Happy New Year and 21st Century Gifts
Itrust everyone had a joyful holiday. Mine was. My wife Linda and my son Daniel chipped in and surprised me with an iPhone. Sure it is a tech gadget and do I have to learn how to use it, you bet. You know the old joke—hire a teenager to help you. Well, I’m asking everyone I can to help me. Kids today are raised with the technology and it comes natural to them. It takes them no time at all to learn the latest advances.
Honestly though, I really think that products like an iPhone are made to help idiots like me. It has pictures all over the thing, so how can I miss—right? I learned how to turn it on and soon I will figure out how to turn it off. So, you can see I am making progress—well sort of.
I had another gift for the holidays. My daughter Antoinette (my first born) surprised me with a visit. Our schedules are so varied that we mean to spend time but somehow it hasn’t worked until now. We are spending precious time—quality time together and visiting sites like the Hoover Dam. It’s fun to be a tourist sometimes.
Then, I received a call from Gladys Knight inviting me to a Christmas dinner, but with my daughter here and other family, I had to pass unfortunately. Am I name-dropping? I opted for a rain-check.
Little Anthony’s (Virtual) Mohegan Sun Diary
I had an idea for a future column. I’m gonna keep a notebook of what goes on while Little Anthony & The Imperials start the new year at Mohegan Sun—Connecticut—Saturday Jan. 2, 2010. The column will note day-to-day everything we do: meet at the airport Friday, fly to Connecticut, meet the Mohegan Sun limo and van, sound check, and whatever else happens. It might be boring (for all I know) or it might be insightful. I don’t know but we will find out. I’ll take you there virtually.
We haven’t been back to Mohegan Sun—Connecticut in a long time and it is good to be back. I like singing in the Wolf Den. It reminds me of the old Las Vegas casino rooms where you could be on stage surrounded by slot machines. The last time the guys and I performed there was over a year and half ago. We broke the attendance record that day. I would love to shatter our own record and that could open the arena door next—maybe.
The MS on-the-road column will be posted on vegascommunityonline.com by mid-January. So, get ready and pack your bags since you are going on the road with us to Mohegan Sun—Connecticut. Don’t worry, we aren’t wild teens anymore and besides, I have more important things to do. Right now, I’m trying to learn my new AT&T iPhone touch-screen gadget surprise—remember?
I think you’ll be surprised, too. You see, Mohegan Sun—Connecticut is decorated differently than most casinos and the Indian culture motif is everywhere you look. It isn’t glitzy like some of the Vegas strip casinos. The casino in Mohegan Sun is more subdued and the gambling reflects the subdued atmosphere. The clientele are older and more family-oriented. And above all, you are also in a sovereign Indian nation. It is an Indian reservation and not subject to federal law.
The Imperials and I love we are returning to Mohegan Sun and I plan to virtually take you along —look for “Little Anthony’s Mohegan Sun Diary” in about two weeks.
Volunteer Hospitalized Vets Concert in Baltimore—February 14, 2010
The Imperials and I are honored to be the Founding Group to work with the Volunteer Hospitalized Veterans group and the Valentines for Veterans (V4V) Concerts. Every Valentine’s Day for the last 2 years, we have performed a free live show to entertain the veterans and who are hospitalized (and their families)—both out-patient and in-patient. The first year, we were in Prescott, AZ. and last year Tampa, FL. This coming Valentine’s Day, we will be performing our third V4V concert in Baltimore, MD.
We, as a group, and as people should do all we can for our veterans. The Imperials and I try to participate in every fundraiser we are contacted about. We did miss a few requests, but we try to lend support to all of them—either in person or by donating an auction item.
The Volunteer Hospitalized Veterans group is made up of a remarkable bunch of people. They are “true Americans” in the sense they donate their time to man the libraries, assist medical personnel, do clerical work, manage the reception desks, etc. assisting the veterans/patients from New York to California.
Did you know that “volunteering” is primarily an “American thing”? During the influx of the Japanese companies into the US world of business and real estate in the ’80s and ’90s many of the imported executives took classes in American ways. One of those classes was devoted to “volunteering” in American society.
It’s true and you can bet the farm, we as Americans love to give back or “volunteer.” It is in our DNA and people of other countries find it to be “foreign” to their line of thinking. The Japanese executives had to be taught to “volunteer.” Americans on the other hand, feel it is inherited and that volunteering usually enriches ones character.
The Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010 concert in Baltimore is a part of the VA National Salute to Veteran Patients. It is known as Valentines for Veterans Concerts (V4V). The V4V concerts are a way for families to join and share time together.
Husbands or wives waiting the return of their military mate can join the festivities—admission to the concerts is always free. Let’s face it, Valentine’s Day should not be a day of solitary sadness. All total, there will be 11 V4V concerts staged nationally in strategic cities and ours will be at Baltimore’s Meyerhoff Symphony Hall—Feb.14th.
Like Willie Says, On The Road Again
I’m so glad to being going back to work. The 2009 concert season fizzed out and although we loved our Rock HOF induction and the Madison Square Garden concert, the rural casino dates we do, faded from sight. Business has been slow and the economy was partly to blame. Why hire a headline act when you can hire a “tribute band” instead? Many of the casinos opted to hire “tributes” saving lots of cash and providing entertainment at the same time. “Substitutions” like these hurt groups like ours, but that booking trend has run its economic course—thankfully.
Like I mentioned earlier, we are heading to Mohegan Sun—Connecticut for a one-night engagement. It is a treat to return there like I said, but I wish they would book us into their arena. It seats 10,000 and with the right support act, I think we can do business for them. Instead, we are in the Wolf Den and come to think of it, that does offer a “free aspect” which I like a lot. I love to entertain and the more people we can draw, the better. It fires us up—me and The Imperials. Madison Square Garden was a perfect example.
For some reason the powers that be at Mohegan Sun do not think we can draw the numbers necessary to fill their arena. I would like the chance to prove them wrong. Two strong acts that compliment one another could easily sell the place out. That is my opinion for what it is worth. We’ll see if that happens.
Usually Clarence Collins and I sit next to one another and we either sleep or talk business the whole flight. Clarence had to leave a day or two earlier to visit a sick friend of ours, Pauly. He was just released from the hospital. Clarence is also going to catch up with another running buddy, Pauly’s brother, Lou for New Year’s. Something to be said for old friends, don’t you think?
Both Pauly and Lou are two of the nicest people you’ll ever want to know. I’m proud of the fact they are friends of ours. Get better Pauly and I’ll see you soon.
Welcome to the New Year and here are some upcoming 2010 concert dates you might want to take note of:
January 22 Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, FL
March 13 Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, NJ
March 26 Eisenhower Hall Theatre West Point, NY
