UNLV will induct legendary entertainer Robert Goulet (posthumously), entertainer Clint Holmes, architect Tony Marnell, Nevada Dance Theatre (later named Nevada Ballet Theatre) co-founder Vassili Sulich, and award-winning, multi-platinum recording group The Killers, into the 6th Annual Nevada Entertainer/Artist Hall of Fame at UNLV during an award ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 18 in Artemus Ham Concert Hall.
"It is truly our honor to recognize these amazing people for their talent, hard work, and dedication to Southern Nevada," said Jeffrey Koep, Dean of the College of Fine Arts. "They are all giants in their industries and we are a better community for what they continually give back. We are so very pleased they have chosen to accept this award."
Robert Goulet's vocal talents illuminated every medium of the entertainment world. A Grammy, Tony and Emmy Award-winner, this legendary artist's illustrious career spanned more than six decades. Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he was the only son of French-Canadian parents. Goulet began singing at family gatherings at the age of five.
In 1960, Goulet took Broadway by storm when he originated the role of Sir Lancelot in Camelot (also starred Richard Burton and Julie Andrews). This debut launched an award-winning stage, screen and recording career that included appearances in a score of television productions and numerous film credits. His stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Canadian Walk of Fame are among the many awards and accolades he received during his career. But, starring in more than 40 theatrical productions, the theatre was Goulet's first love.
In 1982, he married Vera Chochorovska Novak and they made Las Vegas their home. Goulet was actively involved in the Las Vegas community as well as many other charitable causes worldwide. A cancer survivor, he was a spokesman for the American Cancer Society and periodically gave lectures on Cancer Awareness, Prevention and Early Detection.
While awaiting a lung transplant, the big-voiced baritone died from pulmonary fibrosis on October 30, 2007 at age 73. Marquees of Broadway theatres, and theatres in cities across North America, were dimmed in his memory on Wednesday, October 31 at exactly 8 p.m. for one minute. On Friday, November 9, the day of his funeral, Las Vegas honored the late singer and actor in an unprecedented tribute by closing the Las Vegas Strip for his funeral procession. As he took his last ride down the Strip, every Las Vegas hotel-casino featured his name on their marquees.
Clint Holmes is more than a singer. Like a painter with a blank canvas, he makes every performance an original. When he is on stage, anything can happen. And it usually does.
Born in England, he is the son of an African-American jazz musician and a British opera singer. When he was eight, his mother began teaching him classic vocal techniques at home, while his dad showed him how to scat-sing in the jazz clubs. Holmes admits it was the best of two musical worlds claiming his mom taught him how to sing correctly and his dad taught him how to enjoy it.
Holmes' first break came as announcer on The Late Show with Joan Rivers, followed by a two year stint on Entertainment Tonight and host of the Emmy-winning talk/variety show New York at Night. He has made numerous TV appearances and had a Top Ten smash hit, Playground In My Mind (My Name Is Michael).
Named Atlantic City's Entertainer of the Year three times, he starred in Clint Holmes' Sophisticated Rhythms, a dynamic stage show journey through music of the 1940s through the present. In 1996, Holmes' show Comfortable Shoes opened in New Jersey, and in 2002 a new and updated version of the show opened to rave reviews in Chicago.
Holmes recently starred for six years in Clint Holmes at Harrah's and was Harrah's "Entertainer of Choice for the Millenium." In 2002, Harrah's named their main showroom the Clint Holmes Theater, a rare honor received only by a handful of entertainers in Las Vegas history, and a first for an African-American performer. Clint Holmes was also heralded "Best Singer" (2002) by the readers of Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Tony A. Marnell II was born in Riverside, CA to Anthony and Marie Marnell, both first generation Italian-Americans. His family moved to Las Vegas in 1952 where he attended public schools and graduated from Rancho High School. Upon earning a degree in Architecture from the University of Southern California, Marnell moved back to Las Vegas where he married and had two children.
In 1974, Marnell joined Corrao Construction Co. as General Manager. Soon after, Marnell Corrao Associates was formed becoming Nevada's first and only design-build company specializing in hotel/casino projects. In 1982, Marnell became the Chairman/Owner of the company, and for the past 30 years has been involved in over $6 billion of construction work building/remodeling over 70,000 guest rooms for companies such as MGM/Mirage, Harrah's Entertainment, Caesars Palace, the Boyd Group and Wynn Resorts.
Marnell has worked with many of Las Vegas' gaming entrepreneurs and imagineers and projects have included volcanoes, parades in the air, Omnimax theaters, riverboats on the Colorado River, the transformation of a Howard Johnson's to a Caesars Palace in Atlantic City, and simultaneously building the two largest hotels in America, the Mirage and the Excalibur. Recent projects are the Bellagio Resort and Wynn Las Vegas, and currently Marnell Corrao Associates is constructing what promises to be the preeminent luxury hotel in Las Vegas, The M Resort.
Marnell is very active in the community as a Trustee Emeritus on the Foundation Board of UNLV, a member of Duck's Unlimited, on the USC Board of Councilors, and on the Board of Directors of The National Italian American Foundation. He also serves on several children's community advisory boards and is active in conservation groups committed to the great outdoors.
Vassili Sulich, born on the island of Brac, began improvising performances at an early age. As a refugee in Egypt during World War II, he joined a Yugoslav children's theatre receiving his early classical training in the Zagreb Opera Ballet.
After studying in London for a year, Sulich moved to Paris in 1953 to become a member of Ballet de France de Janine Charrat. During his 11 years in Paris he partnered with such famous ballerinas as Ludmilla Tcherina, Zizi Jeanmarie and Colette Marchand. He began his choreographic career with Suite Lyrique, The Wall, and Oedipus Rex.
Sulich came to Broadway in 1964 as principal dancer with Folies Bergere and was later offered a three-month contract by the producer of Folies Bergere at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, where he stayed for nine years. It was here he held classes for classically trained dancers who appeared in other shows on the Las Vegas Strip. At this same time he started teaching classical ballet at UNLV.
In 1972, Sulich organized a free ballet performance with volunteer dancers that turned out to be the inaugural performance of the Nevada Dance Theatre. Sulich co-founded the Nevada Dance Theatre (later renamed Nevada Ballet Theatre) with Nancy Houssels.
Since co-founding the Nevada Dance Theatre, Sulich has created 51 ballets and for the NDT's 15th anniversary season, he created two new ballets, Walls in the Horizon and a full-length production of Cinderella. He also conceived and directed a total theater production of Oedipus the King, combining dance and drama. Sulich retired from the Nevada Dance Theatre in 1997.
Sulich now lives in Rio de Janeiro and is currently staging choreography for Teatro Municipal and company Joven. He is also an accomplished artist, a published poet and has written his autobiography Vision in the Desert.
The Killers, an alternative rock band from Las Vegas, combine music styles from the 70s, 80s and 90s with modern synthetic music. Formed in 2002, band members include Brandon Flowers (vocals, keyboards), Dave Keuning (guitar, vocals), Mark Stoermer (bass guitar, vocals) and Ronnie Vannucci Jr. (drums, percussion).
Initially, The Killers played at large clubs in Las Vegas and attracted the attention of local agents, major labels, and a UK representative for Warner Bros. who showed their demo to a friend at UK indie label Lizard King. The Killers were signed that summer to a British label.
In 2004, the band's debut album Hot Fuss was classified 4x Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Their second album, Sam's Town, was released in 2006 and the single When You Were Young went to #2 on the UK Singles Chart. Their third album Sawdust was released in 2007 and has been classified Gold by the BPI. Their first two albums have sold in excess of 12 million copies worldwide.
Since their debut album in 2004, The Killers have received 50 award nominations including seven Grammy Awards and have won the MTV VIDEO Music Award for Best New Artist In A Video, National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) Award for Pop/Rock Breakout Artist of the Year, ShockWaves New Musical Express (NME) Award for Best International Band and the World Music Award for Worlds Best Selling New Group (2005); the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Rock (2006); two Brit Awards, one for Best International Group and one for Best International Album (2007); and the NME Award USA for Best American Alternative/Independent Track and the ShockWaves NME Award for Best International Band (2008).
The Nevada Entertainer/Artist Hall of Fame at UNLV was founded to honor past and present residents of Southern Nevada who have made a significant impact on the arts, including visual and performing arts and architecture. The recipient is given The Sidney Award, named for Academy Award-winning director and Las Vegas resident George Sidney who was posthumously inducted into the inaugural Nevada Entertainer/Artist Hall of Fame at UNLV. Sidney directed such great films as "Anchors Aweigh," "Show Boat," "Kiss Me Kate," "Viva Las Vegas," and "Annie Get Your Gun."
Tickets to the Nevada Entertainer/Artist Hall of Fame at UNLV award ceremony are free and open to the public. The VIP reception following the ceremony is by invitation only. Invitations may be requested by calling 895-2455.
