Best in Las Vegas-SHOW REVIEWS

“Enjoy the Greatest Hits of the 50’s and 60’s”

By Sandy Zimmerman

(Photos by Sandy Zimmerman)

I reviewed a wonderful show called “Only You”. Most people recognize the name of the Platter’s hit song. “Only You” which says everything that is in your heart with so much feeling and emotion. After appearing 40 years with the Platters, Derek David is the perfect person to produce and star in this show. Turn back the hands of time as Derek and his group sing the hits we love so well from the 50’s and 60’s. And he created a great mix of songs.

I had a chance to interview Derek after their performance. “Why do people love these songs so much, they were from another time?”

Derek answered, “It is all about romance. The songs are from a lost era. When you stop to think about all of the problems we have today, it is the true feelings in their hits because everybody wants to go back to the era of good music and good feelings.”

The cast not only sang the Platter’s hits, “The Great Pretender”, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”, “My Prayer”, and “Only You”, but also the hits of some other groups of the times and even Frank Sinatra because he was a major voice in the great American songbook.

I must mention Derek’s stand- out performance singing and playing the piano as Liberace. When I first began reviewing shows in Las Vegas, in 1978, Liberace frequently appeared at the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. Derek’s piano reminded me of the jeweled piano Liberace had at his Tivoli Garden’s Restaurant. Although Liberace made his entrance flying above the stage, Derek walked in for his tribute.

During the show, I liked the way Derek introduced each song with comments allowing us to learn about the celeb and a little bit about the song. That added more than just hearing the song.

Derek felt, “I tried to make people aware about what was happening with the person and the song before we sang them. The audience said WOW, we did not know that!” It is more interesting to give depth to the songs.

He commented about all of his years with the Platters, “We took a lot of air plane flights and added up a million frequent flyer miles. It was great! I met so many people from Chuck Berry to Bill Clinton.” For the past eight years, Derek appeared with the Platters at the Sahara Hotel.

In the 80’s and the early part of the 90’s, most of the shows included dinner but today “Only You” is one of the few dinner shows available.

The cast of “Only You” includes Derek David of the Platters, Rheda K. Sol of the Marvelettes, Arnold Parker of the Platters, Terrance Forsythe, Donald Pinkney and pianist Paul Badia.

The Platters were riding high in the 70’s and 80’s, besides loving the Platters music I had the chance to know their award winning songwriter Buck Ram and manager Jean Bennett. “Only You” appears Wednesday to Monday, at 6:30 pm, for the 3-course dinner and show or you can arrive for the 8 pm show only. Pick up the $20 discount off coupon for the 3-course dinner and show available at the restaurant. Indefinite engagement.

Executive Producer Baroness Rita Bliss designed the showroom and costumes for “Only You”. For information, call 204-5686. Hennessey’s Restaurant & Bar, at the entrance to the downtown Fremont Street Experience, where Las Vegas Boulevard meets Fremont Street. www.onlyushow.com

Sandy Zimmerman is a syndicated features columnist published in the United States and around the world;

Sandy is talk show host of the Las Vegas Today Show programs, Discover the Ultimate Vacation travel specials, and is celebrating 29 years as the longest running talk show host, columnist, and entertainment reviewer in Las Vegas.

She also covers dining reviews, travel, spas, health, and lifestyles; Sandyzimm2003@yahoo.co