Mr. Las Vegas set for South Charleston visit

Mr. Las Vegas will become Mr. South Charleston at least for a few hours Saturday.

Internationally-known entertainer Wayne Newton is set to be the special guest at the 54th Armed Forces Day Parade.

South Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Bob Anderson said he saw Newton perform in Charleston three years ago and then began writing him.

“He talked about coming to West Virginia as a little boy, to Beckley, and I wrote him for three years and said ‘Country Roads Take Me Home’ and he agreed to come,” Anderson said Thursday on MetroNews “Talkline.”

Newton waived his $85,000 personal appearance fee and the Charleston-based Masters law firm will charter him to and from Las Vegas.

Anderson said Newton has a good relationship with veterans.

“He’s been going around the country, like Bob Hope, and entertaining the troops,” Anderson said.

As special guest, Newton will sit at a reviewing stand at the end of the parade route. He will not be singing but Anderson says that doesn’t seem to make much difference to his fans.

“You would think that I was bringing in Elvis Presley,” Anderson said. “I mean, people calling from Florida, all over this part of the country, people are coming to see him.”

Anderson said the City of South Charleston has added extra security for the parade.

It will be a quick trip for the 71-year-old Newton.

“He’ll arrive in here late (Friday) night and then after the parade he gets in the limousine goes back to the airport and flies to Las Vegas and then he sings that night in Las Vegas,” Anderson said.





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