Andrea Bocelli has ‘spirit of singing’

One of Andrea Bocelli's coolest moments as a father came during a trip to Las Vegas. The classical singing sensation recalled the time he brought his two children for a concert a few years ago.

After flying in, they took a limo to the Strip, and "when we arrived in front of the Bellagio fountains, they were playing my song. It was by chance. My children were amazed."

"It was very moving," Bocelli said in an interview Thursday.

I asked if his children, Amos, now 14, and Matteo, now 12, described the Las Vegas they saw to their father, who has been blind since age 7.

"Probably the opposite," said Bocelli. "They experienced Las Vegas through my stories. Before leaving on a trip, you have to prepare your children for what they will be seeing, so they will be involved and interested."

They were most amazed "by the lights."

His first Las Vegas visit was for the opening of Bellagio. Steve Wynn gathered VIPs in front of the Dancing Fountains in November 1998, when windy conditions dumped mist on the delegation. Over the speakers blared "Con te Partiro" (Time to Say Goodbye), his duet with soprano Sarah Brightman.

"It was very exciting," said Bocelli. "I was moved because it was the first time in my life that I was exposed to something like that."

So, about that rumor that he and Brightman are working on a spinoff, "Time to Say Hello."

"Not true," he said. "Absolutely not true."

As someone who can't get "Con te Partiro" out of my head for days, I asked if he had heard a song lately -- maybe something from Lady GaGa -- that's on an endless loop inside his head.

"I have very little time to listen to music," he said. "Also, if you have to be in the spirit of singing, you must not listen to much music."

ZOWIE BOWIE DUO SEPARATE

Zowie Bowie duo Chris Phillips and Marley Taylor have separated but hope to keep their act together until September 2010. That's when their one-year contract is up for their hip-hop show at The Pub at Monte Carlo.

Phillips, who founded the act nine years ago in Scottsdale, Ariz., told Vegas Confidential he learned about six weeks ago that Taylor was involved with someone else. They have been engaged eight years, he said.

Phillips said he was "very upset and very destroyed" but is committed to keeping the "Vintage Vegas" act together.

Taylor e-mailed a statement later Thursday, saying, "Please know this is a mutual agreement between us and had nothing to do with anyone else. This is a very positive situation for both of us, and Chris and I have every intention to keep Zowie Bowie performing stronger than ever."

MAY I RECOMMEND ...

Philadelphia Phillies spark plug Shane Victorino and wife Melissa will host a toy drive for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the Madison Avenue Bar & Grill, 855 E. Twain Ave. He will sign Phillies memorabilia bought at the event.

THE SCENE AND HEARD

Dave Berns, host of KNPR-FM's "State of Nevada" since 2005, resigned Thursday over what he termed creative differences. It was no secret his relationship with station manager Flo Rogers had soured, but Berns said, "Flo gave me all the resources I needed to do the job. She is the boss, and it's her decision where she wants to take the show." A former Review-Journal reporter, Berns plans to stay in Las Vegas.

SIGHTINGS

Employees were spotted crying Thursday at the Steve Wyrick Theater at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. ... Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre, dining at the Country Club (Wynn) on Thursday.

THE PUNCH LINE

"Us Weekly puts the Tiger Woods mistress count at 12 so far. It was 11 this morning; now it's 12. When did he have time to play golf?" -- Jimmy Kimmel

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