Williams signing off from KOMP
KOMP deejay Craig Williams is saying goodbye today to 3 a.m. wake-ups and 26 years of radio fans.
It’s far from your typical DJ-moves-to-a-bigger-market story.
Williams, 52, is leaving Las Vegas to run a family-owned auto dealership in a small town in Middle America and raise his 9-year-old daughter.
Williams and his wife, Amanda, want their daughter, Alyssa, to be able to “ride her bicycle to school and we don’t have to worry about her.” Or, he said, having her ask “what does ‘Girls to Your Room’ mean?”
He will miss his Lotus Broadcasting family, Williams said, especially his longtime on-air co-hosts “Sweet” Al Williams and Andy Kaye.
“They’re like brothers to me. I hope everybody supports ‘em.”
He added, “I love my gig and Lotus, but I’m just tired of getting up at 3 in the morning.
“We talked about it and prayed about it. It’s best for the family,” he said. An aunt and uncle who own the auto dealership will teach him how to run the business.
His on-air partners over the years included Lark Williams, Kevin DuBrow of Quiet Riot and Kaye (for the past 20 years) and Williams (for about 14.)
Check back here on Sunday for some of Williams’ greatest hits — in and out of the studio. And yes, they will include having a cigar with Jack Nicholson and the epic bin Laden bomb song.
KELLY’S FRECKLES
“We all have a story,” said Kelly Clinton Holmes, “and mine involved freckles.”
She has added new elements to her “Freckled for Life” show which she’s taken to The Metropolitan, New York City’s jazz cabaret hot spot, two years in a row to solid reviews.
Don’t be late because the talented redhead has created a new show-opening video.
Her featured special guest Saturday at the Suncoast is Tara Palsha, who will be singing and dancing and doing a bit with Clinton Holmes.
Look for other surprise guests to join the one-night-only show, which starts at 7:30.
THE SCENE AND HEARD
The Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame won’t see star power of this magnitude very often. Tonight at The Orleans, the inductees include tennis great Andre Agassi, UFC President Dana White, Las Vegas Motor Speedway honcho Chris Powell, pro golfer Stephanie Louden and Las Vegas Events boss Pat Christenson and the late Bill Bobier, high school basketball coaching legend. ...
A winning combination: The Blues & Brews Festival runs from 4-8 p.m. Saturday at the Springs Preserve. Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the door.
SIGHTINGS
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, making stops on Thursday at St. Jude’s Ranch for Children in Boulder City and Agassi Prep. ... Actor Jason Statham, sipping Dom Perignon Rose with two ladies at Surrender nightclub (Encore) on Wednesday night. He also made an appearance at Daylight Beach Club at Mandalay Bay. He’s in town filming scenes for “Heat.” … Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, making a surprise appearance about 12:30 Tuesday morning in The Venetian atrium, where hotel staffers had just put the finishing touches on the staging for Carnevale. ... Santana, dining at Rachel’s Kitchen over the weekend. ... Henderson’s Ellie Smith sang the national anthem and “God Bless America” at Dodger Stadium over the weekend. Smith, 17, has done the Dodger gig for eight consecutive seasons. She got to meet Eric Stonestreet of “Modern Family” and Dodger Stadium organist Nancy Bea.
THE PUNCH LINE
“(Mount) Everest is as high as Willie Nelson at a Snoop Dogg concert.” — Craig Ferguson
Norm Clarke’s column appears Sunday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 702-383-0244 and at norm@reviewjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @Norm_Clarke. Find more at normclarke.com. “Norm Clarke’s Vegas” airs Thursdays on “Morning Blend” on KTNV-TV, Ch. 13.
