Gone are the soft arm chairs, replaced by tall stools that give the room more of a nightclub atmosphere.

Also gone are the bands that performed hard rock, hip-hop and other styles that often appealed to a younger crowd, such bands as Area 51 and Forward Motion.

Jazz has become the music of choice in the lounge that once boasted such legendary Las Vegas entertainers as the Mary Kaye Trio, Louis Prima, Sonny King and a host of other performers who helped give this city the title, "Entertainment Capital of the World."

Sahara Chief Executive Al Hummel is responsible for the new attitude at the Casbar.

"We were looking for some music that would relay out to the players (in the casino), the customers, and not drive them away with the boom, boom, boom of the drums and that kind of stuff," Hummel said, explaining his decision to revamp the music. "What we offer now is smoother, more soothing.

"There are good sounds coming out of here now," Hummel said. "We couldn't get that with the other bands. They were into the rappy stuff. I didn't feel it fit the customer I wanted to bring in. These are sounds I feel they can relate to."

Hummel's lineup of entertainment now includes the rockin' blues band of Doc Dockery and vocalists Susan McDonald and Christy Bryant.

And, of course, Ronnie Rathers and Split Decision featuring Denise Clemente.

They perform three sets nightly Wednesdays through Sundays. On Wednesday they are on from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., the other nights their sets begin at 5:15 p.m., 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m.

Rathers, who plays a mean guitar, and 5-foot-1-inch Clemente are powerful entertainers individually. Together they are dynamite.

Backed by drummer Cliff Workman, keyboardist Mike Clark and saxophonist Ed Judd, Rathers and Clemente provide some of the best music in town, inside or outside lounges.

Rathers and Clemente have been friends for more than 20 years. Both highly respected fixtures of the Las Vegas entertainment scene, their musical paths have occasionally crossed. But this is the first time they have performed as a team.

And a great team it is -- Rathers, with his ability to turn top-40 music into a jazzy motif that is easy to listen to or to dance to, and the versatile Clemente, whose powerful voice is nothing short of amazing coming from such a petite person.

Clemente, a native of Vineland, N.J., has lived in Las Vegas since 1976. She came to town six days after graduating from high school.

"I heard they were holding auditions for a show here at the Sahara so I packed my car and came out," Clemente said.

She got the part but only performed there six months before Liberace hired her for his concert tour.

"He came in and saw me and asked me to join him," Clemente said.

She was with him on the road for two years.

"It was so great," Clemente said. "It was so thrilling, so wonderful."

After Liberace, she opened for such entertainers as Don Rickles, David Brenner and Joan Rivers, but after her son, Michael Foley, was born, she decided to stay closer to home.

"I didn't want to be on the road anymore," Clemente said.

Michael, 13, was the tragic victim of an attack by four Great Danes in January 2002. He was almost killed by the animals -- which were owned by a neighbor -- as he attempted to feed them.

Foley is still recovering from the vicious attack, although he is beginning to lead a relatively normal life.

"He has to have more surgery this summer," Clemente said. "But he's doing well. It's a little hard at times, but he's doing good. He plays baseball, he's a pitcher. We feel very lucky."

Rathers and Clemente have been close friends since he moved to Las Vegas in January 1984.

"Denise was the first act I saw," recalled Rathers, a native of Lynchburg, Va. "I came to the Sahara and she was working in the lounge."

Rathers is a vocalist as well as a guitarist. His musical influences have been Wes Montgomery, Stevie Wonder and George Benson, among others.

Jazz great Benson crossed over from rock 'n' roll early in his career.

"I've always approached top 40 with a jazz feel," Rathers said. "I've been able to get away with it because of George Benson."

The personable Rathers has had a respectable career performing jazz in Las Vegas, not easy to do in a town where jazz is a hard sell (even the internationally successful Blue Note jazz club couldn't make it in Vegas, closing just after the first of the year).

Rathers was one of the first to perform at Brendan's Irish Pub at The Orleans. He has been featured at such venues as the Aladdin, Caesars Palace, Paris, MGM Grand, Harrah's, Bally's and the Aladdin.

He has performed with such entertainers as Rickles, Whoopi Goldberg, Chubby Checker, the Drifters and Percy Sledge.

Rathers, obviously, is pleased with the new direction being taken by the Sahara venue. It fits his style.

"We're getting class and tradition back at the Casbar," he said.

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Comments: The CD was nice, I really enjoyed the upbeat songs. The CD gives a nice airy Saturday morning type vibe.

Taneisha Brown, KALU Music Director
   

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Comments: Excellent CD

LeKool Hollowell, MD

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Comments: Thanks and best of luck

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Answer: YES

Question: Will you play Ronnie Rathers' CD at your radio station. YES/NO

Answer: YES

Comments: Thanks and best of luck

Al Bernstein

Peace

Jabari