When “Mr. Las Vegas” brings his lounge act to Washington County on Saturday night, there will be a heavy Pittsburgh-area representation in attendance, and not only in the form of ticketholders with 412 area codes.
A triumvirate of Pittsburgh-area musicians will be up on the stage at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows, near Washington, Pa., as a part of Wayne Newton’s backing band.
“And it’s also my birthday,” said Chris Thomas, who will serve as the sole guitarist. “I’m really hoping to at least get a picture with him, maybe even have him sign my [sheet] music.”
Thomas doesn’t know if he’ll have a chance to say “Danke Schoen” for a picture or autograph from the singer, but he said he expects a large contingent of teacher friends from Elizabeth Forward High School, where Thomas is instrumental music director.
Thomas and bassist Bob Patterson, both Duquesne University alums, landed the gig through Rick Purcell, a veteran of the Pittsburgh music scene, who works with Hershey-based booking agent BRP Entertainment.
Saturday will mark the third time Purcell has worked with the Newton crew: He assembled Newton’s backing band for a show in the mid-2000s at Mountaineer Casino Resort in West Virginia and performed as part of the band when Newton made a tour stop at Carnegie Library of Homestead in 2024.
“He and Bobby Vinton were two of the nicest people I’ve ever worked for,” said Purcell, of Mt. Lebanon, who will fill the role of second piano.
“Some of the stars are nice, and some of them aren’t nice,” he added. “But this guy is a peach.”
Purcell called Thomas on June 11 about playing for the concert — exactly one month before the show. That left 30 days to learn 90 minutes of material.
“They sent us charts from a Google Drive via email. And I was able to print out all those charts, and through the marvels of modern internet technology, I went to YouTube and I thought, ‘Well, I wonder if anybody’s got a bootleg of him doing the show,’ and there is,” Thomas explained.
“So I’ve actually spent a little time just studying these charts and just knowing what the feel is, so that I can just have a much more comfortable idea of what’s going to go on whenever I actually do get with him on stage.”
Exactly when Thomas and cohorts will, in fact, get on stage with Newton is unknown.
But Thomas said if his experience with working with nationally touring artists is any indication, the answer may be surprising to those who haven’t played with famous acts.
“There is a real good chance that I may not even rehearse with him, and I will get to see him for the first time when he comes on stage,” he said.
Thomas’ résumé of performances with national acts includes the Shirelles, the late Joe Negri of Pittsburgh, and Jim “Gomer Pyle” Nabors.
“[Nabors] was touring as a Christmas show. I did a two-hour rehearsal with a big band, and then when we were done, he’d come out on stage and talk to us a little bit, and it wasn’t even about the show or anything like that,” Thomas said.
“It was just, ‘Hey guys, how you doing? How’s it going?’ And then when the show was ready to go, that’s the first time I actually heard him play with us,” he added.
“So I’m going to assume it’s probably going to be very similar [with Newton]. There’s a little bit of apprehension to that because I’d like to have as much of a full rehearsal as possible but, when you’re a sideman, you just have to go with the flow.”
They may be playing sidemen to the 84-year-old Newton, but Purcell said his presence and that of Thomas and Patterson’ presence will likely still be acknowledged.
“Last time I played with him, in Homestead, he made a big fuss over the three musicians from Pittsburgh. He didn’t have to do that, and he did,” Purcell said.
“He’s just a class guy. I can see why he’s lasted so long.”