Lovingly-rendered Salute Brings The Sibling Duo to Life…
I have no shame in admitting my passion for music of the seventies. The legendary rock groups, family bands and solo artists will be remembered long after today’s contemporary noise has disappeared. And very few artists represent the heart of that era better than Karen and Richard Carpenter.
Much like the Osmonds, the Carpenters wrapped us in their warm embrace. Known for their gentle nature. loving rapport, Karen’s flawless voice, and Richard’s instrumental wizardry, the clean-cut siblings felt very much like family.
Karen’s untimely death in 1983 still hurts, but her songs remain a part of our lives, especially during the holiday season. With her life cut prematurely short, fans never got the privilege of an expanded songbook or a Strip residency (Donny and Marie played at Flamingo for a full decade). Thankfully, the timeless music of The Carpenters is coming to Las Vegas in a new residency at Town Square.
CARPENTERS TRIBUTE CONCERT will debut at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country on May 11th. Slated to perform every Tuesday and Wednesday at 7pm, the new residency is an authentic recreation of the duo’s 1976 U.K. tour. Starring Sally Olson as “Karen” and Ned Mills as “Richard”, the comedy-spiced production promises spot-on performances of all the hits you know and love.
Vegas fans have enjoyed CARPENTERS TRIBUTE CONCERT for a number of years. The show has performed throughout the city, most recently at Chianti’s Restaurant and the ever-popular Italian American Club on East Sahara Avenue. During the pandemic, the production offered live streaming performances to keep fans entertained during quarantine.
Sally Olson is the only artist to have performed as Karen Carpenter for the long-running LEGENDS IN CONCERT. The Rutland, Vermont native studied at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and is an avid painter. In addition to being the central performer, Ms. Olson serves as Artistic Director for CARPENTERS TRIBUTE CONCERT.
Pianist Ned Mills studied jazz composition and arranging at North Texas University. He’s served as musical director for a number of entertainment heavyweights like Joan Rivers, the Ink Spots, and The Shirelles. Mr. Mills is also the founder and president of SONORE, a music-based company here in Las Vegas.
The announcement of Olson and Mills’ upcoming residency took place on May 5th at a benefit for The Composer’s Showcase Entertainment Relief Fund. The event was held at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country, the location for their six-week st. CARPENTERS TRIBUTE CONCERT joins the sexy new Apero (which I covered here) in an ever-growing list of live entertainment to be featured at Town Square.
Direct from Las Vegas – Carpenters Tribute Concert: A Re-creation of the 1976 UK Tour is the definitive show celebrating the music and legacy of the famed brother-sister duo. Starring Sally Olson as Karen Carpenter and Ned Mills as Richard Carpenter, the show is a re-creation of the 1976 UK tour, featuring hits including “We’ve Only Just Begun”, “Yesterday Once More”, “Superstar”, Karen’s drum solo, Richard’s classical piano feature, a Spike Jones parody of “Close To You”, comedy antics and much more.
Randy Schmidt, author of Little Girl Blue: The Life of Karen Carpenter, says “Sally’s tribute to Karen Carpenter is heartfelt and honest” and David Halston of Tribute Masters says, “Sally is remarkable, spot-on, and delightfully entertaining.” Sally is truly unsurpassed in her startling representation of Karen Carpenter, including authentic hairstyles and makeup, vintage costumes, gestures, and stunning voice.
This amazing production show is unique due to its high degree of authenticity. Carpenters Tribute Concert has captivated audiences across the country with faithful and spot-on recreations of the Carpenters’ music and has played to performing arts centers, cabaret spaces including the famed Triad Theater in NYC, and SOLD OUT showrooms in Las Vegas. The show was featured at the Carpenters 50th Anniversary Celebration in Thousand Oaks, CA in April 2019. Sally is the first-ever and only Karen Carpenter tribute artist to perform with Legends in Concert.
Carpenters Tribute Concert: A Re-creation of the 1976 UK Tour features a powerful live band, historical commentary, lovely arrangements and video, taking audiences on an incredible journey down memory lane into the world of the Carpenters – the world’s ONLY authentic Carpenters tribute production in sight and sound.
Tickets for CARPENTERS TRIBUTE CONCERT start at only $15 (plus taxes/fees) and are available here. Stoney’s Rocking Country is located at 6611 S Las Vegas Blvd # 160 at Town Square.
VEGAS UNFILTERED BLOG by Sam Novak 