by Jackie Brett Send Me E-mail

Celebrating 30 years of music-making success, Lynyrd Skynyrd will rock the Aladdin with a special performance on July 10. Tickets range from $36.85 to $68.35, call 702-785-5000.

In high school, the group began in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1964. After performing under a variety of monikers, the group settled on Lynyrd Skynyrd, named after "Leonard Skinner," an uptight gym teacher. The group's first touring job was opening for Strawberry Alarm Clock.

In 1971, Lynyrd Skynyrd released their debut LP and they soon followed with the single "Sweet Home Alabama." More hits followed until tragically at the peak of their career, the group suffered a terrible loss. On Oct. 20, 1977, three days after "Street Survivors" was released and instantly went gold, the band's private plane crashed in rural Mississippi, killing and gravely wounding some of the members.

After going their separate ways, the group reunited and in 1990, they signed with Atlantic and began making hit albums again. Just last year, Lynyrd Skynyrd sold 1.3 million albums.

The Tropicana will open its Swim-Up Blackjack, located in the indoor section of the main pool, on Friday, May 28. The seasonal aquatic card game area includes two separate blackjack tables that can accommodate up to seven players each. Players can dive into the card game from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. Bets from $5-$25 a hand are accepted. For convenience, towels are on-hand to keep the players' hands and chips dry.

Winners were recently announced for the 2004 James Beard Foundation Awards and two of the more than 60 awards given were from Las Vegas. The awards, now in their 14th year, recognize excellence and achievement in the culinary profession. This is the first time a Las Vegas restaurant has won national-level awards from the foundation.

Bradley Ogden won for Best New Restaurant - a restaurant that opened in 2003 and already displays excellence in food, beverage and service, and is likely to make a significant impact in years to come. Chef and owner Bradley Ogden opened his restaurant at Caesars Palace with an entrance facing Celine Dion's Colosseum showroom.

Chef Luciano Pellegrini won Best Chef Southwest. He oversees Valentino at The Venetian. The American Express Best Chefs In America - recognizes chefs who have set new or consistent standards of excellence in their respective regions. Chefs may be from any kind of dining establishment and must have been a working chef for the last five years. The three most recent years must have been spent in the region where the chef is presently working.

Move over Danny Gans, another singing impressionist who has been a hit in Reno and Atlantic City is moving onto the Las Vegas entertainment scene. Gordie Brown will open at the Golden Nugget downtown on May 29 with 7:30 p.m. shows. Brown's personal manager is now Bernie Yuman who has been Siegfried and Roy's longtime manager.

In a daring move to make room for Brown, "Spirit of the Dance" will move into an early evening time shot at 5:30 p.m.

Elton John has added 15 dates between Oct. 12-31, to his sold-out series of shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. He'll return to his Vegas gig from July 23-Aug. 8.

International tribute artist Paula Randell will begin a limited engagement in the Le Bistro Theater at the Riviera on May 27 that will run through July 3. Randell will pay vocal and visual tributes to two dynamite divas, Cher and Tina Turner at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

"Jeff Hobson's Money and Madness Show" at the Excalibur will close on May 30. Remember this is a one-man show where the star gives away money to audience members.

The Imperial Palace's signature celebrity tribute spectacular, Legends In Concert," not only changes the line-up of celebrity impersonations throughout the year, but it will be moving the show time up 30 minutes to 7 and 10 p.m. on Monday, May 24.

Master magician and illusionist David Copperfield will return to the MGM Grand1s intimate 740-seat Hollywood Theatre with his latest stage production, June 3 - 16, and July 8 - 21. Tickets for the evening performances are $97 inclusive and the Saturday 3 p.m. matinees are $79.90 inclusive, call 800-929-1111 or 702- 891-7777.

The Golden Nugget will be hosting "The Vegas Show," when it starts up again on June 14 with singing stars Sheena Easton and Harrah's headliner Clint Holmes. The show started on local cable and is moving to Channel 5 next month. Free tickets will be distributed for three show tapings every week.

The Second City comedy troupe at the Flamingo will be adding two extra weekly performances at 10:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Sundays beginning May 30. The new shows will be called "Second City Unscripted" and they will offer a whole show of improvisation games without any scripted sketches.

Effective June 19, comedienne Rita Rudner will have two tiers of ticket prices. Tickets will be $56.90 and $63.50 for center seating in the first eight rows.

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