What's On Las Vegas, March 29, 2005
Friday, March 04, 2005
Las Vegas, NV
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE ROYAL DIXIE JAZZ BAND, "THE SWINGINGEST BAND IN THE LAND,"
TO PERFORM IN THE EAST LOUNGE OF THE GOLD COAST HOTEL AND
CASINO
The Gold Coast Hotel and Casino is proud to announce that The Royal Dixie Jazz
Band, among the nations' most swinging dixie groups, will be appearing in the hotel's
East Lounge beginning Monday, March 7. Sets begin at 1 p.m. and run through 6:40 p.
m.
Those familiar with Las Vegas -- and Gold Coast Hotel -- lore, are more than familiar
with the world class dixie bands that have appeared at the hotel since 1987, and have
continued to be among the city's and the country's most popular musical attractions.
First was the fondly remembered Sorta Dixie Jazz Band, then the Kinda Dixie Jazz
Band. Now, with the retirement of leader Jim Fitzgerald, this latest and most exciting
incarnation is The Royal Dixie Jazz Band. This new combination, which will continue
to feature some of the bandsmen of previous groups, promises to be the greatest yet.
The Royal Dixie Jazz Band will continue the Las Vegas "lounge tradition" of fun,
excitement, surprises and great traditional jazz, but also intends to broaden its musical
scope, to reach out to audiences of all ages. A musical label for all this? Call it
"traditionally contemporary," if you will.
A group like this, of course, is only as good as its members. Here's a little bit about all
of them.
Bandleader Dan Ellis, who holds a degree in Music Theory and Composition from St.
Norbert College in DePere, WI, has been with the band for eight years. Before moving
to Las Vegas he spent three years as musical supervisor for Carnival Cruise Lines.
Along the way he has performed with greats like Lena Prima and Harry Barlo. Dan and
his wife, Vicki (a former singer on Carnival Cruise Lines) are the proud parents of
Christopher, soon to be two years old.
Trumpeter Ed Sherry has had a long association with a number of prestigious cruise
lines, including Crown, Sea Escape, Carnival, American Hawaii, Premier, and
Norwegian. He's toured with Jack Morgan and the Russ Morgan Orchestra as lead
trumpet and soloist. During the 1990s, living in San Antonio and Austin, TX, he
played literally every possible form of music in the book, then moved to Las Vegas in
2002 when he joined the Kinda Dixie Jazz Band.
Paul Testa, drummer extraordinaire, began studying music when he was fourteen years
old. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and spent three years with the
Army Band. Upon release from the Army, he returned to the New York City area
where he freelanced in the studio, in live performances and did some national touring.
Moving to Las Vegas in 1979, he became the house drummer at the Sands’ Copa Room,
the Stardust’s Lido de Paris, and the Sahara’s Congo Room. For the last seven years,
Paul has been busy on the national jazz festival circuit while keeping Las Vegas as his
home base.
Joseph "Joey" Paul Farina began studying piano and trombone at age nine. Music was
always a family affair in the Farina home, and in 1975 the Farina gang formed a band
comprised of Joey's mother, father, three brothers and a cousin. They moved to Las
Vegas in 1975, where they performed in a number of venues, including one in
Henderson that was owned by the Farina's. Since 1978, this multi-instrumentalist has
appeared in most of the lounges and showrooms, and has also been involved as a
musical contractor for stars like Al Martino, Jerry Vale and Connie Francis.
In addition to his expertise on woodwinds, Steve Johnson sings, plays keyboards and
brass instruments. His initial interest was in veterinary medicine, but after logging
some time at the college radio station, he decided to pursue radio, television and film.
In fact, he graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in
Telecommunications. Musically, Steve started with his first clarinet at the age of nine,
and since then has been heard in every type of locale where music is played, from dance
halls to cruise ships, and recording studios to concert halls.
Bass guitarist Ty Lemley, originally from Pittsburgh PA, was with the Kinda Dixie
Jazz band for 17 years. Also experienced as a writer and arranger, Ty has played night
spots and hotels in Las Vegas since 1981. For ten years, he was a member the famous
Guy Lombardo Orchestra. He's also worked with a number of other legendary orchestra
leaders, including Art Mooney, Lawrence Welk, Sammy Kaye, Freddie Martin and
Wayne King. During his spare time, Ty found time to write and record on his own
label, Tymena, and released a CD called "Legacy".
For further information about the Royal Dixie Jazz Band, please contact Dan Ellis at
(702) 290-0581 or the band’s website www.royaldixie.com.
Las Vegas, NV
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE ROYAL DIXIE JAZZ BAND, "THE SWINGINGEST BAND IN THE LAND,"
TO PERFORM IN THE EAST LOUNGE OF THE GOLD COAST HOTEL AND
CASINO
The Gold Coast Hotel and Casino is proud to announce that The Royal Dixie Jazz
Band, among the nations' most swinging dixie groups, will be appearing in the hotel's
East Lounge beginning Monday, March 7. Sets begin at 1 p.m. and run through 6:40 p.
m.
Those familiar with Las Vegas -- and Gold Coast Hotel -- lore, are more than familiar
with the world class dixie bands that have appeared at the hotel since 1987, and have
continued to be among the city's and the country's most popular musical attractions.
First was the fondly remembered Sorta Dixie Jazz Band, then the Kinda Dixie Jazz
Band. Now, with the retirement of leader Jim Fitzgerald, this latest and most exciting
incarnation is The Royal Dixie Jazz Band. This new combination, which will continue
to feature some of the bandsmen of previous groups, promises to be the greatest yet.
The Royal Dixie Jazz Band will continue the Las Vegas "lounge tradition" of fun,
excitement, surprises and great traditional jazz, but also intends to broaden its musical
scope, to reach out to audiences of all ages. A musical label for all this? Call it
"traditionally contemporary," if you will.
A group like this, of course, is only as good as its members. Here's a little bit about all
of them.
Bandleader Dan Ellis, who holds a degree in Music Theory and Composition from St.
Norbert College in DePere, WI, has been with the band for eight years. Before moving
to Las Vegas he spent three years as musical supervisor for Carnival Cruise Lines.
Along the way he has performed with greats like Lena Prima and Harry Barlo. Dan and
his wife, Vicki (a former singer on Carnival Cruise Lines) are the proud parents of
Christopher, soon to be two years old.
Trumpeter Ed Sherry has had a long association with a number of prestigious cruise
lines, including Crown, Sea Escape, Carnival, American Hawaii, Premier, and
Norwegian. He's toured with Jack Morgan and the Russ Morgan Orchestra as lead
trumpet and soloist. During the 1990s, living in San Antonio and Austin, TX, he
played literally every possible form of music in the book, then moved to Las Vegas in
2002 when he joined the Kinda Dixie Jazz Band.
Paul Testa, drummer extraordinaire, began studying music when he was fourteen years
old. He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and spent three years with the
Army Band. Upon release from the Army, he returned to the New York City area
where he freelanced in the studio, in live performances and did some national touring.
Moving to Las Vegas in 1979, he became the house drummer at the Sands’ Copa Room,
the Stardust’s Lido de Paris, and the Sahara’s Congo Room. For the last seven years,
Paul has been busy on the national jazz festival circuit while keeping Las Vegas as his
home base.
Joseph "Joey" Paul Farina began studying piano and trombone at age nine. Music was
always a family affair in the Farina home, and in 1975 the Farina gang formed a band
comprised of Joey's mother, father, three brothers and a cousin. They moved to Las
Vegas in 1975, where they performed in a number of venues, including one in
Henderson that was owned by the Farina's. Since 1978, this multi-instrumentalist has
appeared in most of the lounges and showrooms, and has also been involved as a
musical contractor for stars like Al Martino, Jerry Vale and Connie Francis.
In addition to his expertise on woodwinds, Steve Johnson sings, plays keyboards and
brass instruments. His initial interest was in veterinary medicine, but after logging
some time at the college radio station, he decided to pursue radio, television and film.
In fact, he graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in
Telecommunications. Musically, Steve started with his first clarinet at the age of nine,
and since then has been heard in every type of locale where music is played, from dance
halls to cruise ships, and recording studios to concert halls.
Bass guitarist Ty Lemley, originally from Pittsburgh PA, was with the Kinda Dixie
Jazz band for 17 years. Also experienced as a writer and arranger, Ty has played night
spots and hotels in Las Vegas since 1981. For ten years, he was a member the famous
Guy Lombardo Orchestra. He's also worked with a number of other legendary orchestra
leaders, including Art Mooney, Lawrence Welk, Sammy Kaye, Freddie Martin and
Wayne King. During his spare time, Ty found time to write and record on his own
label, Tymena, and released a CD called "Legacy".
For further information about the Royal Dixie Jazz Band, please contact Dan Ellis at
(702) 290-0581 or the band’s website www.royaldixie.com.
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