Music In Vegas: A Taste of Sin City’s Music Scene
Along with Sin City’s myriad of attractions, are dazzling music concerts. Why does Las Vegas host so many huge music events? Which secrets lie underneath the incredible show we witness every day? Learn more about what makes Vegas such a unique choice for music concerts.
History of Music in Vegas
Concert residencies by some of the biggest names in the music business and stars like Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra have happened in Vegas over the last 70 years. The city has been famous for its music scene almost as much as for its blackjack tables. However, during a time in the 1970s and 1980s, Vegas was considered a venue for retirement performances of dimming stars.
The last 20 years have brought a new era of entertainment to Sin City. Younger performers like Lady Gaga have helped make Vegas hip again, starring unique music performances in the city. Let’s have a quick walk down the road and learn about what created Vegas’ legacy in the music scene.
The 20th Century
Early Years
Las Vegas was founded in 1905 by Mormons and was issued a gaming license by the state of Nevada in 1931. After that, hotels and resorts quickly flourished in order to accommodate the hordes of gamblers coming to the city. Eventually, resort hotels and casinos owners realized that hiring big-name entertainers should bring even wealthier betters into the city.
In the 1940s, 25-year-old pianist Liberace was the first musician to stand out on Vegas’ stages. Starring over-the-top performances, he surely helped shape the city’s unique and extravagant aesthetics. His repertoire of new boogie-woogie songs earned him the title of most well-paid entertainer in the world at the time.
Mid-Century
The Las Vegas music scene was marked by ingrained racism in the 1940s and into the 1950s. Black performers were ill-treated by casino owners, who would even make life threats if artists complained of the poor conditions.
Some white performers were enraged by the situation. Frank Sinatra even reportedly threatened to cancel his future engagements at The Sands hotel if Sammy Davis Jr. was not granted equal rights. Finally, in 1960, the Las Vegas City Council ruled to end segregation. After that, The Strip started allowing black guests to its hotel resorts and casinos.
Frank Sinatra was a symbol of Vegas’ incredibly growing music scene. He performed in the city for 43 years–from 1951 to 1994. By 1953, he was performing twice every night, which contributed to turning him into a showbusiness legend. He earned the nickname “King of Las Vegas” because he was known to draw all the big money people to his shows.
Iconic Elvis Presley made his debut in Vegas in 1956, but it was not until 1968 that he became a true Vegas star. However, tied to an eight-year contract with his manager, he saw his creativity and glow dim throughout the years. His last performance in Sin City was in 1976. By then, Vegas had become an international synonym for excess and consumption.
Through the 80s and 90s, Las Vegas saw what we could consider rather dark times. Drugs and prostitution marked those years, along with music performers in the twilight of their careers. Then in 1998, The Strip dimmed all its lights in a tribute to the death of Frank Sinatra. At the end of the century, this event seemed to be the turning point of an era.
Into the 21st Century
Canadian singer Céline Dion might have been responsible for stripping Vegas of its obscure fame from the past decades. She first performed in Las Vegas in 2003 and has since then attracted more than 5 million to her shows in the city. Since then, artists like Mariah Carey and DJ Calvin Harris have had a Vegas music residency.
Nowadays, it seems like every artist wants a bit of what Vegas has to offer. Britney Spears earned 475,000 dollars per show in her 2013-2017 residency. The comedy series The Hangover has attracted a record 42,2 million tourists in 2018, according to the LVCVA. Vegas is now one of the hottest destinations for bachelorette/bachelor parties, birthdays, and weddings.
What To Expect From Vegas in Spring 2022? Music Edition
As usual, Vegas is serving a myriad of musical attractions this coming season. Here is a quick look at what’s to come.
An Evening With Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Concert is on at Harrah’s Las Vegas. The incredible live theatrical concert celebrates the life and the work of Whitney Houston, who left us in 2012. It is on from Tuesday through Sunday, as 6PM and 8PM. Find tickets and more information here.
Scorpions Sin City Nights with Special Guest Skid Row at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. The exclusive residency show will feature at the Strip in Las Vegas from March 26th throught April 16th. Get your tickets here.
Dua Lipa with special guests Caroline Polachek and Lolo Zouaï at the T-Mobile Arena on March 25th. Find your tickets here.
How to Get To Your Favorite Music Concert
Exclusive Luxury Chauffeured Transportation
Did you know that limousines used to be called “big band cars”? This is because they were originally designed to accommodate musicians and their equipment between concert locations. How about getting in the mood for your next music event inside one of these vehicles? Choose from the several models available, book now, and arrive at your favorite music concert in style with chauffeured transportation.