Black Mountain Institute embraces innovation with Shenk selection

Best-selling author Joshua Wolf Shenk is the new executive director of UNLV’s Black Mountain Institute literary center.

Shenk’s selection signals a new chapter in the relatively brief but remarkable history of the creative writing center, officially named the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute. The official announcement of Shenk’s appointment and the creation of a $50,000 literary prize is set for today.

He will succeed former UNLV President Harter as executive director and will also serve as a writer-in-residence at BMI, which has rapidly gained a national stature thanks in part to the commitment of Harter and novelist and longtime UNLV professor Richard Wiley. Both have announced their retirements.

With the selection of Shenk, BMI has shown its willingness to embrace innovation. In recent years, the institute has attracted internationally acclaimed readers and speakers, including Nobel Laureates Wole Soyinka, Toni Morrison, and Derek Walcott. Through its City of Asylum program, it has also become known as a haven for international writers persecuted in their homelands.

Just last week, BMI played host to best-selling novelist Walter Mosley, who delivered the first Jim Rogers Contrarian Lecture. The institute earlier this year received a $30 million pledge of support from the Rogers Foundation.

Shenk is the author of eclectic titles as diverse as “Lincoln’s Melancholy” and “Powers of Two: How Relationships Drive Creativity.” He is also a founding adviser to The Moth storytelling series and The Moth Radio Hour. His magazine work has been featured in The Atlantic, The New Republic, Harper’s and Time.

■ RIV RIFFS: The Riviera is now closed, but keyboard man Dick Fazio remembers a time when its lounge was one of the hottest spots on the Strip for live music.

Fazio played piano for the Sin City Suits, a seven-piece band led by former Maynard Ferguson trumpeter Stan Mark. With Bruce Harper on drums and Red Michaels on bass, it was an entertaining outfit in one of the most colorful joints on the Strip in the 1970s.

“We just worked in the lounge, but we had a great time,” the retired Fazio recalls. “Joe Guercio got us booked at several places, and the Riv was a favorite. Stan was great. Anyone who can say they played lead trumpet for Maynard Ferguson is great.”

The band didn’t stay together, but the memories remain.

“The Riviera was a real icon,” Fazio says. “You’ll never be able to replace that era. But you have to make money.”

And even in its heyday there were plenty of other spots on the Boulevard with higher net profits than the Riviera.

■ ON THE BOULEVARD: Veteran gaming attorney Jeff Silver has joined the Dickinson Wright Law Firm. A former senior partner of Gordon Silver, he’s also an ex-Gaming Control Board member. … Betting brahman Lem Banker, who once fought Jack Dempsey for the check at a restaurant, marked his 88th birthday on Kentucky Derby weekend with smart money on Floyd Mayweather Jr. Banker admits he had trouble staying awake during the fight, but then so did much of the rest of the pay-per-view crowd. … Criminal defense attorney Mace Yampolsky took to Facebook to celebrate winning a hung jury in a sexual assault and kidnapping case involving a prostitute.

■ BOULEVARD II: Former GOP political consultant Steve Wark received a one-year sentence for his major role in the local HOA scandal. Thankfully, he made no excuses on sentencing day. … State Senate Majority Leader Michael Roberson, R-Henderson, and his related PACs loaded up on contributions from Gaming Inc. (especially Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts) and the insurance industry (notably Farmers). With the end of the Legislature approaching, it will be intriguing to see what happens next. … Latin Chamber President Otto Merida sat with likely GOP presidential hopeful Jeb Bush at the Lincoln Day dinner Wednesday night at The Orleans. Was Merida giving Bush presidential advice? … Declared GOP presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson finished a quick trip to Las Vegas but might return as early as next week. … Fresh from a win on behalf of Mayor Carolyn Goodman in the recent Las Vegas election, political consultant Tom Letizia now gets to engage in his second love with “Talking Baseball” at 2 p.m. on KBAD-AM, 920. His co-host is ex-slugger Nate Colbert.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. Find him on Twitter: @jlnevadasmith