Columnist Kate Maddox: Humperdinck gets his due at Tropicana

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, only in the Las Sun. Reach her at [email protected] or 259-2309.

Singer Engelbert Humperdinck was inducted into the Tropicana's Casino Legends Hall of Fame on Thursday.

His induction was one of four that day -- female impersonator Frank Marino, the late dancer and entertainer Juliet Prowse and casino-gaming visionary Paul Endy were all added to the distinguished list.

Humperdinck's honor brought out some of his old friends and fellow entertainers including Robert Goulet, Steve Rossi and Rich Little. Rossi and Goulet roasted Enge (as his friends call him) and teased him a bit with a few old stories, and then celebrity impersonator Little stepped up to the mike to do some more of the same.

Humperdinck took the podium to screams and cheers from the ladies who packed the crowd. These groupies, most of whom were older than the usual rock 'n' roll hangers-on, started lining up at nine in the morning for a chance to see the sexy crooner.

After a few quick words and a story or two, Humperdinck thanked his fans and the Tropicana for the honor and that was that.

Marino is the youngest honoree at the Hall of Fame. Marino was selected for being the longest-running continuous Strip headliner at one property -- he's been at the Riviera for 15 years.

As the guests, inductors and inductees were standing around answering press questions and socializing backstage, Rossi and Goulet found themselves standing behind a truly magnificent blond physique.

Goulet turned to his pal Rossi and said something along the lines of, "I've just got to touch that rear end!" -- so he reached out and did just that.

That shapely rear belonged to none other than statuesque Marino, who nearly jumped out of his $10,000 beaded Bob Mackie gown. Goulet and Rossi merely giggled and walked away.

Some of Major League Baseball's finest jammed at the Hard Rock late last week. At a benefit concert held at The Joint, players and a handful of celebs put on a show to help kick off the festivities surrounding Friday night's ESPN Players Choice Awards.

A standout at the concert was champion New York Yankee Bernie Williams on the classical guitar. Williams' song, which he wrote, brought the crowd to an awed silence. The guy has talent.

Another Yankee, Paul O'Neill, held his own on the drums through most of the songs, and Houston Astro and Latin crooner Jose Lima gave Ricky Martin a run for his money with a spicy salsa number.

Former MTV vee-jay Downtown Julie Brown, whose recent Playboy spread probably ended up in some of these guys' lockers, emceed the event, which included special performances by Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Mike Mills of R.E.M. and Eddie Money. Money was joined onstage by ESPN commentator Chris Berman, who chimed in for the chorus.

Another ESPN personality, Charley Steiner, jammed onstage with blues singer Delbert McClinton. Steiner grabbed his mike and started grooving to the cheers of the players in the audience.

The awards ceremony Friday night was scheduled to include actors Josh Charles and Peter Krause, of ABC's "Sports Night," Kevin Pollak, Haley Joel Osmet, from the movie "The Sixth Sense," and baseballers Reggie Jackson, Dave Winfield and Greg Maddux.

The ART21 EXPO arrived at the MGM Grand Conference Center this weekend. The show, which showcased the most notable living artists for the 21st century, brought out an unexpected celebrity.

Actor Billy Dee Williams was one of the artists showing his work. Williams, perhaps best remembered for his role as Lando Calrissian in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Return of the Jedi," has been painting for years and his work at the show reflected some of his favorite cinematic inspirations.

Williams was showing a couple of paintings/collages that included scenes and depictions of life and experiences taken from Lando's perspective. That was some far out stuff, but Williams did have a stunning portrait of the late jazz/ blues crooner Billie Holliday, whose life story was told in the movie "Lady Sings the Blues," starring Williams and Diana Ross.

Insider glitterati TV program "Access Hollywood" will be in town this week, shooting footage at some of the city's finest establishments for an upcoming show on fabulous Las Vegas, the fastest-growing, hottest city in the world.

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