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

 

April 28, 2003

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Read and Adopted

 

SUMMARY—Commends Sonny King for his lifetime contribution as entertainer. (BDR R‑1320)

 

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EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted.

 

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

 

1-1  Whereas, Although the birth name “Louis Antonio Donato

1-2  Schiavone” may not be readily recognizable to many, the stage

1-3  name “Sonny King” brings a smile to the faces of millions of people

1-4  who have enjoyed a performance by this world-class entertainer;

1-5  and

1-6  Whereas, Since he was 15 years old, Sonny King has been

1-7  delighting audiences with songs, jokes and comedy routines on

1-8  stage in a style that is described as sincere, honest and having a

1-9  “comedic flair” with “the easy approach of Sinatra”; and

1-10      Whereas, Sonny King began his career as a singer and emcee

1-11  in Hudson, New Jersey, where he did 42 shows a week for $60; and

1-12      Whereas, He built his act at the famed Copacabana and

1-13  Havana Madrid in New York City and, after being recognized as

1-14  having the enviable ability to relate and adapt to all audiences, was

1-15  invited to move to Las Vegas and become a part of the show at the

1-16  Sahara; and

1-17      Whereas, Three years later, at the age of 23, Sonny joined

1-18  Jimmy Durante at the Desert Inn in a partnership that lasted an

1-19  incredible 28 years, with routines that never became stale because

1-20  Sonny and Jimmy genuinely enjoyed working with each other and

1-21  because the audience felt their love of showmanship and never grew

1-22  tired of watching the two of them have a good time on stage; and

2-1  Whereas, After being introduced to Frank Sinatra, Sonny

2-2  became a close friend of the “Rat Pack,” was affectionately

2-3  nicknamed the “Lounge Giant” by that group, who defined “cool”

2-4  during the early 1960s, and demonstrated his extensive talent by

2-5  writing many of the one-liners and jokes that Sinatra used on Dean

2-6  Martin when the two of them performed their act; and

2-7  Whereas, During the course of Sonny’s career, he has

2-8  headlined at the Sahara, Desert Inn, Sands, Dunes, Frontier and

2-9  Stardust in the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” and he has

2-10  probably performed with more stars than anyone in the

2-11  entertainment business, including Red Skelton, Dean Martin, Jerry

2-12  Lewis, Danny Thomas, Burt Bacharach, Joey Bishop, Shecky

2-13  Greene and many others; and

2-14      Whereas, This artist’s domain is certainly not limited to one

2-15  city, as he has performed at such prestigious establishments as the

2-16  Chez Paree and Palmer House in Chicago, Madison Square Garden

2-17  in New York and the Diplomat in Miami; and

2-18      Whereas, Also internationally acclaimed, Sonny King has

2-19  starred at the Palladium Theater in London and the La Scala Opera

2-20  House in Milan, has headlined in Scotland, Ireland and Greece, and

2-21  has even given a command performance at Windsor Castle; and

2-22      Whereas, Not limited to live performances, Sonny King has

2-23  entertained millions through the media of television and motion

2-24  pictures, with 21 appearances on the Merv Griffin Show as well as

2-25  special guest appearances on the shows of Mike Douglas, Johnny

2-26  Carson and Ed Sullivan and roles in four movies, including the

2-27  original Ocean’s 11 and Robin and the Seven Hoods; and

2-28      Whereas, In addition to the continuous adoration and respect

2-29  from his audiences, Sonny has received awards such as induction

2-30  into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame at the Tropicana and the

2-31  Lifetime Achievement Award of the Variety Club International; and

2-32      Whereas, Although one might think that after 6 decades filled

2-33  with such expense of energy and accomplishments Sonny King

2-34  would be ready to retire and “take it easy,” he still loves performing

2-35  and living his belief that “he was put on this earth to serve and

2-36  entertain the people and if he can get the man or woman in the

2-37  audience to forget their troubles for as long as he is on stage, then he

2-38  is serving his purpose on this earth”; now, therefore, be it

2-39      Resolved by the Senate of the State of Nevada, That the

2-40  members of the Senate of the 72nd Session of the Nevada

2-41  Legislature do hereby commend Sonny King for his lifetime

2-42  contribution as an entertainer in this state and throughout the world;

2-43  and be it further

2-44      Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Nevada hereby

2-45  honors Sonny King as a legend in his own time and appreciates that

3-1  he has unselfishly shared his talent to make the world a more

3-2  enjoyable place; and be it further

3-3  Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate prepare and

3-4  transmit a copy of this resolution to Sonny King.

 

3-5  H