Country Music Star Crystal Gayle at the South Point

Crystal Gayle, a Grammy-winning American country music legend known for such songs as “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and “Talking in Your Sleep,” will be appearing this weekend at the South Point Hotel & Casino, with showtimes for all three shows set at 7:30 p.m.

Crystal Gayle

Crystal Gayle was born in 1951 in Paintsville, Kentucky. Gayle’s older sister is country legend Loretta Lynn, and following her, Gayle set out at an early age to be a musician. Gayle released her first single in 1970 and landed her first No. 1 hit in 1976. “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” would soon make Gayle a crossover superstar, hitting No. 1 on the country chart and No. 2 on the pop chart. That smash led to several others, and Grammy and CMA awards followed Gayle throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Crystal was a singer from a young age, and her love of music, and her sister’s success, inspired her to pick up a guitar and perform in high school. She also sang backup in her brother’s band and accompanied Lynn on tour, getting an early taste of the life of a professional touring musician.

In 1970, Decca Records released Gayle’s first single, “I’ve Cried (The Blues Right Out of My Eyes),” a traditional country song written by Lynn that landed in the top 40 on the country chart. The label was more than happy to have Gayle follow in her sister’s famous footstep0s, and they released three more singles over the next three years, all of which helped Gayle get some footing with listeners. But Gayle decided early on in her career that she wanted to make a name for herself on her own terms, and she left Decca for United Artists in 1974. There, Gayle was set free musically, and her first album, Crystal Gayle, was released that same year. “Wrong Road Again” became her first bona fide hit, finding a spot in the top 10 on the country chart.

Crystal Gayle

Two years later, Gayle would find her way to No. 1 with “I’ll Get Over You,” and hot on its heels came the crossover smash “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue,” which hit No. 1 on the country charts and No. 2 on the pop charts. The album from which the hit came, We Must Believe in Magic, helped earn Gayle her first Grammy, for Best Female Country Vocal, and she became the first female country artist to go platinum. Also, during this period, Gayle made several notable moves into television, starring in her own hour-long prime-time TV specials and hosting a concert special on HBO and a Christmas special. When the world saw Gayle through these appearances, with her signature hair, stretching nearly to the floor, her fan base grew rapidly.

The 1970s were a career-making decade for Gayle, and the success she found with “Brown Eyes” continued with several more No. 1 country hits, including “You Never Miss a Real Good Thing (Till He Says Goodbye)” and “Talking in Your Sleep” (also a hit on the pop chart). In 1980, she landed at the top of the charts again with “If You Ever Change Your Mind” and “It’s Like We Never Said Goodbye.” In 1981, “You and I,” a duet with Eddie Rabbitt, was another crossover hit, and she made it to No. 1 five more times over the next few years.

While Gayle continued to record sporadically in the 1990s and 2000s, she saw her last hit in 1986 with “Cry.” She married Bill Gatzimos in 1971 and the couple have two children. She was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009.

 

THIS AND THAT QUICKLY:

Mike Marino

Mike Marino – affectionately known to millions of his fans worldwide as New Jersey’s Bad Boy – is one of the most loved comedians of our time. He has performed in every major comedy club, theatre, casino, and event center from New York to Los Angeles and around the world. Mike has also shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the business. Marino will  be at the Laugh Factory inside Tropicana LV, opening Monday Sept. 10-16, along with fellow comedians, Michael Lenoci and Marco Assante. Showtimes are 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.

Marino was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He entered the entertainment industry at an early age and has studied at some of the most prestigious acting schools in New York, the Herbert Berghof Studio, and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Mike has appeared in over 200 national television commercials, including many endorsements, and has received a Best Actor Clio Award Nomination. He has acted in many Prime-Time soaps and television shows including: As the World Turns, One Life to Live, Becker, Nikki, Frasier and Party of Five. His film credits include Crooks, Pizza with Bullets, Hangin’ in Hedo and Steven King’s Lucky Quarter and Criticized.

Adding to his great success in film, theatre, commercials and soaps, Mike began touring the world performing and selling out at countless clubs, theatres, and casinos. His stand-up material ranges from innovative observations of everyday life to his Italian family roots; which recently spun into a T.V. pilot called “Re-Constructing Jersey”. His comedic style has landed him guest appearances on The Tonight Show as a regular sketch player, The Martin Short Show, Canada’s Comedy TV, The Boomer Show, Wild Pitch, and Hand-Held Comedy Radio. A clip of Mike’s appearance on Bryan Allen’s Comics Unleashed earned him over 7 million views (and counting), which has led to his current web series “Marino 2016” – an original comedy based on Mike’s road to the White House and wise guy attempt to become the first Italian American President of the United States.

 

Pennzoil Performance Party

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs driver Joey Logano and renowned recording artist Frankie Moreno highlight an exciting lineup planned for the Pennzoil Performance Party at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday, Sept. 14.

The speedway is hosting the party in its world-famous Neon Garage as a thank you to RV ticketholders for making LVMS their home away from home during the South Point 400 race week. The celebration will immediately follow the World of Westgate 200 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race and will include music, driver appearances, giveaways and more.

The Pennzoil Performance Party will tentatively begin at 8 p.m. Pacific Time, as soon as the checkered flag drops on the 134-lap NCWTS race and will run until 10:30 p.m. RV guests will be allowed in the Neon Garage beginning at 8 p.m., and shuttles to the RV lots will run until 11:30.

Joey Logano

Logano, driver of the No. 22 Pennzoil Ford for Penske Racing, will make a special appearance, as will the World of Westgate 200 race winner. Fans will be able to take part in Q&A sessions with the drivers during their appearances.

Moreno – a regular at the South Point Showroom and The Smith Center – will perform at the party as well. Moreno has toured with the likes of Billy Currington, Sugarland and Air Supply and wrote the single “Dance With Me” that reached No. 7 on the Top 40 Billboard charts.

LVMS’s South Point 400 weekend begins with the Star Nursery 100 NASCAR K&N Series West race at the Dirt Track on Thursday, Sept. 13, before moving to the superspeedway for three consecutive days. The World of Westgate 200 Camping World Truck Series race is set for Friday, with the DC Solar 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series event following on Saturday and the South Point 400 MENCS playoff kickoff capping the weekend’s racing on Sunday.

Tickets for the South Point 400 weekend are available at www.LVMS.com or 1-800-644-4444.

 

National Guacamole Day

There are no two better holidays to celebrate on the same day than National Guacamole Day and Mexican Independence Day, which take place on Sunday, Sept. 16 this year. El Dorado Cantina, an authentic Mexican restaurant and bar close to the Las Vegas Strip, invites patrons to say cheers to the holidays with food and drink specials available all weekend long, Friday, Sept. 14 through Sunday, Sept. 16.

 

Guacamole lovers can choose from four tableside guacamole dishes, created by Executive Chef Francisco “Paco” Cortes, each for only $10 (originally $16): Traditional tableside guacamole: organic Hass avocados, mixed with serrano peppers, garlic, tomatoes, onion, cilantro and fresh lime juice; Tropical tableside guacamole: featuring fresh pineapple, mango and green bell peppers; Bacon blue tableside guacamole: featuring bacon bites and blue cheese crumbles, and Triple spice blend tableside guacamole: featuring Serrano, Habanero, and Fresno chili peppers

 

El Dorado Cantina

To wash it down, El Dorado Cantina presents its Tricolor Tequila Flight, created in honor of Mexican Independence Day. For $15, the red, white, and green flight features three distinct tequila tastings (each shot is also available for purchase for $5).  The around-the-clock restaurant is best known for being one of the only Mexican restaurants in the valley to offer cuisine made with organic, non-GMO ingredients and for its extensive menu featuring dishes inspired by regions all across Mexico. Chef Cortes and his team believe in using sustainably-raised products, which means that all of the beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, and fish used in the dishes originate from carefully farms in the U.S. and are free from antibiotics, pesticides, and steroids.

 

Well, gang, hope to see you at the South Point where my friend Crystal is performing I’ll be there Friday evening.

I’m outa here!

 

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