by Dyana Hepburn

Created on: October 23, 2009

Crooner meets rocker-Perry Danos, billed as the new Voice of Vegas, performed last Monday night October, 2009, at the Orleans Hotel. I was luckily in the right place Saturday when I saw a sign advertising a new recording artist appearing in Las Vegas. It was a wonderful gift because he was performing two nights in the showroom and there was no charge for the tickets. Beverages could be purchased inside the showroom doors, but there was no minimum and, since the show was complementary, seating was unassigned. They were filming two nights for a TV special and needed a live audience.

I did not know what to expect and we were all amazed at his talent and his band's. Besides his guitarist, piano player, drummer, trumpeter, several other musicians, and the three lovely ladies who sang backup, there was a saxophonist who played a solo. It was back to the old days of Vegas when music was beautiful and singers could sing. His music director doubles as his piano player. After the show Danos came out and autographed his picture. He is nice looking, Greek descent, dark brown hair and eyes. His voice range is tenor-baritone, and he can hold his own with the best of today's modern crooners.

While waiting for him to come out after the show and autograph the 8 x 10's he gave the audience, I met his agent who told me they were from Nashville on tour, stopping two days in Las Vegas, then on to St. Louis and Florida. And then back to the West Coast-San Francisco. His father owns a nightclub in Chicago, where Perry developed his style as he performed growing up, before venturing out on his own. He began his career as a studio recording artist for many years, then branched out with his own show. His style compares to the crooner greats of yesteryear. Like Sinatra he can segue into upbeat songs-Sammy Davis' Mr. Bojangles-and then easily fall back to a slow ballad. I asked his agent how I should describe him and he replied his style could be compared to Tony Bennett meets Rod Stewart, and crooner meets rocker.

He began the show with Bobby Darin's "Beyond the Sea" and then sang old hits which ranged from upbeat to slow. He sang the oldies while pictures of famous singers, like Sinatra, and Perry Como, were shown in the background on a large screen. Besides singing the beautiful ballades of the 40's and 50's who have made so many people happy, he also sang originals from a repertoire of original songs composed by his personal song writer, whom he introduced from the audience. His composer has enriched Danos' repertoire with songs of a unique mixture of ballades with an oldies/modern sound. Despite that the show was free, he gave us his all, taking breaks during the hour and a half he was continuously onstage, when the saxophone player did a long solo, and toward the end when the drummer did his thing, another solo.

While waiting to see Perry after the show, his photographer came up to the table where we were standing and focused the camera on me close up. Smiling expectantly at me, I realized he wanted me to say something. The words came easily-I loved the show. He's going to be famous. Thank you Perry, I can't wait to see you on TV.

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