Kelly Clinton

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NORM: 'Kelvis' shimmys on ABC tonight (Jan 07, 2010) Kelly Clinton takes her Kelvis act coast to coast tonight on ABC's "Nightline." Clinton, the only female member of the locally produced Elvis Choir, is joining other Elvi on "Dateline" on the eve of what would have been Elvis' 75th birthday. She's been billing herself as Kelvis, "the imaginery love child of Ann-Margret and Elvis," since she was in high school in Palisades Park, N.J. She has Ann-Margret's flaming red hair and Elvis' many moves. While filming with an ABC interviewer this week, "I Elvis-ed out with all my moves and shimmys and scared him, I think," she said. She was new in town, working in a lounge at the old MGM Grand (now Bally's), when she caught her big break. Wayne Newton saw her walk-on performance at Bourbon Street in 1987 and had her join his show for a 10-year Elvis anniversary tribute. Elvis is just one of the characters she's created. The rest of the time she's a solo singer and comedian at the Stirling Club at Turnberry Place (Saturdays) and the Bootlegger Bistro (Mondays). Open Mic Night (May 28, 2009) A popular weekly open mic night returns to the Bootlegger Bistro on Monday. The misnamed “Celebrity Karaoke” was one of the most popular weekly entertainment events in town during a three-year stay at the Bootlegger. It drew standing-room-only crowds every Monday night to hear a wide variety of entertainment, from rank amateurs to some of the most talented performers in town. There were singers and musicians and jugglers and comedians and puppeteers. And all of it was free. Entertainer Kelly Clinton, founder of the showcase, ended the revue two years ago for a variety of reasons. And she’s decided to bring it back to the Bootlegger, 7700 Las Vegas Blvd. South — for a variety of reasons — beginning at 9 p.m. Monday. This time it will have a more descriptive title: “Kelly Clinton’s Open Mic Cabaret.” “It never really was karaoke; it’s just a name that stuck,” she said. One of the strongest motivations to bring back the show was public demand. “Everywhere I went people would ask me, ‘When are you coming back?’ ” she said. Another reason was an inspiring trip Clinton made to New York with her husband, Clint Holmes, and Bill Fayne, who performed many times at the celebrity night event. “Most of the shows on Broadway are dark on Mondays,” Holmes said. “On Monday nights, many of the performers will attend ‘Jim Caruso’s Open Mic Cast Party.’ Caruso is Liza Minnelli’s musical director, so you’re liable to hear Liza or almost anyone at the show.” Holmes and Clinton performed at the “Cast Party” and came away with a desire to resume the revue that had been so popular in Vegas. In addition to the new title, there will be a few other changes in the Bootlegger show. In the past a trio backed up the performers; now Clinton’s music director, Mike Clark, will play piano. The rest of the music will be on tracks. “We have thousands,” Clinton said. Also, there will be a greater attempt to encourage entertainers from the Strip to perform, mixing in with new talent.

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