Anna Bailey was the first Black showgirl on the Las Vegas strip.

Producer Clarence Robinson hired Anna as one of the lead dancers, and her husband William “Bob” Bailey, as singer and emcee of the Moulin Rouge’s Tropi Can Can Revue. After the closure of the hotel, the Bailey’s remained in Las Vegas, living in the Bonanza Village section of the Westside. Anna was later hired for the house chorus line at the Flamingo Hotel. After ending her dance career, she became one of the first Black women in Nevada to hold a gaming license.

Manny Davis is the son of the late Sammy Davis Jr. and was awarded the rights to most of his creative output, including his recordings and life story. Davis will tell stories of travelling with Sammy, his Las Vegas legacy, and future estate plans.

Katherine Duncan has been a leading force in developing business opportunities as the founder and president of the Las Vegas Ward 5 Chamber of Commerce.

As the Executive Director of Harrison House, Duncan promotes historic preservation in the African-American community. In 1942, Genevieve Harrison opened her home to traveling entertainers, business people, and divorcing couples who were unable to stay at Las Vegas strip hotels due to segregation laws. Nat King Cole, Pearl Bailey, and Sammy Davis Jr. (a visitor so frequent that there is a room named after him). In the course of one week in 1949, the house was graced with Eddie (Rochester) Anderson, singer Bob Parrish, the Edwards Sisters, the Jubalaires and musician Arthur Lee Simpkins. Harrison House is a non-profit community development corporation. The 1001 F St. property is one of the remaining boarding houses in the Historic Westside.

Allen Craig Harris is an actor, director and producer with a vast career that spans from professional M.C. to stage management and production. Recently he starred in and directed “Sly Fox” by Larry Gelbart at Playhouse on the Square in Memphis, Tennessee. Other productions include:

• Directed and choreographed Miss Lucy’s Cafe, music from then to now, at the famous Cotton Club
• Playing Dead To Stay Alive and Sunnyside Up by Debra Chappelle-Polk
• A Punk or a Gentleman and Ugly is a Hard Pill by Andrea J. Fulton
• Emi Pentalogy by Jawanza Bakari
• The Diamond Necklace by Cher S. Mills
• Roof-Top Joy at Theater for The New City’s Dream Up Festival
• Lady Armstrong by Avis Strafford
• Subway Love & Other Train Tales written and directed by Darsell B. Brittingham
• Season in the Congo at the Castillo Theatre
• Dreams Heavier Than Air by Jackie Roberts
• Flowers Behind the Mountain by Barbara Bennion
• Rising by Carolyn Nur Wistrand

Allen worked as an Associate Producer for Black Man Rising, written by James Chapman and directed by Patricia R. Floyd, a production of five men portraying the history of black men, from Diaspora to the present.

Paris Red has performed on stage with some of the world’s most celebrated people – Michael Bolton, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder and Ronnie Laws to name a few. She signed with Cirque du Soleil s Zumanity and stayed for 13 years singing for the show until the 2020 pandemic. Her beautiful sultry voice will leave a memorable and pleasant impression you won’t soon forget.

Ivery Wheeler began his tap-dancing career at the age of 3 dancing on the bar at the Louisiana Club in Las Vegas more than 50 years ago. The history, grace, style and skill this one man possesses can easily fill a stage and any room. At age 14, Ivery met Maceo Anderson of “The Four Step Brothers”. In short order young Ivery become a hoofer performing in Anderson’s groups, “Four Steps and a Miss” and later “The Third Generation Steps”. For more than ten years “Anderson’s kids” were on everyone’s short list. They performed with Jerry Lewis, Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, Dinah Shore, Pearl Bailey, Dean Martin Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Donald O’Connor, Engelbert Humperdinck, Gregory Hines, Henry LeTang, Juliet Prowse, Dr. Jimmy Slyde, Debbie Reynolds, and many others. Publically acknowledged by Savion Glover, and Dormeshia Sumbry Edwards as their mentor, teacher and friend; and by Dianne Walker as partner, and confidante, this humble legend is just as comfortable teaching in the studio as performing on stage. With such monumental performances as “The Cotton Club”, & the Tony award winning “Black and Blue” in Paris, and on Broadway, Ivery can do it all: sing, dance, and act.

Leon Gilliam moved to Las Vegas in 1980 and immediately joined the internationally known recording group Buck Ram Platters and traveled with them for many years before assisting with a spin-off group called “The Sounds of the Platters”. In 1994, Leon formed a seven-piece group, known as Leon C. that headlined at Harrah’s Las Vegas. Leon has also been the attraction at Harrah’s Laughlin, Bourbon Street Las Vegas, Mad Dogs & Englishmen, Boston Grill & Bar, Jerome’s Supper Club, Carlos ‘n Charlie’s in West Hollywood, and the fabulous Hyatt House on the Sunset Strip, Hollywood. Theatrical contributions include “Porgy & Bess”, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “The Carriage Club”, as well as a stint in the San Bernardino Civic Light Opera. He also starred as a solo singer in “Carousel: of Arts 1980” under the direction of Argia Geiger. His unmistakable vocal talent ranges from a clear second tenor to a natural baritone that soothes the soul. When watching Leon, one cannot help but get involved in the magic of his performance. He sings as if the story were unfolding right before your eyes. His selections of tasty oldies mixed with more contemporary numbers appeal to audiences of all ages. Whether in a casino lounge, corporate venue, or public appearance event, the fabulous Leon C. is ready to bring you nothing less than sheer enjoyment, nostalgic adventure, and the time of your life.