The Bands and Artists That Made Las Vegas Famous

When we think of Vegas, we usually fixate on casinos, showgirls and stag parties. But Vegas is also home to some of the world’s most famous singers and bands, too. With some acts taking residence at Vegas’ most beloved theatres, lounges and hotel complexes.

In recent years pop royalty, such as Celine Dion, Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys have all signed up to entertain Sin City’s visitors. And fans can catch their favourite acts on the main stage of Vegas’ most impressive locations.

But what about the bands and singers that came before them? Today, we’re going to take a look at the acts that made Vegas the musical Mecca that it is today.

The Rat Pack

The Rat Pack were hugely successful on their own. But nothing could quite compare to the magic that was created when these artists got together.

The original members of the Rat Pack were Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. And when they started playing at the Copa Room in the Sands Hotel in the 1960s, nobody was quite prepared for the success these five men would bring to The Strip.

Known for their silky voices, sharp suits and on-stage banter, the Rat Pack did more for the image of Las Vegas than any group has done before or since.

Finally, backed by the incredible Count Basie Orchestra, the Rat Pack’s success was no passing gimmick. And people still sing along to this amazing collection of songs from some of the most successful singers of all time, that gained notoriety in Sin City.

Garth Brooks

American country music superstar, Garth Brooks, surprised everyone when he went to Vegas with just his guitar, and created an epic one man show that would last in the memories of fans for decades to come.

A combination of storytelling, original music and self-deprecating jokes, Brooks’ one man show was an unlikely smash hit with visitors at the Encore Theatre.

In fact, his 187-show stint from 2009 to 2014 proved to be a sellout each night. And it was made even more impressive, given that Brooks had supposedly retired from music in 2002.

Prince

The legendary icon of pop, Prince, brought an unparalleled level of energy and vibrancy to Las Vegas in 2006 and 2007.

The multi-talented singer and musical polyglot attracted fans from all over the planet but, being Prince, this wasn’t your usual setup.

For instance, Prince did not work with a set list, and regularly brought in surprise guest stars to add to the unpredictability of his shows. Chaka Khan was one of the biggest stars to share the stage with Prince, unexpectedly. Much to the delight of fans! 

In fact, Prince did so much for The Strip that he ended up opening his own restaurant. And local residents still tell stories of the giant Prince symbol towering above the Rio Hotel and Casino.

Elvis

No list about music and Vegas would be complete without mentioning The King. Singer and movie actor, Elvis Presley, completed a successful run at the Las Vegas Hilton from 1969 to 1976. During this time he racked up a mammoth 837 consecutive sellout shows, with thousands of fans lining the streets to get a glimpse of this musical legend.

You probably already know that the Elvis we’re talking about; the unforgettable fringed white suit, jet black hair and those sideburns!

In fact, of all the different Elvis’ over the years, this image of The King is perhaps his most famous. And Elvis impersonators to this day still try to recreate the magic that Elvis brought with him when he took the stage in Sin City all those years ago.

Conclusion

It’s hard to imagine Las Vegas without its huge musical acts these days. And The Strip is the perfect example of excess when it comes to pretty much everything.

Las Vegas is home to the biggest casinos and the largest hotel complexes. Plus, it has some of the world’s most grandiose bars and restaurants. So it makes perfect sense that it would also bring in the greatest musical acts of all time.

A trip to Vegas typically entails staying in a hotel with thousands of rooms and taking in a musical extravaganza. And, of course, casino gambling! Nowadays, we tend to visit online casino sites, if we can’t make the trip to Sin City itself. So, if Vegas is too far away, you can always find great online alternatives through Casino.xyz.