Internationally-known entertainer Wayne Newton waved to the crowd, posed for pictures and signed autographs Saturday in South Charleston as the special guest in the annual Armed Forces Parade.
Newton waived his $85,000 appearance fee for the quick trip in and out of the Kanawha Valley. He agreed to come to the parade following several invitations from South Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Bob Anderson.
Newton and his wife rode in a convertible down the parade route on D Street in South Charleston stopping for pictures along the way. The couple then joined South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, state Adjutant General Jim Hoyer, House of Delegates Finance Committee Chairman Harry Keith White and others on the reviewing stand.
Several times during the hour-long parade Newton left his seat to meet with fans looking at him from the other side of a smart phone. He gave out lots of hugs too.
The Charleston-based Masters law firm provided the jet service to and from Las Vegas. Newton had a performance scheduled in Las Vegas Saturday night.