Printable text version of this story May 06, 1999 Columnist Joe Delaney: The late Joe Williams honored at namesake fund-raiser The late jazz legend Joe Williams will be paid a special tribute Friday at 7:30 p.m., as part of the annual Joe Williams Music Scholarship fund-raiser in the Nicholas J. Horn Theatre on the Community College of Southern Nevada's Cheyenne campus. ... The Jimmy Wilkins Orchestra, The Cunninghams, Buddy Greco, and Southern Nevada Jazz, CCSN's vocal ensemble, under the direction of Mark Wherry, will perform. Greco, a personal friend of Williams and a jazz legend in his own right, will be backed by the Wilkins orchestra, which is also scheduled to perform in place of Don Menza Monday at the Riviera. Williams had donated his time, money and services to the CCSN Music Scholarship Fund in his name since 1989. ... Donations may be made by sending a check to the Board of Regents, marked for the Williams Music Scholarship Fund. ... All proceeds go to benefit student musicians at CCSN. More on Ellington In January 1971, Caesars Palace presented a "Late, Late Show" at 2 a.m. in its Circus Maximus. ... Duke Ellington and his orchestra were featured in the first hour, there was a stage change and Woody Herman's orchestra played the second hour. ... As the host, who also had to cover the stage change, I asked Ellington how he would like to be introduced. Duke did not care for long, flowery introductions and especially disliked being referred to as "Mr. Duke Ellington." ... He also hated the phrase, "Without further ado." He told me to introduce the orchestra, point to him at the piano and say, "The piano player is in charge." After Woody and his orchestra took over, I could head for home. ... One very early morning as I was passing the keno counter, there was the Ellington orchestra complete, seated as though they were on the bandstand, and playing keno. ... With instruments, they could have played a set right there. Louis, Duke and Ella On Jan. 9, 1971, Louis Armstrong and the All-Stars were performing in the Tropicana Blue Room. ... I was asked to set up a tribute evening for Louis. ... Ellington was at Caesars, and Ella Fitzgerald was headlining at the Flamingo. ... Both agreed to come by for Louis' 10 p.m. show. ... Red Norvo, another jazz great who left us last week at age 91, was in the Tropicana Lounge with Monk Montgomery and Lloyd Ellis. With Armstrong, Ellington and Fitzgerald onstage together, there was suddenly a magic moment. ... Ella shyly asked Louis and the All-Stars to play a request, "Blueberry Hill," and they swung into it. Duke bowed and asked Ella if she would care to dance. ... That was it; Louis playing and nodding approval, Duke and Ella dancing. ... The photographer had left and that particular magic moment lives only in the hearts and memories of those present that evening. An appreciation New Orleans trumpeter Al Hirt passed away last week, at home, after a long battle with cancer. ... Back in 1952, Hirt and his quartet were the musical backup for Shecky Greene, pre-Las Vegas for both, in the Preview Lounge, just off Canal Street in the Crescent City. ... Hirt had an incredible embouchure and could play all night without tiring. As producer of Al Hirt's Audio Fidelity albums at the end of the 1950s, we opted for a live nightclub sound. ... The Pier 600 club on Bourbon Street was in an old building so rickety it shook whenever a truck or the bus named Desire passed by. ... The resultant tremor could ruin a performance. ... We hired an off-duty policeman. His job was to hold the early morning traffic during a recording. ... We neglected to secure a permit, a motorist complained, the police came, and it cost us an extra $100 to continue recording. End of story Five hours and 18 selections later, Al was hitting the high notes like it was the first take on the first number. ... Larger than life, Al was one of the finest technicians on the trumpet I have ever heard and a great personality. ... Rest well, Jumbo. Star-policy rundown It's Natalie Cole (Caesars Palace); Dana Carvey (Desert Inn); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Clint Holmes (Golden Nugget); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Tom Jones (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell (Orleans) and Danny Gans (Rio). ... Enjoy all of our town. P.S.: Joseph Bernard's Actor's Showcase presents "Sex Wars (and Other Battles)" free at 7:30 this evening (Winchester Center Theatre). ... See you Friday. Joe Delaney'scolumn appears Thursdays and Fridays in the Sun. Reach him at 259-4066 or joe@lasvegassun.com. Greco Cole Carvey Printable text version of this story Las Vegas SUN main page Questions or problems? Click here. Read our policy on cookies and privacy. Click here. All contents copyright 1999 Las Vegas SUN, Inc. Nevada's largest website