Casino SIDEMEN

Reno Showroom Musicians of the 1950s-1990s

By  Patricia Crane, Arcadia Publishing by arrangement with Fonthill Media LLC

Reviewed By  Craig MacDonald

Sammy Davis Jr., The Smothers Brothers, Lawrence Welk, Frank Sinatra, Liberace, Rowan & Martin, Bill Cosby, Rich Little, Wayne Newton, Jack Benny, Liza Minnelli, Dolly Parton, Don Rickles.

All these entertainers gained fame performing in California (on TV Shows and at clubs and concert venues) as well as in the Sierra at Lake Tahoe & Reno. But what were they really like? You may have loved their music and shows but were they really who you thought they were?

These questions are answered by those who knew them best—showroom musicians—in this stunning new book by longtime Reno music teacher and musician, Patricia Crane, who gives you the "inside scoop."

You may be shocked or at least surprised by this comprehensive work, which involved years of research and interviews with musicians, conductors, showroom owners, audience members and even the stars themselves.

The violinist, who provided music for some of the stars, has done a phenomenal job in also explaining stage settings, town atmospheres, the highs and lows of being a musician, the union and much more in such legendary places as the popular showrooms at Harrah's Lake Tahoe and Reno, the Sahara Tahoe, The Nugget and MGM Grand. She even explains the rise and fall of the big shows from the 1950s through the 1990s.

Some of the tidbits learned, include:

—Sammy Davis Jr. was one of the nicest big-time performers who appreciated the dedicated, hard-working showroom musicians by hosting dinners in their honor at Harrah's Steakhouse. Crew parties were also thrown by grateful Debbie Reynolds, Carol Burnett, Liberace, Petula Clark, Andy Griffith and Jim Nabors.

—Sarcastic Comedian Don Rickles made it a point to learn the names of all the band members, wherever he performed. He even once led a Prayer Session for one of the musician's mothers, who was having surgery.

—Dolly Parton stood backstage after the final show and shook the hand of every musician and thanked them for their superb performances.

—Roy Clark once sent his entire show music to a hotel before his arrival but it was lost. So the band improvised music with him at a rehearsal and the show later went on flawlessly.

—Suzanne Somers relied on "plants" in the audience as props to set up jokes in her show.

—The showroom musicians had great respect for entertainers who were able to assess each show audience to personalize their music, comments and jokes. The best at this were Sammy Davis, Jr., Jack Benny, Dionne Warwick and Tony Bennett.

—Glen Campbell was thought by many to be the best musician; Dolly Parton, the best with vocal finesse; Sammy Davis Jr. the best overall entertainer; country stars had the most accomplished core musicians, such as Loretta Lynn's phenomenal fiddler, Zeke Dawson.

—Bill Cosby, one of the best and funniest acts ever, was very difficult to work with, the author writes.

At its peak, Reno casinos supported 11 house bands and 3 relief bands. Many of the musicians came from California (and elsewhere) with very impressive resumes. Trombonist Joe Cadena played with Harry James, Trombonist Phil Jerome with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Saxman Dave Matthews with Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. Some of the huge headliners started out as Lounge Acts, such as Duke Ellington, Harry James and Count Basie.

Superb show musicians and headliners were hired to attract people to resort hotels to spend money, gamble and create a buzz that would bring others there from around the world. This formula was successful for years until music tastes and lifestyles changed; stars started wanting too much money; some died and corporate "bean counters" took over for the mainly family-run businesses.

Bill Harrah was the king of resort owners, who attracted top entertainers to the Sierra by making them feel like royalty. Headliners stayed at his Lake Tahoe & Reno homes—with swimming pools, tennis courts, food prepared 24 hours a day, boats, luxury cars and even a private plane. When families ran the resort hotels, like Harrah's, Harold's Club and the Nugget in Sparks, there was a "hands on" approach and a capability for immediate business decisions by an on-site owner. But this usually changed, when corporations took over.

The author's research shows the musicians often got their jobs by word-of-mouth. They were a tight-knit group that had nicknames. Some called the string performers, "mice," to mimic the high-pitched squeaks of the violins. "Even though we called them 'mice,' there was never a lack of respect," said Ed Bevil. "We always knew the string performers were going to be good. They were the best around."

Once during a show, the electricity went out but one musician kept playing in total darkness—without missing a key—until lights finally came back on!

These dedicated musicians would play shows into the early hours, six days a week. The multi-talented folks would play even more to impress their peers.

After shows, some "mice" would stay on the stage for chamber orchestra concerts. Then the non-strings would play jazz from the 1920s, 30s and 40s.

The showroom musicians learned much from Conductors, like the accomplished Leighton Noble, George Hernandez, John Carleton, Brian Farnan and also from Guest Conductors, like the one who worked with George Shearing and was blind like his celebrity boss.

The book also has some surprises—like the time a chimp was riding a trike on stage and spotted a woman eating a baked potato. He rode over and grabbed it & sped off or when Neil Sedaka sang to a woman in the audience, who smiled before dropping dead.

"Casino Sidemen" is one of the most revealing, musician documentaries ever written. There's literally something for everyone inside. It captures a very important part of Americana.

(The reviewer, who sang once with The Lawrence Welk Orchestra, is very grateful for seeing many of these incredible showroom musicians, headliners and conductors perform.)