Wayne Newton

Carson Wayne Newton (born April 3, 1942) is an American singer and entertainer based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He has performed over 25,000 concerts in Las Vegas over a period of over 40 years, earning him the nickname Mr. Las Vegas. His longevity and popularity has made him almost synonymous with Las Vegas itself. He still performs at the Stardust resort in Las Vegas for 40 weeks out of the year.

Early life

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Wayne Newton was active in show business at an early age. He learned the piano, guitar, and steel guitar at the age of six. Along with his older brother Jerry Newton, he appeared with the Grand Ole Opry roadshows, performed for President Harry S. Truman, and auditioned unsuccessfully for Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour.

Related Topics:
Norfolk, Virginia - Grand Ole Opry - Harry S. Truman

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Wayne's severe asthma forced the family to move to Phoenix, Arizona in 1952. In the spring of 1958, toward the end of Wayne's junior year in high school, a Las Vegas booking agent saw a local TV show on which the two Newton brothers were performing and took them back with him for an audition. Originally signed for two weeks, the two brothers eventually performed for five years, doing six shows a day.

Related Topics:
Asthma - Phoenix, Arizona - 1952 - 1958

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