Las Vegas all-stars promise ‘Someday We’ll Be Together’
Patty Molloy was finishing an aerobics workout in her home in Las Vegas when “Someday We’ll Be Together” played on her playlist.
Molloy plays the song to cool down. But this time, it fired her up.
“I thought this song would be a great option to show a positive message, for artists who really feel we will be together again,” Molloy says. “I was looking for song that would have a binding message, and that’s how I found it.”
The video with an all-star lineup of Las Vegas entertainers was released Thursday afternoon on YouTube and the Positive Listening Radio Facebook page.
Molloy’s focus on the positive is entirely in character. She is owner and founder of Positive Listening Radio, an internet radio outlet dedicated to uplifting, inspirational music of all genres.
“I originally wanted ‘We Are the World,’ which had already been done,” Molloy says. “I knew there was a song out there that matched the times we are going through. The lyrics of this one are perfect to show we will get through this and come out stronger.”
The video began to take shape in May, just after Molloy’s epiphany. She first contacted Ray Allaire of the Vegas cover bands Windjammers and Phoenix, who handled the audio mixing. Her husband, guitarist Paul Molloy, headed up the video production and veteran Vegas musician and vocalist Robby Wingfield blended the voices.
This version follows Vonda Shepard’s 1999 arrangement of the Supremes’ original hit from 1961.
The resulting video brings the chills. The performers in play are a video reminder of the city’s vast musical talent: Jerry Lopez of Santa Fe & The Fat City Horns and Windjammers on guitar and vocals; Walfredo Reyes Jr. of Chicago on drums; Jamie Hosmer of Santa Fe and Windjammers on Hammond B-3 and vocals; Frankie Moreno on piano and vocals; Michael Johnson of Windjammers on vocals; Vegas favorites Clint Holmes and Kelly Clinton-Holmes on vocals; jazz great Michelle Johnson on vocals; Christine Shebeck, who has appeared at several Vegas venues, on vocals; singer-songwriter Janien Valentine of “The Scintas” show and Mayfair Supper Club on vocals; Amanda King of several Vegas venues on vocals; and Tony Davich of Santa Fe and Phoenix on vocals.
“It was an amazing video,” says Reyes, a Las Vegan who attended the UNLV School of Music and befriended Lopez before joining Chicago. “Patty and Paul kicked (butt).”
These collective videos are not easy to produce, given the distance of the performers in their unlike environments.
“All of these artists had to perform as if they were singing together while they were apart,” Molloy said. “Separately, they were able to send the message of the song. I could have honestly had 50 more artists from Las Vegas in this project. That’s how much talent we have in this city.”
M.J. in action
Tuesday night, the above-mentioned Michelle Johnson answers the musical question, “Where’ve you been?” Her online show, “I’m Still Here,” is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday. Go to michellejohnson.live and follow the prompts. Johnson, aka Las Vegas’s First Lady of Jazz, is joined on piano by Bill Zappia, most recently Terry Fator’s music director. The show runs an hour, and Johnson advises, “Grab a drink, a comfy seat, and enjoy an intimate concert.” As always, we suggest FizzyWater …
Manilow still holding
A superstar headlining booking to watch is Barry Manilow’s 2020 dates at Westgate Las Vegas’s International Theater. Manilow is still scheduled for 24 performances beginning Sept. 17 through Dec. 5. This is a “barometer” residency, the most extensive headlining run still in the books this year in town. We will have made remarkable strides against COVID if Manilow’s shows come off as scheduled.
Cactus for all of us
What do Brad Garrett, Louie Anderson, Jimmie J.J. Walker, Rich Little, Chippendales, Gallagher, Thunder From Down Under, Bill Engvall, Paul Rodriguez and Murray Sawchuck have in common? No, they are not being cast in a “Hollywood Squares” reboot. Rather, all of them are current or former Vegas headliners who have headlined over the years at Gala Showroom at Cactus Pete’s in Jackpot.
Those who have followed me on the social media know I’ve high-tailed it up the Great Basin Highway toward Boise, Idaho and stopped for an over-nighter at Cactus Pete’s. The hotel-casino brings a big of Vegas vibe to those just over the Nevada-Idaho border. The place was clean, masked, and business was pretty good. I dropped some USDs at the blackjack table, too.
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 Twitter, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.
