Click Photo to Hear PJ Leary & the Las Vegas Sounds!!

You may not know the name P.J. Leary, but you might remember a rock tune called "Philadelphia U.S.A.". This tune was number #1 on the charts for a long time and earned Leary appearances on both the Ed Sullivan and Dick Clark television shows. This recording was made with a group known as the Nu Tornado's of which Leary was a member of the road show. He was known then as Kookie. Well, folks, P.J. is back and better than ever!

One might ask the question - How does a boy from Norview High School work his way into night club acts from Miami Beach, Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Philadelphia, sell almost a million records, and develop friendships with show business celebrities which included Nick Adams, Natalie Wood, Robert Conrad, Connie Stevens, Jackie Gleason and many others? If you want the whole story, just ask P.J. how it all happened, he'll tell you the whole story fact for fact. The Las Vegas Sounds are a treat to see in action. Leary's piano and vocal talents are supported by a first class cast: Our new trumpet player Don Letbetter has been on stage with the Four Tops, Temptations, Drifters, Platters and many others; Kenny Tiedeman, sax, flute, arranger; Joe Derrico, drums; and Moe Lowe on bass. P.J. is featured on vocals and piano but shares the spotlight with the entire band through individual solos. Every up tempo selection is filled with precision accents and the harmony of a big band. The arrangements by Kenny Tiedeman are fantastic.

There is no time for foot dragging in this band. Let the Good Times Roll does just that as an intro selection filled with the kicks and ensemble accents of a tight group. With Leary's strong vocal lead and solid piano and the groups' dynamic solos, the party fires up! Just a Gigolo and Oh Marie are superb renditions of the Louis Prima - Keeley Smith era and both are crowd pleasers. There is a great sax solo by Kenny Tiedeman on Danny Boy followed with a powerful vocal ending by P.J. The band offers solid renditions of Satin Doll and Take the A Train and several other selections that will interest the music enthusiast. All of these selections feature hard driving innovative jazz improvised solos by sax and trumpet. As with all fine artists, there is another side to P.J. Leary. When it comes to specialty numbers, his performance of American Trilogy could only be matched by the mellow full tone of Elvis himself.

P.J. and the Las Vegas Sounds have brought the Prima legend back into the modern world with a today sound. The band plays what the people come to hear. The musicians are professionals and know how to entertain an audience and have fun doing it!  P.J. Leary & the Las Vegas Sounds - LIVE album is available in Central FL under the LeaMul Production label.

 P.J. Leary & the Las Vegas Sounds - For the LIFE of the party!