A new Elvis has entered the scene
The next blockbuster Elvis act has been the best-kept secret in Las Vegas -- until now.
His name is Leo Days, and this is for the multitude of Elvis fans who are counting down the days to Cirque du Soleil's much-anticipated Elvis show at CityCenter:
Days, who grew up in Michigan, turns 29 on Oct. 3.
He was born in Honolulu, where Elvis' "Aloha from Hawaii" TV special was taped in 1973 and reportedly drew 1 billion viewers worldwide.
According to his biography, Days began singing Elvis songs at age 3 and caught Elvis fever at 15 when he started singing in karaoke clubs.
After winning a talent contest at age 16, he began impersonating Elvis. Two years later, he won first place in the "Images of Elvis" contest in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Talent scouts were so impressed that Days soon was opening for 1960s icons The Drifters, Herman's Hermits and Paul Revere & The Raiders.
When the cast of Cirque's Elvis arrived in Las Vegas in early August, Days was driving to Memphis, Tenn., where he finished in the top five of the annual ultimate Elvis tribute artist contest.
Days will share the stage at the CityCenter theater with an oversized guitar and a cast of 75.
Flying under the radar, Days attended the "Big 80s Remix" for Big Brothers on Friday night at Lavo at The Palazzo.
For now, Days and his Elvis family are under wraps. Cirque is declining interviews with the cast. Cirque has steadfastly stated that the Elvis tribute artist won't sing.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
Justin Timberlake, in an interview Tuesday with Chet Buchanan & The Morning Zoo at KLUC-FM, 98.5, chose his words carefully when asked about the Kanye West firestorm. "Nothing can justify what happened," he said. "Let's just call it what it is: It's weird." Timberlake returns next month to host the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Golf Tournament. West has been roundly criticized for climbing on stage during the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday and interrupting country singer Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for best female video. West said it should have been given to Beyoncé. ...
Film legend Tony Curtis and his wife, Jill, are among the attendees at the sold-out Chaine des Rotisseurs dinner tonight at Rao's at Caesars Palace. And how many of you recall when Curtis was one of the headliners of the resort's Circus Maximus Showroom, the entertainment venue? The show was billed as "Tony Curtis Hosts the Hollywood Palace Starring Tammy Grimes," and it ran Nov. 2-29, 1967. Also attending the dinner: Heidi Sarno Straus, daughter of Jay Sarno, who founded Caesars Palace. She was a leading force in seeking to name the Frank Sinatra entrance to Caesars Palace Jay Sarno Way.
SIGHTINGS
Rita Rudner, dining at Lawry's Ale & Sandwich Bar on Tuesday. ... NFL Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, dining at Stripsteak (Mandalay Bay) on Monday night. ... Supermodel/furniture designer Kathy Ireland will be balancing business with her "Dancing With the Stars" rehearsals during the furniture convention this week. She and professional dance partner Tony Dovolani will try to keep their schedule of five to seven hours of rehearsals a day by working out in a showroom at the World Market Center. She's the CEO and chief designer of Kathy Ireland Worldwide. ... Frankie Valli, hanging out at Salvatore's, formerly Fellini's, at the Suncoast after his shows over the weekend.
THE PUNCH LINE
"Last night at the Video Music Awards, Kanye West rudely interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech, and afterwards, MTV threw him out. So it's official: MTV has a lower tolerance for bad behavior than the United States Congress." -- Conan O'Brien
Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.
