Guitarist will hit high note in Africa
Guitarist Robby LeBlanc, a diabetic who recently lost 82 pounds to confront health challenges, is taking his can-do attitude to new heights.
Informed two years ago that numbness in his legs was permanent, LeBlanc, 52, hopes to make a statement by climbing Africa's Mount Kilimanjaro this month.
"I'm bringing my guitar and planning to play it at the top," said LeBlanc, who has opened for such entertainers as Al Jarreau, Arlo Guthrie and Glenn Frey and The Eagles.
He heads for Africa this week and plans to summit Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak at 19,340 feet, on July 3 after a seven-day ascent.
His weight now down to 280 pounds and his diabetes numbers cut in half, the numbness left. LeBlanc credits his turnaround to participating in a reality show titled "Addicted to Food." It aired a year ago on the Oprah Winfrey Network, OWN.
His interest in mountain climbing was piqued about eight years ago during a Tahiti cruise when he heard noted climber Werner Berger talk about climbing the tallest peaks on seven continents.
LeBlanc was so enthralled he asked Berger, 68 at the time, "If I lose 100 pounds could I climb Mount Kilimanjaro?"
Berger sized up LeBlanc, who weighed 360 pounds, and said, "If you lose 100 pounds, I'll go with you, young man."
Over five years, Berger called LeBlanc and asked if he had reached his weight goal. LeBlanc said no each time.
After a two-year lull in calls, LeBlanc heard from Berger, now 74, about six months ago. The veteran mountaineer asked if it was true that LeBlanc had run a half-marathon.
LeBlanc confirmed he had and was planning another one within days. Well, Berger said, "when are we going to Mount Kilimanjaro?"
It's on. LeBlanc meets the climbing team on Tuesday.
To acclimate himself to Kilimanjaro's altitude, LeBlanc has been hiking Mount Charleston, Nevada's eighth tallest peak at 11,916 feet.
Berger was 69 when he became the second oldest North American to climb Mount Everest and the fourth oldest to achieve it.
"He's a statue of health," said LeBlanc, a guitarist in Las Vegas since 1998.
ROSELLI UPDATE
Morning anchor Dayna Roselli had 2½ years left on her contract when KLAS-TV, Channel 8 let her go last week in a surprising move.
She can't comment because her agent is still working out details of her contract, but she told Vegas Confidential she "can't thank the community enough for the support." Roselli said she's been inundated with messages of support since her exit Monday.
"I love Las Vegas," said Roselli, who was heavily involved in the community and one of the more popular media personalities.
She moved here eight years ago from her hometown of Rochester, N.Y.
All eight years were on the morning show, starting with her traffic chopper reports. She and Dave McCann were co-anchors the last four years, with mixed ratings results behind KSNV-TV, Channel 3 ("Wakeup With the Wagners") and KVVU-TV, Channel 5's "More."
McCann left May 18 to become the solo anchor for Utah's superstation KSL and will continue as the play-by-play man for BYU football.
An ironic twist to Roselli's dismissal came Saturday night when she tweeted that Channel 8 won an Emmy for best morning newscast.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
A film crew arrives this week to shoot Wendy Mazaros' segment for Investigation Discovery's "I Married a Mobster." Mazaros and Joe Schoenmann co-authored "Vegas Rag Doll: A True Story of Terror and Survival as the Wife of a Mob Hitman." She met notorious hitman Tom Hanley when she was 15 and married him. Full disclosure: The book was published by Stephens Press, which is owned by Stephens Media LLC, owner of the Review-Journal.
SIGHTINGS
The Los Angeles Kings continued to cut a swath through Las Vegas on Friday, with dinner at Sensi (Bellagio), before rolling into Hyde at Bellagio with the Stanley Cup. They were given a replica Stanley Cup cake so big it was wheeled out on a cart. The Stanley Cup called it a night early. It had a 1 a.m. curfew. ... Retired baseball slugger Frank Thomas, at Southern Wine & Spirits last week working out details on his Big Hurt beer, which launches next month.
THE PUNCH LINE
"It is my last night in Chicago. In four days, I did everything you can do here. I ate well, drank a lot, and earlier this afternoon I beat the Cubs 11-2." - 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. Follow Norm on Twitter @Norm_Clarke.
