International pop singer-songwriter Gino Vannelli, whose hits include “I Just Wanna Stop,” “Living Inside Myself,” and “People Gotta Move” was born in Canada and grew up in a musical family. He started playing drums at a young age, studied musical theory at McGill University, and now incorporates poetry, philosophy, and his life experiences in his music.

Joe Esposito is a veteran author and publisher who is best known for his association with Elvis Presley, who he first met in the military in 1958. The two became fast friends and, after their discharge in 1960, Joe became Elvis’ right hand man and then his road manager when Elvis started touring again. He was co-best man at Elvis and Priscilla’s wedding in 1967.

Tim Blenkiron, executive director of tennis at the Las Vegas Hilton, is a native Australian. He came to Las Vegas to attend UNLV on a tennis scholarship in 1993. In 1997 he made history by winning the NCAA doubles championships with partner Luke Smith. In 2008, Blenkiron was inducted into the UNLV Sports Hall of Fame.

Chef Susan Rispoli is owner of JR’s Place, a local sports bar that is also an authentic Italian restaurant, serving homemade Italian cuisine from recipes developed by Rispoli herself. Rispoli, a Brooklyn native, has studied with chefs in New York, New Orleans and London, yet credits her success to lessons learned from her mother, grandmother, and other family members.

Tony Bennett, the singer’s singer, has sold more that 50 million records sold world-wide, received 13 Grammy Awards and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. became a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2005, and was named an NEA Jazz Master in January of 2006. That same year, he was the recipient of Billboard Magazine’s prestigious Century Award, in honor of his outstanding contributions to music

Lonnie Jordan is a founding member of War, one of the most popular funk groups of the ’70s. Jordon has served as vocalist for the group and has, over the years, also played guitar, piano, synthesizer and percussion. He now performs as lead singer for War, and was recently in Las Vegas to receive an award from the American Society of Young Musicians.

Gary Mule Deer, whose unique comedy and music have set him apart as one-of-a-kind, has performed on every major concert stage in the country. He has made over 350 television appearances, including many on both “The Tonight Show” and “The Late Show With David Letterman.” He is currently featured on the DVDs “Jeff Foxworthy’s Comedy Classics,” and “The World’s Greatest Stand-up Comedy Collection” hosted by Norm Crosby.

Filmmaker Ted V. Mikels relocated his wife and six children from Oregon to Hollywood in 1960 with the film cans of his first movie, “Strike Me Deadly.” There, he began steadily producing films, including “The Corpse Grinders,” “The Astro-Zombies,” “Girl in Gold Boots” and “The Doll Squad.” In the 1980’s, Mikels moved from California to Las Vegas, Nevada and opened a studio, where he has been producing movies ever since.

Clint Holmes comes by his talent naturally. His father is an African-American jazz musician and his mother is a classically trained Opera singer from Great Britain. In 2002, his autobiographical musical, “Comfortable Shoes,” debuted at the Royal George Theatre in Chicago to rave reviews. He also staged his second musical with acclaimed acting coach Larry Moss in Las Vegas and soon will see it debut in a major theater.

Robin Leach is the entertainment man-about-town in Las Vegas, writing a daily LUXE LIFE online column and a weekly version for LVM Magazine. His popular television show from the ‘80’s, “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous,” focused on profiling well-known celebrities and their lavish homes, while spotlighting his signature phrase, “champagne wishes and caviar dreams.”

Sammy Shore, who was recently voted into the Comedy Hall of Fame Archives, performs his standup comedy routine in nightclubs and casinos across America, including Las Vegas. His latest book, “The Man Who Made Elvis Laugh,” reveals the background of Elvis Presley launching a comeback career that reignites rock ‘n’ roll, and stand-up comic Sammy Shore firing up audiences in breathless anticipation of “The King.”

Llynda More and Mark Gendel are lifelong friends who met in Nashville as kids pursuing careers in music. Both became songwriters and recording artists in their own right during their early days in Nashville. The duo, now based in Las Vegas for the past four years, perform everything from smooth, classic jazz and easy listening songs to high energy classic rock, country, blues, disco, hip hop hits and dance tunes, a rare diversity that makes them appealing to people of all ages and musical tastes.

Musician Michito Sanchez grew up in New Jersey, then moved with his family to California. After enrolling in Los Angeles City College and taking private instruction, he blossomed in the music world. Sanchez became a studio musician and supplied percussion in sessions with such music legends as both Crosby, Stills & Nash and Elton John. Currently, Sanchez lives in Las Vegas and leads his own Salsa orchestra.

Dan Decker is author of “Anatomy of a Screenplay,” a text on screenwriting that is used by beginning and professional writers and in colleges and graduate film schools across the nation. He founded The Screenwriters Group in 1992 and is a consultant to the Nevada Film Office. He has lectured on storytelling in venues as diverse as the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC and at Nickelodeon TV in New York City.

Valentino Crespo, who was born in Manhattan and raised in Puerto Rico, has spent more than 30 years as an artist in the culinary and butler services. Since arriving in Las Vegas 17 years ago, he has held the prestigious position of Master Butler and is author of “Master Butler Extraordinaire of Las Vegas.” Valentino, who can converse in five languages, has served kings, queens and the royalty of Europe.