Thanks for the memories...

(and all of your support).

The 6 month run of this show has ended. It was great fun, and due to it's success, we are pleased to be moving to the Las Vegas Strip.
Details here or on my web site www.stevedacri.com

(LAS VEGAS) -

MERLIN AWARD

Each year the International Magicians Society gives out their MERLIN awards. Considered the Oscar of the magic world, past winners read like the who's who of magic, with Siegfried & Roy, David Copperfield and Chris Angel among previous winners.

It is with great happiness that I report my recent inclusion in that rare group of performers, as I was awarded the Merlin for 2008 International Close-up Magician of the Year.

I am touched to be so honored, and you can see a photo and read all about it in my blog here.

ROCK AND ROLL - 3 DOG NIGHT-STYLE

Spent another totally enjoyable night at the Club inside the Cannery Casino, the all-time best place to see a concert in Vegas. They are lmited by their size, which means they can't get the big name acts all the time, but they have hit a niche with an assortment of great musical stars from the past, legends such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, The Turtles, Herman's Hermits, and other British Invasion icons.

For those who don't know such things, Chuck Negron has been called one of the greatest and most dintinctive voices in rock.

Entertainment Director Kathy Spehar told me when she first booked Chuck Negron a few years back, she charged $5 at the door and nobody knew who the heck he was.

Back in 1971, Chuck teamed up with Danny Hutton and Cory what's his name and formed Three Dog Night. They went on to become huge stars all over the world, and many of their hits continue to be popular with a new generation.

As happens with rock bands sometimes (a lot of times) they split up and various members form their own versions of the original band.

The Beach Boys come to mind, and last count, there were 3 official Beach Boys groups out there, the one called The Beach Boys which only retains original member Mike Love, who was awarded the rights to the group name, which seems insane considering the brains behind the Beach Boys is Brian Wilson, and he can't call his band the Beach Boys. Then there's original member Al Jardine (coming to town this weekend, I'll be there in Hawaiian gear) and his band.

Three Dog Night has 2 versions. Two of the three members tour as Three Dog Night, and Chuck Negron tours as Chuck Negron. The 3 founders all took turns singing lead, but many of their songs were sung by all three, in harmony, rather than with a lead. Chuck Negron was always the most charismatic and visible of the band, and he happened to sing lead on most of the mega-hits like "One" and "Joy to the World".

I collected a few photo highlights for you, check them out on vegasinsidetips on Picture This. It was a fun night. Chuck is the ultimate rock star, and very happy to be playing, now with his son on bass guitar in the very tight band that sounds exactly like the original Three Dog Night recordings.

As he always does, Chuck likes to end with 'Joy to the World", and frankly, how do you follow that? He said that his 7 year old daughter thinks that he recorded this song a couple of years ago. He told me the song has really taken on a life of its own over all these years, and says he never gets tired of singing it, or any of the hits for that matter.

"It's the reason people come", he said. "I never want to disappoint an audience."

To that end, it seems, he rocks out every Three Dog Night hit song that he sang lead in, plus a wide range of the rest of the hits. You'd need days to hear them all, so he chooses a set list that never disappoints.

I asked him the question that so many wonder about; does he think the 3 founders will ever play together again?

"I never say never, but it's highly unlikely."

Would he like to see it happen?

"Yes, I would. It would be a lot of fun for us to play together. WHo knows what the future may bring."

Meanwhile, it's a real rock and roll rush when he grabs the microphone and sings that immortal line;

"Jeramiah was a bullfrog..."

Thanks for the music, Chuck.

eck out the photos from the night here.

Have a great week...

Magically yours,

Steve

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