david becker/viewWes Winters sits with two of his three dogs, rescued toy spaniels Shadow and Bandit, at his home. Winters also has a rescued baby desert tortoise named Doodle.
photos by david becker/viewWes Winters gestures while talking about growing up in Olathe, Kan., and performing in Europe, South America and Mexico before finally landing in Las Vegas, where he performed at the Liberace Museum, 1775 E. Tropicana Ave.
david becker/viewWes Winters sits with two of his three dogs, rescued toy spaniels Shadow and Bandit, at his home. Winters also has a rescued baby desert tortoise named Doodle.
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Air guitarists of the world rejoice. One of Las Vegas' well-known musicians got his start just that way. Well, sort of.
At the age of 5, a young boy in Olathe, Kan., named Wes saw Liberace on television. The next day, he hauled his portable record player out to the garage, which housed an old, upright piano his father had purchased from a farmer for $25. He cranked up the Liberace and did his best to capture the spirit of the man who had so moved him.
He did the same thing for five hours a day through the rest of his childhood.
When Wes grew up, he became a professional nightclub musician, and five years ago, he moved to Las Vegas. This week, Wes Winters takes his show "A Musical Tribute to Liberace starring Wes Winters" to the Strip, moving from the Liberace Museum to the Steve Wyrick Theatre inside the Miracle Mile Shops at the Planet Hollywood Resort.
Although Winters carefully thought about his move to Las Vegas, it wasn't exactly love at first sight.
"I do like it here. I love Vegas," he said. "I didn't the first year because I was all by myself. It was hard to make friends because it's really transitory here, especially in show business."
It was show business that brought Winters here. After 17 years playing nightclubs in Kansas and touring in Europe, South America and Mexico, he had reached a turning point in his career.
"I was working seven days a week, and there was nowhere for me to move up," he said. "I had to figure out where can I go that's got an entertainment base and the economy. Vegas was the place to go, and what I did fit out here."
In the odd moments when Winters isn't performing, he's still working.
"I'm in my office 24/7. I'm in there until I can't hold my head up anymore and I'm ready to fall over," he said. "In the morning, the coffee is programmed to be ready when I get up."
After tending to the needs of his three dogs and Doodle, a rescued baby desert tortoise, Winters takes that coffee directly to his desk and starts working. He's at his desk until he's ready to go perform.
His show is a tribute to Liberace, but Winters isn't a Liberace impersonator, as he is quick to point out. For the last 41/2 years, that show has been at the Liberace Museum, 1775 E. Tropicana Ave., playing in a showroom that he suggested be created, which was named for him last year.
Winters had the great fortune to play his shows there on a crystal-covered piano, which was the last piano Liberace played publicly.
Winters' fans are loyal and legion. At his last two performances at the Liberace Museum, most of the room was packed with people who couldn't begin to count how many times they had seen him perform previously.
"There isn't anything like Wes Winters anymore," longtime Las Vegas resident David Shandorff said. "He's a real entertainer."
Darin Hollingsworth, president of the Liberace Foundation and Museum, had nothing but praise for Winters.
"We will miss him dearly," Hollingsworth said. "His show filled the museum with energy and magic, inspired by Liberace, but coming straight from Wes' heart."
The museum will expand its Lunch with Liberace program to a daily event at 12:30 p.m. in the showroom until a suitable entertainment alternative can be decided upon.
For Winters' new show, he has a 9-foot grand piano, which he has spent the last 21/2 months decorating with crystal and mirrors.
"I did all the mirroring and dressing on my piano; I do my own costumes. It's kind of stupid; I wear 50 hats," Winters said. "It doesn't leave much time for anything else."
He does get some help. Laverne Kroucher helps with Winters' costumes, and manager Rod Russell is always on hand, running Winters' lights, watching the door and generally doing any behind-the-scenes work Winters doesn't.
For Winters' new show, an old friend came to town to help. Winters' high school drama teacher came out to do the stage direction.
"She and her husband live in Prescott, Arizona, now. She's remained a good friend, and we've kept in touch," he said. "I used to baby-sit her son, and he has his own lighting and sound company, so he'll be setting that up for my show."
Once the new show gets under way, Winters hopes to get some time to work on some projects that have been stacking up at his southeast Las Vegas home, including converting his large front yard to Xeriscape landscaping.
"It's got to go. That's one of the projects I've got on my list," he said. "I want my dad to come out because I want a circle drive, and my family business is concrete. That's what I was supposed to take over, and I'm the oldest son.
"I bought this house because I've looked at this neighborhood since I moved to Vegas," Winters said. "I like my privacy, and I like having the yard in the back for my animals and my swimming pool. That's one of the few things I do is my swimming pool. I love to be out there, and I love to swim."
Another thing Winters enjoys is random woodwork.
"My favorite thing is to put on a pair of goggles and get my saws out and say, 'Okay, this wall's got to go! BRARAAR BRARARAAA!' and now I can't do it," he said.
"I used to go out with chain saws and shovels and all that kind of stuff, and now I get screamed at. If anyone comes in, they say, 'What are you doing with that saw in your hand? Put that skill saw down.' "
Friends are concerned that a mishap might damage the delicate and versatile instruments that are Winters' hands.
After five years in the city, Winters has found a few non-transitory friends, even among the show business crowd.
"Now, I have a lot of friends," he said. "When I leave to go play other places, I can't wait to get back."
"A Musical Tribute to Liberace starring Wes Winters" will open at the Steve Wyrick Theatre on July 1 and will play at 1 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. Tickets are $24.95 per person and are available at the Steve Wyrick Theatre box office, by calling 777-9974 or by visiting www. stevewyricktheatre.com.
On Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., Winters will play his nightclub act, including requests, in the Triq Nightclub and Ultra Lounge adjoining the theater.
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