Bennett ‘perfect’ fit for next ‘Keep Memory Alive’

Larry Ruvo couldn't be happier with his choice for the 20th anniversary for his "Keep Memory Alive" gala next year.

Here's how it fell in place: Ruvo knew Tony Bennett's 90th birthday was next year, so he arranged a meeting in New York City last month.

"I told him, 'You're the perfect poster child for caregivers, and it's what brain health is all about," Ruvo said. "You're staying active. You're exactly what we want."

When Bennett arrived in Las Vegas to tape the "Sinatra 100: An All-Star Grammy Concert" at Wynn Las Vegas on Dec. 6, Ruvo gave him a tour of the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health.

"He was walking around clapping his hands at the acoustics, and he said, 'I'm in.'"

It could be a party for the ages: Ruvo said he will hold the event in the new $375 million, 20,000-seat Las Vegas Arena on May 21 and make it "a citywide celebration honoring a man who helped build Las Vegas."

It will be an early birthday party for the beloved crooner, who turns 90 on Aug. 3.

Ruvo loves the idea that Las Vegas will again honor one of its icons.

"We did Frank Sinatra's 80th, and we did George Burns' 100th. Three years ago we celebrated Muhammad Ali's 70th at 'Keep Memory Alive.'"

Bennett's extraordinary career spans seven decades.

At age 18 he was called up to fight in France and Germany in the late stages of World War II, waking up one morning to a speech from famed Gen. George Patton.

Bennett got a break when he started singing with a military band.

At 16 he was fired after one day as an elevator operator. He got a job working for The Associated Press as a copy boy and runner.

He started singing — and winning — amateur shows in Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx.

By 1951, he had his first hit when "Because of You" went to No. 1.

His signature hit, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," came in 1963. He has won 18 Grammy awards.

Ruvo remembers working at the front desk of the Sahara, "and Tony was in the Conga showroom and Don Rickles, Louie Prima, Keely Smith and Sam Butera and the Witnesses were in the Casbah lounge with the Mary Kaye Trio."

The scene and heard

Mayor Carolyn Goodman will present Las Vegans Bryce Harper and Kris Bryant with keys to the city Thursday at the Third Street Stage at 6 p.m. The presentation will honor Harper for winning the National League's MVP award and Bryant for his National League Rookie of the Year award.

On this day

Dec. 16, 2011: Justin Bieber gives a special concert in the multipurpose room at Whitney Elementary, which is renowned for helping its disadvantaged students. He also visits classes, talks about his own hardscrabble roots, passes out toys and donates $100,000 to the Las Vegas school.

Sightings

Fox News chief White House Correspondent Ed Henry, dining at Lago (Bellagio) on Monday with his wife, Shirley. Henry was spotted on ESPN over the weekend at the Kentucky-Arizona State game with his son, Patrick, 14. They had second-row seats behind the Kentucky bench. Henry and Kentucky coach John Calipari met in Las Vegas last year at a basketball event. ... Leonardo DiCaprio, in a private box at The Chelsea and The Cosmopolitan on Friday, watching The Ultimate Fighter Finale: Team McGregor vs. Team Faber and the main card between Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes. DiCaprio was spotted at Omnia nightclub in Caesars Palace on Saturday with "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly. ... Luke Rockhold, Saturday at Light nightclub in Mandalay Bay, celebrating his win over previously unbeaten middleweight Chris Weidman in UFC 194. Rockhold was partying with Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas of the world champion Kansas City Royals. ... Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, hosting an invitation-only event at the Double Barrel Roadhouse on Sunday night. She spoke with Jake Tapper on CNN's "Politics on Tap" about the Republican candidates in the presidential race.

The punch line

"They're saying it could be the biggest and worst-smelling Hollywood premiere of all time. Imagine 300 'Star Wars' fans who haven't bathed in days crammed into a windowless theater. This is why Darth Vader breathes through a filter." — Jimmy Kimmel

— Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. On Twitter: @Norm_Clarke