Las Vegas Strip hotel casinos have had a reputation for booking pop and rock music legends for residencies and extended engagements on their stages for many years.
The Strip featured former Commodores frontman Lionel Richie for six shows at Wynn Resorts’ (WYNN) – Get free report Encore Theater at the Wynn in October and former Creedence Clearwater Revival frontman John Fogerty at Encore in November for an extended six-show engagement.
1970s pop crooner Barry Manilow continues his residency at Westgate Las Vegas in 2023, which runs from February to December. Popular ’70s rock band Aerosmith headlined a residency at MGM Resorts International’s (MGM) – Get free report Park MGM from September to November 29, but had to cancel the rest of its shows in December due to lead singer Steven Tyler’s unspecified illness. The band has not yet scheduled any shows for 2023.
Popular musical acts come to the strip
The music doesn’t stop there, however, as several other legendary acts from the 1970s and 1980s have planned residencies or extended engagements into 2023.
Tropical rock star Jimmy Buffet also postponed his Oct. 8 and 15 shows for health reasons and moved his Life on the Flipside dates to March 3 and March 11 at the MGM Grand Garden.
“Juke Box Hero” performer Foreigner takes the stage at the Venetian Theater at The Venetian Resort, operated by Apollo Global Management (APO) – Get free report, for eight shows in March and April on his Best of Foreigner 4 & More Live residency. Rock legend John Mellencamp returns to The Strip with two shows 24-25. March at the Encore Theatre.
The ‘Fire and Rain’ singer is coming back to the Strip
Superstar 1970s pop singer James Taylor and his All-Star Band will continue the line of classical music artists rolling through The Strip this year when he takes the stage at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for an extended five-show engagement in June 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10. Tickets go on sale January 28 at 10 at Ticketmaster, but a Citi Cardmember presale is currently underway.
Taylor released his debut album “James Taylor” in 1968 on The Beatles’ then new record label Apple, which according to Biography.com did not sell well. The singer/songwriter’s career took off after moving to the Warner Bros. label and releasing his successful second album “Sweet Baby James”, which featured his first hit single “Fire and Rain”. Both the album and the record hit No. 3 in the charts.
Success continued for Taylor when he hit No. 1 for the first time with his cover of Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend” from his third album “Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon.” The song also won a Grammy. The hits kept coming as Taylor won his second Grammy in 1977 for his cover of “Handy Man” from his first Columbia album, “JT”.
Taylor’s other hit songs have included “Mexico”, “Shower the People”, “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “Up on a Roof”. He last played in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena in July 2022 and played a 12-show residency at Caesar Entertainment’s (CZR) – Get free report The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
