A big slice

of Las Vegas comes to Peachtree City this weekend when Wayne Newton, known

as Mr. Las Vegas, performs at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater Friday

and Saturday.

Like most of

the successful acts in music who have played the amphitheater, Newton

got his start at a very early age. By the age of six he had performed

before President Harry S. Truman and was performing with a Grand Ole Opry

road show. He also earned to play piano, guitar and slide guitar by ear

while still a youngster and over the ears added 10 more instruments to

his repertoire. Learning other instruments was important at that time

because he was performing six shows a day in Las Vegas with his brother

and he needed time during each show to rest his voice.

Newton has

never been intimidated by fame or success and has appeared comfortable

in nearly every medium. He appeared on both Jackie Gleason and Lucille

Ball's television programs and also opened for seasoned professionals

like Jack Benny. His appearances on television also included guest spots

on "Bonanza" as well as programs like "Roseanne,"

"L.A. Law," "Ally McBeal," the mini-series "North

and South: Book II," and "Tales from the Crypt." He has

also appeared on the silver screen in films such as "Lic ense

to Kill," "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane," and "Vegas

Vacation."

While Newton

has enjoyed his "second career" as an actor, it is his role

as the consummate entertainer that has brought him the most recognition.

He has recorded 157 albums and has recorded such hits as "Heart,"

"Danke Schoen," "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife,"

"She Believes in Me," and the number-one hit "Daddy, Don't

You Walk So Fast." Newton has even taken his act overseas and entertained

troops in Vietnam, Lebanon and the Persian Gulf. He just recently returned

from a trip to the Middle East, performing for troops in Kuwait, Qatar,

Korea and Iraq.

While he is

comfortable before any crowd, anywhere, Vegas is his home. He performed

his 25,000th show in Las Vegas in 1994 and signed a contract with the

Stardust Resort and Casino to perform 40 weeks a year, six shows a week

in the Wayne Newton Theater. His biggest concert was for 350,000 in Washington,

D.C., outside of the Washington Monument at the request of President Ronald

Reagan. Over the years he has performed for 30 million people.

Newton's popularity

and work with charities, civic organizations and military organizations

has also helped him earn a number of awards and special recognition. He

has been knighted as Sir Wayne Newton, has been named an Honorary Green

Beret, was awarded a medal of Distinguished Public Service, was presented

with an American Legend Award, along with Senator John Glenn and Chief

Justice William Rehnquist, and also was awarded the American legion's

Exceptional Citizen Award.

Those attending

this weekend's shows can expect an amazing performance from one of the

hardest working men in show business. In the past week, Newton has performed

in five states as well as Windsor, Ontario. There are also a handful of

individual seats available for each night for $45 each. Comedian Jerry

Farber will open the show at 8 p.m. Phone 770-631-0630 for more information.

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