Before title bout, he’s headlining off the Las Vegas Strip
He’s not cornered. He’s crooning.
We speak of broadcast great, vocal stylist and multiple-halls-of-fame-inductee Al Bernstein, who is headlining at 8 and 9:30 p.m. Thursday at Tuscany’s Piazza lounge.
This is a night of standards, or sub-standards if you’re seated with my group (ba-zing!).
Bow-tied ivory tinkler Kenny Davidsen is the night’s music director/cut man, joined by mirth-some bassist/comic/songwriter Dennis Blair, thunderous drummer Dave Ramirez, sax great Rob Mader and wicked guitarist Christian Phifer (and people say I eschew the adjectives).
Bernstein frequently hosts at Tuscany prior to calling a big fight card, which he is doing with David Benavidez-David Morrell on Feb. 1 at T-Mobile Arena.
Yours truly was honored to be a guest on Bernstein’s “Big Time Boxing” YouTube podcast on the Salita Promotions YT account.
We revisit such legendary events as both Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson bouts (yep, I covered both, in the old days). We also recount Bernstein’s first appearance as a headliner, at Caesars Palace.
In April 1987, Bernstein debuted in a three-show engagement at the old Olympic Lounge. The performances led to the heavily hyped Sugar Ray Leonard-Marvelous Marvin Hagler “Superfight.”
Michael Landon, Rodney Dangerfield, John Madden, boxing promoter Butch Lewis and then-Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Berry, boxing promoter Butch Lewis were all in this crowd.
It was an ’80s party. Inevitably, a couple of dignitaries took a powder, as it were … Click on the show and learn more.
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. His “PodKats!” podcast can be found at reviewjournal.com/podcasts. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.