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Olivia Newton-John gained world fame singing about “Xanadu,” however she additionally captivated audiences for many years in Las Vegas. The headliner and film star handed away this week at 73 after battling most cancers.
Whereas Newton-John is lengthy remembered for films like Grease and Xanadu, she was additionally a staple in Las Vegas for a few years. In July 1974, she opened for nation music singer Charlie Wealthy on the Las Vegas Hilton.
She continued to carry out at a number of Vegas inns and casinos. Beginning in 2014, Summer season Knights, her two-and-a-half-year residency, was carried out on the Donny & Marie Showroom on the Flamingo Las Vegas.
She additionally appeared with such Las Vegas stars as Don Rickles and The Smothers Brothers.
Huge Display Star
In fact, the singer, actress and dancer additionally captured worldwide consideration for her co-starring function within the film Grease, primarily based on the profitable Broadway musical. The family-friendly traditional continues to attract in viewers.
Olivia Newton-John’s iconic function within the movie Grease cemented her place in American music historical past,” John Freyermuth, a visiting assistant professor at Clark College in Massachusetts, advised On line casino.org. “Her efficiency as Sandy impressed a era of musicians.”
The film capitalized on her “fairly woman, next-door attraction,” College of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Jeff Smith added to On line casino.org. “The truth is, it’s arduous to think about another singer of that point becoming the function of Sandy in addition to Newton-John does,” Smith mentioned.
Smith defined why the movie has remained widespread for many years.
“Dad and mom play it for his or her children, who then play it for his or her children, and so forth. A form of circle of life state of affairs that only a few movies from the Nineteen Seventies at the moment take pleasure in,” Smith mentioned.
Her movie, Xanadu, has additionally remained a cult traditional. The soundtrack for the movie went double platinum, in keeping with Janis L. McKay, vice dean at UNLV’s Faculty of Wonderful Arts. It featured Newton-John with the Electrical Mild Orchestra on the title observe.
Tender Rock, Candy Voice
Newton-John was additionally a famend singer. She received three Grammy Awards for songs throughout her profession. One video additionally received a Grammy. She had 5 number-one hits and 10 hits on the Billboard Sizzling 100. Her music fashion has been described as country-pop, rock-pop and disco-pop.
McKay famous that she debuted as an “early star within the smooth rock style, who simply crossed over into pop music.”
“She specialised in a hybrid of soft-rock and nation music that led to hits within the early seventies, similar to “Let Me Be There,” “I Truthfully Love You,” “If You Love Me (Let Me Know),” and “Have You By no means Been Mellow,” Smith added.
She advised greater than 36 million data, making her one of many top-selling feminine artists of her era, in keeping with Smith.
Entrepreneur, Advocate
Newton-John was additionally an entrepreneur and activist. Within the early Eighties, Newton-John based Koala Blue. It’s a retailer specializing in Australian imports. It advanced into a series of clothes boutiques and finally turned a reputation model for Australian wines and a line of mattress, tub, and wonder merchandise, Smith recalled.
As well as, Newton-John used her celeb to advocate for environmental causes and animal rights. She additionally turned an advocate for breast most cancers consciousness.
Donny Osmond Recollects Friendship
Las Vegas headliners Donny and Marie Osmond had been amongst her shut associates. In 2016, Newton-John was named the Nevada Ballet Theatre’s Girl of the Yr. Marie Osmond launched her on the Wynn Las Vegas occasion.
Singing with Olivia was one of many best moments for me throughout The Donny and Marie Present,” Donny Osmond recollected on Twitter this week.
“I can solely think about how great heaven is, now that this lovely angel is there. My pricey good friend, Olivia, I Love You. I Truthfully Love You.”