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.
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Wayne Newton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,
above the blue and windy sea.
your golden sun will shine for me!
I left my heart in San Francisco.
High on a hill it calls to me
to be where little cable cars
climb halfway to the stars!
The morning fog may chill the air,
I don't care!
My love waits there in San Francisco,
above the blue and windy sea.
When I come home to you, San Francisco,
your golden sun will shine for me!
The legendary track, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," written by George Cory Jr. and Douglass Cross in 1954, became an iconic song representing the city of San Francisco. The lyrics of the song are saturated with sentimental feelings and a longing for a city that is adored by many. The song opens with the vivid image of a hill, which is a recognizable landmark of the city. The first line, "I left my heart in San Francisco," serves as a metaphor for the profound emotional attachment one has to the city.
The second line, "High on a hill it calls to me," highlights the city's hilly landscape, which is a prominent feature of San Francisco. The unusual transportation system, San Francisco's cable cars, is also mentioned in the song. The line "to be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars" refers to the romance associated with the city, as well as the cable cars ascending the steep hills, which adds to the city's charm.
The third stanza is where the song reaches its emotional climax, as Wayne Newton's voice is infused with passion while singing about his love waiting for him in San Francisco. The golden sun that shines for him, as well as the blue and windy sea, are all quintessential elements of the city, which lend themselves to the romanticism of the song. Overall, the song captures the essence of San Francisco, perhaps better than any other song could.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my heart in San Francisco.
I have an emotional attachment to San Francisco that I cannot ignore.
High on a hill it calls to me
The city of San Francisco is visually captivating as it sits atop steep hills.
to be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars!
The use of cable cars represents the unique charm and transport of San Francisco and symbolizes reaching for lofty goals.
The morning fog may chill the air, I don't care!
Despite the weather conditions in San Francisco, my affection for the city cannot be diminished.
My love waits there in San Francisco, above the blue and windy sea.
My significant other resides in San Francisco and my desire to be with them draws me to the city.
When I come home to you, San Francisco, your golden sun will shine for me!
My association with San Francisco is a source of happiness and positive energy, regardless of any adversity I may face.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Douglas Cross, George Cory
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind