans are predicting spirits will help Michael Jackson weather health issues in 2009.

The announcement came during the annual gathering Sunday on the highest point in Lima, where shamans, healers and spirit "channelers" call on spirits to protect world figures.

They announced President Obama will "have a good start." Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez "will have quite a bit of desperation" and Jackson, who has been the subject of dire health reports "will resist" and "get stronger."

BLASTS FROM THE PAST

Cher's last No. 1 hit, "Believe," topped the charts 10 years ago this month with what turned out to be the No. 1 single of 1999. It was her biggest hit, reaching No. 1 in 23 countries and launching her comeback. At age 52, she was the oldest female artist to top Billboard's Hot 100. ...

In January 1999, Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" became the best-selling album by a teenager and the best-selling female debut act in the U.S. It has sold more than 25 million copies. ...

Prince's "1999" peaked at No. 40 on Billboard's Top 40 in January 1999. ...

Don McLean's "American Pie Parts 1 & II" was still on a 17-week run on Billboard's Top 40 in January 1972. ...

Frankie Valli's "My Eyes Adored You" was No. 1 in January 1975. ...

Twenty-five years ago this month: Van Halen's monster hit "Jump" was in the midst of a five-week run at No. 1.

Norm Clarke can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.