Pair of drumsticks sets the beat in ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ finale

Minutes after last Sunday’s explosive finale of “Million Dollar Quartet” at Harrah’s, a woman and her two daughters hung back near the stage. The mother held a pair of drumsticks, scarred from a good pounding in the show.

For Megan Belk and her daughters, Andress and Eliza,the sticks are now family heirlooms. They were once used by husband and father Jim Belk in the rock ’n’ roll musical at Harrah’s Showroom. Revered as a musician and beloved around Las Vegas, Belk was the original music director of “Million Dollar Quartet” when the show opened in Las Vegas on Feb. 4, 2013.

The Belk family and the tight-knit members of the production were rocked when “Belky,” as he was widely known, died Sept. 3, 2013, of a rare form of cancer known as plasma cell leukemia. Belk had previously played for “Legends in Concert” (on tour and at Harrah’s) and the Vegas productions of “Chicago,” “The Producers,” “We Will Rock You,” “Avenue Q” and “Mamma Mia.” Belk also worked with Michael Grimm in Grimm’s run-up to his championship run on “America’s Got Talent.”

Though he performed in “MDQ” for just a few months, Belk’s impact was felt throughout the show’s run. Astute fans recognized his image in a framed photo in the Sun Records studio, hanging just behind Marc D. Donovan’s Sam Phillips character, each night. As a further tribute, Belk’s replacement on drums, Mark Ferratt,kept Belk’s drumsticks at the kit for every show as a kind of good-luck charm. He handed them to Megan after Sunday’s sendoff.

She was in tears, but smiling, as she held them.

“It’s a memory full of joy,” she said. “Jim had such a wonderful time working on that show. He loved how musically authentic it was. There was a kind of magic for him, putting that one on its feet. It made us happy and proud to know how much he was loved there.” As a tribute to its original music director, “MDQ” went out with a show of love that rocked.

NO DIAMOND FOR VEGAS

Neil Diamond, a Las Vegas favorite for decades, has announced his 50th anniversary tour.

But he’s not playing Vegas.

Diamond’s landmark tour begins in April in Fresno and hits such Western-region venues as Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Valley View Casino Center in San Diego and the Forum in L.A. Diamond has previously filled MGM Grand Garden Arena, but he won’t be there or at T-Mobile Arena.

A Live Nation official said there is no formal reason why Diamond is swinging past Vegas, just that he is not playing every major city and the logistics are not in line for this tour. Bummer, I say. Nonetheless, tickets go on sale Friday morning at ticketmaster.com.

WINK!

In the audience at the “MDQ” capper: legendary radio and TV personality Wink Martindale, who remains fit at age 83. Martindale was also known as the first person to interview Elvis on TV (in 1956 on his WBHQ show “Teenage Dance Party” in Memphis) and remained his friend for decades afterward.

PRISCILLA’S ROLE IN ‘ROCK’

Tenors of Rock had befriended Priscilla Presley before their first run through VegasVille in November 2013. Presley was friends with the group’s production manager at the time, Kevin Wood, and made the trip from L.A. to see the Tenors perform at the Lounge at the Palms.

When it came time to apply for work visas to allow the British quintet to perform in the U.S., Presley wrote a letter of recommendation on behalf of the singers. As Tenors of Rock founder Gareth Richards said, “We were approved, no problem.”

UNBILLED CASTING ACTION

Keep an eye on the characters in the upcoming Nevada Ballet Theatre production of “The Nutcracker” at Smith Center’s Reynolds Hall, Dec. 10-24. In past years, NBT Artistic Director James Canfield has slipped into the show in the role of Drosselmeyer. The company has not yet said whether Canfield, whose participation has not been billed or announced in previous performances, will return to that role. But I’m feeling he’ll be onstage at some point during the run.

John Katsilometes’ column runs Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday in the A section, and Fridays in Neon. He also hosts “Kats! On The Radio” Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on KUNV 91.5-FM and appears Wednesdays at 11 a.m. with Dayna Roselli on KTNV Channel 13. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.