Vegas pioneer, country stars, rock legends to play in early 2012

During the first two months of 2012, country stars, rockers and a classic Vegas showman will entertain audiences at Tulsa’s popular music venue, The Joint inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.

What better way to start the 2012 entertainment schedule at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa than with “Mr. Las Vegas”? Wayne Newton will bring more than 50 years of experience as a Vegas performer to The Joint on Jan. 19. Tickets start at $35. 

Among his most popular songs are “Danke Schoen,” “Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast,” “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” and “Years.”

On Jan. 21, Wynonna Judd & The Big Noise will perform at The Joint. Tickets start at $35.

From 1983 to 1991, The Judds were country music’s most popular duo, charting 14 No. 1 hits, selling more than 20 million albums worldwide and winning more than 60 awards, including five Grammys.

As a solo artist, Judd has released eight albums that have sold more than 10 million copies. She has charted more than 20 singles, including four No. 1 singles. Those songs are “She Is His Only Need,” “I Saw the Light,” “No One Else on Earth” and “To Be Loved by You.”

Concluding January’s schedule is country honky tonk star Dwight Yoakam, who returns to The Joint on Jan. 28. Tickets start at $50.

Since 1986, Yoakam has released 22 albums and compilations that have earned him more than 25 million in sales and included more than 30 singles that have climbed the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. Yoakam previously performed at The Joint on Feb. 4, 2011.

Yoakam has charted 14 songs in the Top 10, including “Honky Tonk Man,” “Streets of Bakersfield,” “I Sang Dixie,” “Ain’t That Lonely Yet,” “A Thousand Miles from Nowhere” and “Fast as You.”

The month of February will begin with one half of country music’s most successful duo, when Ronnie Dunn of Brooks and Dunn fame returns to the city where it all began when he plays The Joint on Feb. 9. Tickets start at $65.

After starting his career as a solo performer in Tulsa, Dunn eventually moved to Nashville and joined forces with Kix Brooks. During Brooks & Dunn’s 20-year run, the duo sold more than 30 million albums, charted 20 No. 1 singles and earned 27 Academy of Country Music awards, 17 Country Music Association awards and two Grammys. The collection of ACM and CMA awards are the most for any act in country music history.

Three days later, one of classic rock’s most popular bands will play The Joint when 38 Special comes to Tulsa on Feb. 11.

Founded by vocalist Donnie Van Zant and guitarist/vocalist Don Barnes, 38 Special has released more than 15 albums that have featured a slew of hit singles that remain in heavy rotation on classic rock stations.

Among the band’s biggest hits are “Hold on Loosely,” “Caught Up in You,” “If I’d Been the One,” “Back Where You Belong” and “Second Chance.”

The first two months of performances come to a close with the man who wrote some of rock music’s most successful songs and is known as the iconic voice of Supertramp. On Feb. 28, Roger Hodgson will perform at The Joint. Tickets start at $35.

As the co-frontman of Supertramp from 1969 to 1983, Hodgson’s songwriting and vocal talents helped the band become a global phenomenon that has sold more than 60 million albums to date.

The band’s biggest hit was the 1980 release “Breakfast in America,” which topped the charts for a year and featured the Hodgson-penned hits “The Logical Song,” “Take the Long Way Home” and the title track. The album has sold more than 4 million copies in the U.S. and more than 20 million copies worldwide.

Other hit Supertramp songs written by the British singer/songwriter include “Dreamer,” “Give a Little Bit” and “It’s Raining Again.”

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa is located off of Interstate 44 at exit 240. Ticket prices and information on upcoming shows are available online in The Joint section ofwww.hardrockcasinotulsa.com or by calling (918) 384-ROCK. The Joint box office is open from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. All guests must be 21 years of age or older.