Wayne's severe asthma forced the family to move to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1952. In the spring of 1958, toward the end of Wayne's junior year in high school, a Las Vegas booking agent saw a local TV show on which the two Newton brothers were performing and took them back with him for an audition. Originally signed for two weeks, the two brothers eventually performed for five years, doing six shows a day.
Newton achieved nationwide recognition on September 29, 1962, when he and his brother performed on The Jackie Gleason Show. He would perform on Gleason's show 12 times over the following two years.
Many other entertainment icons such as Lucille Ball, Bobby Darin, Danny Thomas, George Burns, and Jack Benny lent Newton their support. In particular, Benny hired Newton as an opening act for his show.
After his job with Benny ended, Newton was offered a job to open for another comic at the Flamingo Hotel, but Newton asked for, and was given, a headline act.
In 1999, Newton signed a 10-year deal with the Stardust, calling for him to perform there 40 weeks out of the year for six shows a week in a showroom named after him. In 2005, in preparation for the eventual demolition of the casino, the deal was, from all reports, amicably terminated; Newton began a 30-show stint that summer at the Hilton. His last show at the Stardust was on April 20, 2005. During a break in his on stage performance, he announced to the crowd that night he wanted to spend more time with his wife and new daughter as the main reasonings for cancelling the contract. Newton said the Boyd family made him a very nice offer to stay on past the demolition of the hotel and casino and to play in other Boyd venues, but Newton declined citing "another deal in the works for Vegas", but he did not mention the Hilton specifically. News crews were expecting this performance to end on time, to make their 10 pm and 11 pm shows, but the show finally ended around 11:30 pm, thus eliminating the possibility. Mr. Las Vegas went on at 7:30 that night, and sang nearly his entire repertoire and songs of other Vegas mainstays as well.
In 2001, Newton succeeded Bob Hope as “Chairman of the USO Celebrity Circle.” In January 2005, Newton started a reality television show on E! called The Entertainer. The winner got a spot in his act, plus a headlining act of their own for a year. And recently during player introductions at the 2007 NBA All-Star Weekend in Las Vegas, Newton sang Elvis Presley's "Viva Las Vegas."
In 2008, Newton received a Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service. The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a national memorial to President Wilson, commemorates "the ideals and concerns of Woodrow Wilson." The award honors leaders who have given back to their communities.rs, earning him the nickname Mr. Las Vegas.
But Not for Me
Wayne Newton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A lucky star's above, but not for me
With love to lead the way
I found more clouds are gray
Than any rainy day, could guarantee
I was a fool to fall, and get that way
I should have known the price, I'd have to pay
The memory of her kiss
I guess she's not, for me
The lyrics to Wayne Newton's song "But Not For Me" reflect the sad realization of the singer that he is not the recipient of love songs or a lucky star. He confesses to having fallen foolishly in love with someone, but despite the memory of her kiss, he acknowledges that she is not for him. The imagery of gray clouds and rainy days reinforces the singer's despair and sense of hopelessness.
The song's message is a relatable one, as many people have experienced the pain of unrequited love or the feeling of being left out or overlooked. The somber tone of the lyrics is amplified by Newton's smooth and melancholic voice. The power of the lyrics lies in their ability to evoke a visceral emotional response from the listener, tugging at the heartstrings and provoking thoughts of lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
They're writing songs of love, but not for me
Although many people write songs of love, none of them are for me.
A lucky star's above, but not for me
While others may have good fortune, I am not so lucky.
With love to lead the way
When I had love, I thought it would guide me through life.
I found more clouds are gray
In reality, I realized that there are more troubles and challenges than good things in life.
Than any rainy day, could guarantee
Even on the worst days, there is no guarantee that things will improve.
I was a fool to fall, and get that way
I made a mistake by falling in love and becoming so attached to someone.
I should have known the price, I'd have to pay
I should have been aware of the consequences of my actions and the price I would ultimately have to pay.
Although I can't dismiss
Even though I cannot ignore
The memory of her kiss
The memory of the physical affection we shared.
I guess she's not, for me
I have come to accept that she is not meant to be with me.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind