It is common to hear people calling Las Vegas the Entertainment Capital of the World. It is no surprise; you can find comedians, magicians, circus acts and pop stars under the spotlight in Las Vegas. Artists such as Bruno Mars and Gwen Stefani attest that Las Vegas can give any artist an extended run for reaching international audiences without going on the road.
Las Vegas has the best headliners besides the Celine Dion concert. There are legends whose names always burn bright in Las Vegas irrespective of the number of new acts that stream in for weeks or months. The past two decades have been something else for Las Vegas, with artists like Drake, Beyoncé and Usher eager to put their stamp in the city.
Here are the ten headliners that you will enjoy seeing them perform in beautiful spots up and down the Strip.
Louis Prima & Keely Smith
Louis Prima & Keely Smith were one of Vegas most exciting headliners that played the Sahara’s Congo Room. Louis Prima’s energetic stage presence coupled with the horn-honking bluster and full-throated vocals were a prototype of rock and roll. However, Smith’s ironic, detached style, together with the cooled down vocals, could be viewed as the initial version of what followed on. Louis Prima & Keely Smith packed the house from 1954 until the time of their divorce. Although Louis Prima & Keely Smith returned to solo gigs, it was not as it was in the past.
Cher
Cher had its first Las Vegas run at Caesars Palace in 1979. This happened after Cher dumped Sonny and topped the disco charts with “Take Me Home.” Cher became popular in Vegas and beyond. Cher has big set pieces and backup dancers. She is also comical, and always impresses with her numerous, over-the-top costume changes. This show features 3-D projections, burlesque dancers, animatronic elephants and the one-and-only, Cher.
Elvis Presley
The “King of Rock and Roll” was one of the best headliners in Vegas. Elvis was a flop at the New Frontier in 1956, but he proved to be an absolute smash when he opened up at an International Hotel in1969. Elvis performed in close to 800 shows at the International Hotel.
Ann-Margret
1960 was a great year for Ann-Margret as she got her start in Las Vegas. During the opening act, George Burns said that Ann-Margret would be to Americans what Brigitte Bardot has been to Europeans. George Burns further said that the people of Viva Las Vegas would call Ann-Margret the Elvis girl. Ann- Margret, however, ran her sin city show; she could sing, dance, and act. A true triple threat!. She could put the Who and Cole Porter on her setlist and handle both adroitly.
Siegfried & Roy
Vegas was magical, but Siegfried & Roy made the best headliners for magicians. They started as part of a show at the New Frontier in 1981. The duo, however, became headliners independently. Siegfried & Roy staged a mix of spectacular animal acts and big-scale illusions. The fantasy inspired the creation of Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat attraction with many exotic creatures. Unfortunately, Siegfried & Roy’s run ended in 2003 when a white tiger attacked Roy during a show. Roy survived the attack, but the duo retired following the incident.
Sammy Davis, Jr
Another “triple-threat” headliner was Sammy Davis, Jr. Sammy could it all! He started performing as a dancer at the age of three with his dad in a group known as the Will Mastin trio. As a member of the infamous “Rat Pack” he performed with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. His Vegas show was renown and he earned the title of “Mr. Show Business” in 1972.
Liberace
Liberace was there way before Lady Gaga, RuPaul, Elton, and Bowie. “Mr Showmanship” put on an energetic, flamboyant act replete with incredible talent and a big dose of humor. Did you know he was once the highest paid entertainer in the world? Liberace began his career with his candelabra and lamé lapels, but he worked his way up and started making an entrance in a rhinestone-studded Rolls-Royce.
Tom Jones
Tom Jones, the Welsh crooner, first played the Flamingo in 1969. This first play is memorable for Tom Jones as it marked the start of his dozen years as one of the Strip’s biggest headliners. Tom Jones’s first gig was commemorated on the album Tom Jones: Live in Las Vegas, which is one of the best live albums. Tom Jones’s powerful voice and the energy to perform on live shows put him at the top.
Frank Sinatra
When people think about Vegas, they remember the Cirque de Soleil, the Celine Dion concert and Frank Sinatra. Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack strode through Vegas’s sand like they owned the area. Director Billy Wilder often associated Frank Sinatra with electricity that filled the air during performances.
Don Rickles
Don Rickles was a respected comedian whose insult could be equated to a blessing from the Pope. He was a warm comedian that perfected the art of insult comedy. He could sling barbs, punch out the putdowns and then punctuate them with a soft-shoe dance and shark-like smile. Don Rickles, also known as the Merchant of Venom, first played Vegas in 1959.
