Jazz great’s legacy lives on in Joe Williams Music Scholarship concert

L as Vegas has few respected traditions, but it's gratifying to know the Joe Williams Music Scholarship concert endures.

The late, great jazz singer helped found the scholarship fundraiser, which benefits the College of Southern Nevada's music program. The concert hit a little turbulence in recent years, but thankfully the show will go on at 2 p.m. Sunday at the South Point. With tickets at $40, it's the best entertainment bargain in town.

This year's lineup features Bob Anderson, Marlena Shaw, the Cunninghams, Freddie House, Vince Falcone, and Artie Butler, the composer who penned Williams' signature "Here's to Life." With Pete Barbutti and Cork Proctor cracking wise, it's going to be a great show.

JUNE'S FAN CLUB: June Fry, Metro's first lady of fingerprints, has a sizable fan club judging from the volume of response I received after Sunday's column. Ann Knez tops the list.

Knez came to work one morning complaining of soreness in her arms. Despite Knez's many protests, Fry ordered her to go to the hospital. Sure enough, she had a serious heart condition that called for a quadruple bypass surgery that saved her life.

Fry, 65, retired this week after 37 years and five months on the job.

"I'm ever grateful for her being forceful," Knez says. "Metro will be missing her, I'll tell you that."

BIG LEAGUE EFFORT: What can I say? The kid's a natural. Daughter Amelia threw out the first pitch at Saturday's Cubs-Mariners game. I'm a biased umpire, but it sure looked like a strike to me.

Cashman Field security personnel came through for Amelia, who keeps smiling despite her many post-chemo challenges. Once the Cubs realized they had a real hero in their midst, they surrounded her wheelchair, signed autographs, and made a little girl feel very special, like a real all-star.

'LET IT RIDE' LOU: Speaking of the Cubs, did you catch the remarks of manager Lou Piniella after the team's recent Las Vegas exhibitions?

"I don't play slots," Piniella told a reporter. "But I did use some of the casino services. I like to go to the sports book and play the horses. Last night, I played 'Let it Ride' for a few hours."

He added, "Las Vegas is a fun town. It's a good way to finish up spring training. The only concern is (getting enough) rest."

POLITICAL PARTY ANIMALS: Jake's tavern at Sahara and Eastern is known more for its shot-and-a-beer style than its martini-oriented atmosphere, but its sign leaves no doubt about its political loyalties: "Oscar Goodman For President." Maybe they sell more martinis than I thought.

ON THE BOULEVARD: Surely there's no way a spiffy topless cabaret is actually paying the prince of the local doormen $15,000 a week to steer tourists via limousine to the club, is it? It would only pay off for the club if, for instance, limousines lined up from several Strip casino giants and the off-Strip hot spots. You don't suppose those doormen are still carving up the kickbacks, I mean tips, and steering tourists to favored businesses, do you? Talk about a score. ... Don't tell me there's a local convenience store that's generated more than $30,000 collecting "donations" for the Las Vegas Zoological Park. You guessed it. I'm told the contributions were pocketed by a store employee, who is the real monkey in my book. For our diminutive local zoo, $30,000 is a lot of money.

BOULEVARD II: So you didn't like "21." Some critics folded early on the Kevin Spacey poker movie. But, tell me, what is your favorite Las Vegas-related flick? ... Amy Anderson informs me that the fledgling "Stride & Ride" fundraiser generated more than $18,000 to benefit families with children suffering from a variety of neurological diseases.

BOULEVARD III: Seniors had a dedicated advocate in Mel Kalagian Sr., who died recently at age 70. ... And friends of Robert M. Smith, who died March 27 at age 79, remind me that in his incredible life he not only won a Bronze Star during the Korean War, but also was a cosmetologist who owned the My Fair Lady beauty salon.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? E-mail comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call (702) 383-0295.