VEGAS AUTHORS: FROM A LEGENDARY DRUMMER, THE ‘ESSENCE’ OF TRUMP TO FIRST FLIGHT AROUND THE WORLD

Click Photo to order “My Las Vegas” by Bobby Morris

Old Vegas drummer and music conductor Bobby Morris had a crowd of about 300 show up on Sunday for his latest book signing for his autobiography “Bobby Morris: My Las Vegas.”

He brought some starpower with him to the Family Music Center in Henderson: Fellow drummer Steve Smith of Journey was accompanied by some of his bandmates. Smith wrote the forward for the book, which has received 35 five-star reviews so far.

Morris, who turns 93 in June, said some of his connections are “talking about a movie.”

He was the music conductor for Elvis Presley and Barbra Streisand when Kirk Kerkorian opened the International (now Westgate) in 1969.

A drummer extraordinaire, he backed many of the biggest entertainers of that era and beyond.

His book is available at Amazon.com.

EX-TRUMP STAFFER DELVES INTO HIS ‘ESSENCE’

Former Trump staffer Laurie Luongo has a Nov. 3 book signing for her new book, “The Essence of Donald J. Trump -- Lessons in Achieving Success" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 567 Stephanie Street in Henderson.

A Las Vegan for 25 years, she said the book covers not only “my days working for him” but chronicles inspirational stories of others, “famous and not, who utilized a particular trait that I discuss, to garner their version of success.”

“I believe readers will find appeal in learning how folks from all walks of life became successful, from a football player with one arm to Mother (Saint) Teresa of Calcutta. If one has the passion, drive and determination, anything is possible.”

Luongo said she was part of a small group of Trump employees that had the opportunity to start and grow the Trump Hotel Collection brand under the tutelage of Trump.

NORM JOHNSON’S ACCOUNT OF FIRST FLIGHT AROUND THE WORLD

Longtime Las Vegas publicist Norm Johnson has a new book out.

“Four Planes Started, Only Two Finished” chronicles the first flight around the world in 1924.

Eight U.S. Army Air aviators in four Donald Douglas Biplanes left Seattle in their flimsy, open cockpits. Six completed the journey.

Johnson met with three of the flyers prior to their deaths: John Harding,Jr., Lee Wade and Henry Ogden, and the great nephew of Major General Lee Wade.

Johnson is an amazing story is his own right. After starting his journalism career in the mid-1950s, he moved to Hollywood, where he caught on as a dancer and performed in “Jailhouse Rock,” “Rock Around the Clock” and “Don’t Knock the Rock.”

A professional writer since 1958, he was nominated for a Pulitzer for his first-person report on the 1965 Watts Riot for Copley News Service.

In 1959, he was a publicist for former heavyweight champion, Joe Louis.

He was recruited to Las Vegas in late 1965 by Las Vegas Sun publisher Hank Greenspun, who hired Johnson as assistant sports editor and featured columnist.

He created the Mint 400 off-road race in 1967 and later served as director of public relations and advertising for the Thunderbird Hotel.

He’s still repping entertainers.