LAS VEGAS (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Richard Sturm, President and COO of MGM Grand Entertainment and Sports Inc., and entertainer and singer Wayne Newton will be honored with Casino Entertainment Legends awards at the Casino Entertainment Awards at G2E on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014, in Vinyl at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Presented by the Global Gaming Expo the Casino Entertainment Awards at G2E are intended to recognize executives, artists and venues within the casino entertainment industry. The Casino Entertainment Legend award recognizes individuals for outstanding lifetime career achievement in casino entertainment.
With more than 40 years experience negotiating and developing MGM Grand’s highest profile entertainment projects, Richard Sturm has overseen entertainment and sports at all MGM properties worldwide since 1999. He has brought to MGM properties such stars as Aerosmith, Backstreet Boys, Jimmy Buffet, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Neil Diamond, Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Elton John, N'Sync, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Barbara Streisand and The Who. He also has arranged numerous television broadcasts from MGM Grand, including HBO's Cher concert, the Billboard Music Awards show, a rare U.S. appearance of The Bee Gees and a Bette Midler special.
Known as “Mr. Las Vegas,” Wayne Newton is recognized worldwide for his signature song, “Danke Schoen,” plus many hit singles, including “Daddy, Don’t You Walk So,” “Red Roses For A Blue Lady” and “Years.” Originally signed in 1958 by the Fremont Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for a two-week engagement, his fist casino appearance lasted for 46 weeks. After numerous appearances on Jackie Gleason’s TV show and five years as an opening act for Jack Benny, Wayne Newton became a Vegas headliner in 1963 breaking box office records at The Flamingo Hilton. By 1994, he had performed 25,000 shows in Las Vegas. He has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, has recorded and released 165 albums, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has been honored with numerous awards, including induction in 2000 into the American Gaming Association’s “Gaming Hall of Fame.”
Casino Entertainment Awards also will be presented to the Independent Casino Talent Buyer of the Year, Booking Agent of the Year, Showroom/Theater of the Year, Arena/Amphitheater of the Year, Entertainment Executive of the Year, Comedian of the Year, Musical Artist of the Year and Casino Entertainer of the Year.
The Casino Entertainment Awards are part of the annual Global Gaming Expo, which is now in its 14th year. This year's G2E, to be held from Sep. 29 – Oct. 2, 2014, at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Sands Expo and Convention Center is expected to attract more than 26,000 attendees.
More information and online registration is available at GlobalGamingExpo.com. – Staff Writers
