Senate Resolution No. 7–Senators Raggio, Amodei, Care, Carlton, Cegavske, Coffin, Hardy, Mathews, McGinness, Neal, Nolan, O’Connell, Rawson, Rhoads, Schneider, Shaffer, Tiffany, Titus, Townsend, Washington and Wiener

 

FILE NUMBER..........

 

Senate RESOLUTION—Commending Sonny King for his lifetime contribution as an entertainer.

 

    Whereas, Although the birth name “Louis Antonio Donato

Schiavone” may not be readily recognizable to many, the stage

name “Sonny King” brings a smile to the faces of millions of people

who have enjoyed a performance by this world-class entertainer;

and

    Whereas, Since he was 15 years old, Sonny King has been

delighting audiences with songs, jokes and comedy routines on

stage in a style that is described as sincere, honest and having a

“comedic flair” with “the easy approach of Sinatra”; and

    Whereas, Sonny King began his career as a singer and emcee

in Hudson, New Jersey, where he did 42 shows a week for $60; and

    Whereas, He built his act at the famed Copacabana and

Havana Madrid in New York City and, after being recognized as

having the enviable ability to relate and adapt to all audiences, was

invited to move to Las Vegas and become a part of the show at the

Sahara; and

    Whereas, Three years later, at the age of 23, Sonny joined

Jimmy Durante at the Desert Inn in a partnership that lasted an

incredible 28 years, with routines that never became stale because

Sonny and Jimmy genuinely enjoyed working with each other and

because the audience felt their love of showmanship and never grew

tired of watching the two of them have a good time on stage; and

    Whereas, After being introduced to Frank Sinatra, Sonny

became a close friend of the “Rat Pack,” was affectionately

nicknamed the “Lounge Giant” by that group, who defined “cool”

during the early 1960s, and demonstrated his extensive talent by

writing many of the one-liners and jokes that Sinatra used on Dean

Martin when the two of them performed their act; and

    Whereas, During the course of Sonny’s career, he has

headlined at the Sahara, Desert Inn, Sands, Dunes, Frontier and

Stardust in the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” and he has

probably performed with more stars than anyone in the

entertainment business, including Red Skelton, Dean Martin, Jerry

Lewis, Danny Thomas, Burt Bacharach, Joey Bishop, Shecky

Greene and many others; and

    Whereas, This artist’s domain is certainly not limited to one

city, as he has performed at such prestigious establishments as the

Chez Paree and Palmer House in Chicago, Madison Square Garden

in New York and the Diplomat in Miami; and

    Whereas, Also internationally acclaimed, Sonny King has

starred at the Palladium Theater in London and the La Scala Opera

House in Milan, has headlined in Scotland, Ireland and Greece, and

has even given a command performance at Windsor Castle; and

    Whereas, Not limited to live performances, Sonny King has

entertained millions through the media of television and motion

pictures, with 21 appearances on the Merv Griffin Show as well as

special guest appearances on the shows of Mike Douglas, Johnny

Carson and Ed Sullivan and roles in four movies, including the

original Ocean’s 11 and Robin and the Seven Hoods; and

    Whereas, In addition to the continuous adoration and respect

from his audiences, Sonny has received awards such as induction

into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame at the Tropicana and the

Lifetime Achievement Award of the Variety Club International; and

    Whereas, Although one might think that after 6 decades filled

with such expense of energy and accomplishments Sonny King

would be ready to retire and “take it easy,” he still loves performing

and living his belief that “he was put on this earth to serve and

entertain the people and if he can get the man or woman in the

audience to forget their troubles for as long as he is on stage, then he

is serving his purpose on this earth”; now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, That the

members of the Senate of the 72nd Session of the Nevada

Legislature do hereby commend Sonny King for his lifetime

contribution as an entertainer in this state and throughout the world;

and be it further

    Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Nevada hereby

honors Sonny King as a legend in his own time and appreciates that

he has unselfishly shared his talent to make the world a more

enjoyable place; and be it further

    Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and

transmit a copy of this resolution to Sonny King.

 

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