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.
Shangri-La
Wayne Newton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each kiss is magic that makes my little world a Shangri-La
A land of bluebirds and fountains and nothing to do
But cling to an angel that looks like you
And when you hold me, how warm you are
Be mine, my darling, and spend your life with me in Shangri-La
For anywhere you are is Shangri-La
Each kiss is magic that makes my little world a Shangri-La
A land of bluebirds and fountains and nothing to do
But cling to an angel that looks like you
And when you hold me, how warm you are
Be mine, my darling, and spend your life with me in Shangri-La
For anywhere you are is Shangri-La
The lyrics to Wayne Newton's song Shangri-La express a feeling of pure bliss and happiness that is evoked every time the singer's lover kisses him. The lyrics describe the power of the kisses to transport the singer to a utopian land, referred to as Shangri-La, a mythical paradise featured in James Hilton's novel "Lost Horizon." The kisses are not ordinary but rather magical, as they transform the singer's world into a place filled with bluebirds and fountains where time stands still, and there is nothing to do except to be with the person he loves, who is described as an angel.
The singer expresses his desire to spend his life with his beloved in Shangri-La, suggesting that being with his lover is equivalent to being in a magical paradise. The lyric "For anywhere you are is Shangri-La" reinforces this idea that being with his beloved is all he needs to be happy. The lyrics are simple yet beautiful, conveying the feeling of being in love so powerful that it can take one to a state of blissful joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Your kisses take me to Shangri-La
Your kisses make me feel like I've been transported to a paradise called Shangri-La.
Each kiss is magic that makes my little world a Shangri-La
Every kiss from you is like magic that transforms my ordinary world into a heavenly Shangri-La.
A land of bluebirds and fountains and nothing to do
Shangri-La is a place of beauty with bluebirds and fountains, where you never get bored.
But cling to an angel that looks like you
In Shangri-La, I'd hold on tight to an angel who looks as wonderful as you do.
And when you hold me, how warm you are
When you hold me, I feel your warmth and it makes me feel happy and content.
Be mine, my darling, and spend your life with me in Shangri-La
Please be mine, my love, and spend your entire life with me in our paradise called Shangri-La.
For anywhere you are is Shangri-La
As long as I'm with you, any place can feel like the magical Shangri-La that I dream of.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WALTER WIDEMAIR, HANS GREINER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@makthnife
great stuff!!! Wayne did this in one take and was produced by none other than the late great Bobby Darin. Thx for posting!!
@isabellaannerose123
one of my favorite songs that he sings :) listen to at 0.75 and it is almost like a new song!
@Funkamongstus
You'll be wanting a cd of "Wild, Cool, and Swingin'". The ultimate compilation of early Wayne Newton, digitally remastered. You'll hear this song, and many more equally impressive tracks.
@StephenHarpersNutsak
Anyone have any clue what album this is originally from? Or, more to the point, where can I get other Newton songs with similar arrangements/styles?
@christiandigennaro9436
Everywhere you are is shangri la.....