Post #533032 by JOHN-O on Sat, May 29, 2010 8:00 AM

If you're into Exotica music, then you're probably also a big fan of Juan Garcia Esquivel, aka "The King of Space-age Pop".

Now I was aware that Esquivel sometimes opened for Frank Sinatra back in the day, but I never realized the true extent of his performances in Las Vegas. What I've recently learned is that he had a regular lounge act at the Stardust from 1963 to 1971 !!

Mike Weatherford quotes Esquivel in his fantastic book "Cult Vegas":"I foresaw that the big bands were going to end, so I was preparing a small show", Esquivel said of his strategy that brought him to Vegas. "I presented the show (and) talked to the audience. I explained to them the reason why I was with a smaller group, because it was impossible to have such a large group as I had. Just imagine lodging and plane tickets for thirty people."

With smaller musical resources, Esquivel became even more inventive. He came up with devices like "boo-booms", his name for 24 bongos, chromatically tuned (??). He also added a visual aspect to the show with four female singers sporting tear-away dresses. Each singer was a different nationality - Japan, France, Switzerland, and Italy, and performed in the style of their country (The Swiss girl would yodel !!). In addition to the ladies, there was an elaborate light show which was timed to the musical chords.

The show was called "The Sights and Sounds of Esquivel", which interestingly is the name of an available compilation that has nothing to do with his Vegas days ( :( ).

There is however a bootleg CD that covers this period:

It all came to an end when the Stardust decided to replace the lounge with a new gaming innovation at the time, the Sports Book.

Anway can you imagine visiting the Stardust in 1963 or 1964? You could start out the evening with dinner at the Aku Aku, and then see Esquivel performing in the lounge for the price of a cocktail.

It boggles the mind !! I wish someone would invent a time machine.