Often hailed as “Mr. Las Vegas,” Wayne Newton is a testament to the city’s enduring appeal and the captivating power of entertainment. His journey from a young talent in Roanoke, Virginia to an iconic figure in the entertainment capital of the world is nothing short of remarkable.
Growing up with a passion for music, Newton’s early years were marked by determination and talent beyond his years. From playing various instruments by ear at a tender age to hosting his radio show and captivating audiences with his performances, his trajectory into showbiz was set at an early age.
However, his path to success was not without problems. Newton faced health problems, including severe asthma, which prompted his family to relocate from Virginia to Arizona. Despite these obstacles, his passion for entertainment never wavered and he continued to hone his craft alongside his brother Jerry, performing in various venues and eventually landing in Las Vegas.
Elvis Presley became famous in Las Vegas. He will never be called “Mr. Las Vegas” because the rightful owner of this title is Wayne Newton.
As one of the most popular performers of the past fifty years, Newton still enjoys playing in his beloved Vegas. But he’s had a tough few years for a number of reasons.
So how did 81-year-old Wayne Newton become famous in the first place? And this is his story!
‘Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton
Adolescents have a distorted idea of what is possible. You have goals and dreams for your life, but getting an education and graduating in your 20s are necessary first steps.
But what if someone told you that at the age of sixteen, you already started your career as an artist in Vegas and were performing six days a week? Wayne Newton had what looked like the ideal job, but it wasn’t his.
Newton has been entertaining “Sin City” crowds several times a night for many days in a row for over 40 years.
The native Virginian has been nicknamed “Mr. Las Vegas” and the moniker certainly fits.
Newton, seventy-nine, has no intention of slowing down. Even now it still looks fantastic.
So how did he get the job in Las Vegas? And why is he still here after all this time? All you need to know is that Wayne Newton, sometimes known as “Mr. Las Vegas”,
The Early Life of Wayne Newton
Born on April 3, 1942, in Roanoke, Virginia, Newton was raised by his father, Patrick Newton, an auto mechanic, and his mother, Evelyn.
Because he was usually sick as a child, spending his early years on the family farm wasn’t always fun. His bronchial asthma caused him to miss a lot of school.
From a very young age, he was destined to become a showbiz guy. At the age of four, he learned to play the piano, guitar, and steel guitar by ear and had the opportunity to personally witness his destiny.
Wayne Newton’s parents took him to the Grand Ole Opry in Roanoke to see Hank Williams and Kitty Wells perform.
As he watched the two walk out, he knew exactly what he was going to do.
Newton informed his mother, “I want to do it.” What, she asked. “That,” he replied, pointing to the platform.
Newton’s talent increased as he gained familiarity with tools. People were amazed when, at the age of six, he and his older brother Jerry hosted their own morning radio show on Roanoke’s WDBJ.
In addition to entertaining movie crowds at several local theaters, Newton and his brother even performed for President Truman during a USO presentation when they were in first grade. Two years later, after winning a local talent contest, they made it to the biggest amateur event in the US. However, things didn’t work out as planned.
“There are two people I know of,” said Wayne Newton, “who failed Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour audition: Elvis Presley and me.”
It was undoubtedly a disappointment and a letdown for Wayne and his older brother Jerry. But the truth was, he had more pressing problems.
Health problems
Due to Newton’s serious health problems, including asthma, the family was forced to relocate from Virginia.
“As soon as winter came, I would get sick,” Wayne wrote in his memoir Once Before I Go. “Maybe that’s when my brother started getting more attention from my parents. Considering how much time they spent taking care of me, maybe they thought it would be appropriate to give my brother more warning.”
They moved to Arizona where he fully recovered and resumed his entertainment career. Despite being given a fantastic chance, Newton held a grudge against his parents for being relocated.
“I felt the pain, even though it was never expressed. I felt like a burden at that moment. I lay in bed at night thinking about how I caused them to give up everything they ever wanted,” he wrote. “For my parents, it meant uprooting and leaving behind everything they knew.
first gig in Vegas at age fifteen
As part of The Lew King Ranger Show, Wayne Newton and his brother Jerry made their first appearance in Arizona in supermarkets. They continued to get more and more bookings after appearing on Lew King Rangers Saturday Night TV.
Lew King proved to be a key player in Wayne Newton’s rise to prominence. However, as time went on, Wayne and his brother were too big for Arizona alone.
Newton and his brother were hired by the Fremont Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas when he was a junior in high school. They stayed the whole year instead of the two weeks they were supposed to play. Before long, he was doing six shows a night for five years.
Las Vegas is where dreams come true. However, there is a possibility of harm, especially in small children. Perhaps it was a good thing that Wayne Newton was so young when he first visited.
“No matter what you did in the casino, you had to be 21, so I needed a work permit at 15,” Closer said. “So people really took me in to raise me and make sure I didn’t get into trouble and down the wrong path.”
There was a lot of competition in Las Vegas at this time. In addition to legends like Elvis Presley and Bobby Darin, “The Rat Pack” featured performances by Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and Sammy Davis Jr. in Las Vegas.
given the moniker “Mr. Las Vegas”?
Newton had the best mentors he could ever ask for since he was much younger than the other elite players in Vegas.
“What I learned from people who were friends with me, like Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin, and others, is that the only thing that will make you happy is your ability to adapt to life, Wayne Newton stated. “And you have to be disciplined and approach every performance like it’s your last – because one day it will be!”
After visiting Las Vegas for the first time, Wayne Newton became addicted to the city. It is not true that Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley are the kings of Las Vegas, despite what some people may think. At least they kept Wayne Newton from being dubbed “Mr. Las Vegas.”
That’s actually probably the best name for someone who has actually lived out the fun fantasy of Las Vegas. Wayne Newton became a mainstay in Vegas and toured for up to thirty-six weeks.
“[The nickname] came from a writer who visited Vegas to review the show. “Wayne Newton is truly Mr. Las Vegas,” the reviewer concluded. Newton recalled. “All of a sudden, when I was performing in Chicago or Denver, people would say to me, ‘Mr. Las Vegas opens tonight!”
I’m pretty happy about that because it really stuck.”
Newton has released fantastic music in addition to his fantastic live performances.
Wayne Newton: a career on his own
With the help of Bobby Darin, he began his solo career in the early 1960s and had his first Top 20 hit in 1963 with “Danke Schoen”. Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast,” another massive hit, was released in 1972.
If Newton’s LPs didn’t elevate him to the greats, his showmanship during his Las Vegas concerts certainly did. While still appearing in “Sin City”, he had a brief career in films, appearing with Timothy Dalton in the James Bond film License to Kill (1989).
Although he still had a few film appearances, theater was his true passion.
He began his solo career with the help of Bobby Darin in the early 1960s, and in 1963 “Danke Schoen” became his first Top 20 hit. Two years later, “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” reached his highest chart position at number two place, and in 1972 “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast”, another huge hit, was released.
If Newton’s LPs didn’t make him a legend, his stage presence during his Las Vegas show certainly did. He had a brief film career while still starring in “Sin City” and appearing opposite Timothy Dalton in the James Bond film License to Kill (1989).
He had a few more film appearances, but his true love was theater.
New program canceled
In 2019, Wayne Newton – who has performed live more than 30,000 times – announced that he would be opening a new show in Las Vegas in honor of his 60th birthday. Wayne Newton: Up close and personal, the event was a tribute to a remarkable man and his work. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused problems.
The statement stated that his appearance on Cleopatra’s Barge at Caesars Palace was canceled in May 2021. However, Newton was to remain an employee of Caesars Entertainment, albeit in a different capacity.
In addition to his great acting career, Wayne Newton is also a parent. He married Elaine Okamura in 1968, but they divorced in 1985.
Kathleen McCrone is a lawyer whom he met five years later at one of his concerts in Las Vegas. After court, the couple married in 1994 at Newton’s Casa De Shenandoah in Paradise, Nevada.
Ashley Newton was born in 2002 to Newton and McCron. Erin, his daughter from a previous marriage in 1976, is another of his children.
Wayne Newton’s Estimated Net Worth
Over time, Newton amassed considerable wealth. Celebrity Net Worth claims that he has an estimated net worth of $50 million.
Even though he could spend his entire life lounging by the pool, Newton is still incredibly passionate about what he loves most.
Most importantly, he never thinks about a day when he doesn’t perform.
“Not really, no. Just to the point where I took a leave of absence, which meant a few years off,” he clarified. “Because I opened my ranch to the public and it was nice to do it, even though it required all my attention and effort.
So grateful to the @vegasgoldenknights team, management, and staff for everything they did in the game last night. The birthday cake and hockey stick signed by the team really surprised me. See you in the next match.
“I’m still physically able to do what I want on stage and sound the way I want and sing the way I want to sing and so on and so forth,” he said. “And I think being able to go out and see the happiness that those songs bring to people is what makes me wake up in the morning.
A true music icon, Wayne Newton continues to look great. We sincerely hope that he will be giving his lectures for a very long time to come.
Wayne Newton, known as “Mr. Las Vegas”, embodies the spirit of the city and the resilience of a true entertainer. His journey from a young artist struggling with health issues to an iconic figure in the entertainment industry is inspiring.
From his early days in Virginia, where his talent was nurtured, to the bustling stages of Las Vegas, Newton’s dedication and passion for music defined his illustrious career. His ability to capture the essence of live entertainment has made him a beloved figure in the hearts of many.
Newton’s story is one of perseverance and unwavering dedication to his craft. Through health problems and setbacks, he continued to captivate audiences and earned the well-deserved title of “Mr. Las Vegas”. His lasting legacy as a singer, musician, and showman remains a testament to his talent and enduring spirit.
Wayne Newton continues to charm audiences with his timeless performances and is a beacon of entertainment that reminds us all of the power of music and the joy it brings. His contributions to the world of entertainment have left an indelible mark, and his dedication to his art is a testament to his lasting influence on the industry.
With a career spanning decades and a legacy that still resonates, Wayne Newton remains a true icon of Las Vegas and the music industry – living proof of the magic of performing live and the passion that drives it. Here’s to the continued success and timeless tunes of ‘Mr. Las Vegas.”