Luxe Life Blog

Strip Scribbles: Kenny G joins Justin Timberlake golf tournament

Posted September 29, 2009 • 1:34 p.m.

Justin Timberlake: pop superstar, avid golf fan and soon-to-be tequila mogul.

Photo: Steve Marcus

Pop prince Justin Timberlake has persuaded superstar saxophonist Kenny G to take part in his Oct. 14 celebrity golf tournament here to raise funds for Shriners Hospitals for Children. Kenny is one of the biggest-selling instrumental musicians of the modern era, with global sales totaling more than 75 million albums, with 45 million of those sold in the U.S.

Kenny is ranked No. 1 on Golf Digest’s Top 100 list of musician golfers. Kenny, who has played golf since high school, will be joined by Alice Cooper, Smokey Robinson and other celebrities in the Championship Pro-Am at TPC Summerlin.

*I’m hearing solid rumors that the cast of Phantom -- the Las Vegas Spectacular is involved with a plan to take the musical to Macau. Seems that former Planet Hollywood boss Mike Mecca has persuaded BASE Entertainment bosses to re-create the Venetian hit at his Galaxy properties in the Chinese enclave near Hong Kong. Phantom isn’t leaving The Venetian, but the Macau production will assemble and rehearse here and then the casts might interchange.

*If you want to meet talk show titan Jerry Springer and the winners of this year’s America’s Got Talent, mark Oct. 14 on your calendar and simultaneously help raise money for our Keep Memory Alive work at the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Planet Hollywood head honcho Robert Earl has contributed the night, so proceeds from the $150 ticket go to our beloved charity. Jerry will host the stars’ reception and emcee the show starring million-dollar winner country singer Kevin Skinner and AGT runners-up. Afterward, there will be a meet and greet for photos and autographs. AGT’s special preview starts Oct. 8.

*To celebrate its 35th year of rock and roll, Gene Simmons and his KISS band mates are going out on tour, and they will stop at The Pearl in the Palms on Nov. 28. Buckcherry will be the opening act on the U.S. and Canadian dates. The first leg of the fan-voted tour includes Las Vegas. KISS Army fans from 10,000 cities across North America mounted campaigns to pitch why KISS should play in their town.

Gene, who was filming his new reality TV series King of Clubs here last week, promises new costumes, a new stage set and the most incredible pyrotechnic effects ever created for a stage spectacular. He added that in addition to the group’s greatest hits, they’ll perform from their new album Sonic Boom, which will be released exclusively at Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club next Tuesday.

*Three 6 Mafia checked out the super suites in the new Paradise Tower at the Hard Rock Hotel. They couldn’t relax, though, on their mini-vacation trip here, so they hit the stage at Body English and performed their chart-topping hits. Baseball star Dontrelle Willis was there partying with friends.

*Master magician Lance Burton didn’t have to resort to tricks when he tapped the keg as part of Oktoberfest celebrations at our Hofbrauhaus. Lance has led the band and tapped the keg many times over the past decade for the German tradition.

*I now own a prized Notre Dame football autographed by legendary sports figure Rudy Ruettiger and actor Sean Astin, who played him in Rudy. The gift was a total and unexpected surprise after I emceed a fundraiser at the gorgeous Las Vegas home of Gavin Maloof, one of the owners of the Palms and the Sacramento Kings. Incidentally, I swear his neighbor Floyd Mayweather Jr. dropped by to borrow a cup of sugar during the dinner party! The football legend runs his Rudy Foundation as a nonprofit dedicated to support and recognize needy kids who can fulfill their dreams through character, courage, contribution and commitment.

After Rudy’s young daughter Jessica sang for the well-heeled crowd, Gavin said he will have her perform the national anthem at Sacramento’s first home game in the new NBA season! Also attending was Carl Johnson, father of young Lion King star Elijah Johnson. Gavin revealed that the youngster who is destined for stardom has signed with Maloof Entertainment Enterprises! Elijah was the pint-sized sensation who stole the show and made headlines for his song and dance moves at the recent Michael Jackson tribute concert at the Palms.

Star surveillance

Donny Osmond’s Dancing With the Stars partner Kym Johnson watched Aubrey O’Day and Holly Madison in Peepshow at Planet Hollywood. Also attending in separate groups were former Peepshow star Mel B (rumored to be reuniting with the Spice Girls for another reunion world tour) and new Melrose Place hunk Victor Webster. … Holly used her night off from Peepshow to dress down in jeans and a T-shirt for a dinner of shrimp tempura and mochi ice cream at Tao in The Venetian, followed by watching Phantom. … L.A. Lakers star Derek Fisher enjoyed brunch with family and friends at First Food & Bar in the Palazzo, and later that night, engaged couple Melissa Rycroft and Tye Strickland were there for home-style macaroni and cheese. Derek also took a cabana at Azure Pool, and Melissa and Ty took daybeds before seeing Jersey Boys in the Palazzo. … Entourage stars Kevin Dillon was at Sushi Samba, while Jeremy Piven was at Lavo with Olympic swimmer Dara Torres. … Urijah Faber and Dan Cortese hung out at Azure, while UFC fighter Frank Trigg and his wife and brother dined at Emeril Lagasse’s Table 10 in the Palazzo, where Napoleon McCallum and Greg and Kathy Maddux ate at nearby tables. … Racecar driver Danica Patrick and her husband Paul had the jetlag traveler’s treatments in Canyon Ranch Spa Club in the Palazzo after their flight home from a long business trip in Japan. While rumors swirl that Danica will become the first female driver in NASCAR, she enjoyed dinner and brunch over two consecutive days at Iron Chef Kerry Simon’s restaurant in Palms Place. … Retired racer Mario Andretti was there during Danica’s dinner, and Joe Jackson was there for a brunch of ribs and a burger. … Michael and Marco Andretti partied at The Playboy Club in the Palms in a group of 50 who took over the Fireplace Lounge before going up to Moon. NBA free agent Wally Szczerbiak also was at Moon. … Elsewhere in the Palms, actor Robert Gossett was at Rain, and retired NHL star Jeremy Roenick had dinner in N9NE Steakhouse with espresso shots for dessert.

Tonight’s tips

British mind reader Luke Jeremy premieres his show Mental direct from London’s West End at O’Sheas. … Comedians Billy D. Washington with supporting acts Frazer Smith and David Gee are at Harrah’s Improv through Sunday. … Another comedy impressionist gets ready to invade Las Vegas when Ken Block showcases his I Haven’t Been Myself in Years at the Hilton.

Tomorrow’s teases

Holly Madison’s roommate Playboy beauty Laura Croft, who will be a regular on Holly’s new reality TV series Planet Holly, reveals the winner of the Miss September Playboy Club model contest and poses pretty at a Sin City Brewing Co. photo shoot, plus our photo galleries of Van Morrison and Creed in concert.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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