How about a rundown on the career of Danny Gans? I recall him as an amazing success for a brief time in Vegas. His show was surprisingly expensive for one performer (who had no fame from movies or TV or records or anything like that) and a small band. I also remember a sudden surge of other shows with impressionists, some of whom were pretty good, but didn't have his success. And while we're at it, what's become of the best one I ever saw, Bob Anderson?
Danny Gans (1956-2009) was an American singer, comedian, and vocal impressionist who became one of Las Vegas' most celebrated entertainers. Known as "The Man of Many Voices," Gans could perform impressions of more than 400 celebrities and singers; not only that, but he could seamlessly switch between voices ranging from Frank Sinatra to Bruce Springsteen and Kermit the Frog.
Gans initially pursued a career in professional baseball, but a shoulder injury cut that short. Then he transitioned into entertainment. In Las Vegas, he started out the Stratosphere in 1996, which is where we first saw him, marveling at his talent and stage presence; then he moved to the Rio for a little while. He spent many years at the Mirage, where he performed at a theater named for him. He finally wound up at the Wynn in early 2009. His death in May 2009 at age 52 shocked us all and he was mourned as one of Las Vegas' most talented and beloved performers. He left behind a wife and three children.
As for Bob Anderson, he too is a singer, actor, and impressionist celebrated for recreating the voices, styles, and stage presence of legendary performers such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, and many others. His work blurs the line between impersonation and authentic performance — he doesn’t just mimic voices; he embodies the artists through vocal nuance, mannerisms, and musicality.
Anderson’s big break came in 1973 in Las Vegas when—as a young performer—he filled in at the Sahara Hotel after an opening act left unexpectedly. That night set his career in motion. Soon after, television exposure followed; his first national TV appearance was on "The Merv Griffin Show," where he earned a standing ovation. He's made over 200 television appearances on networks and major programs.
Anderson was a Las Vegas headliner for many many years, performing in showrooms all over the Strip. One of those, initially a two-week gig at the Top of the Dunes, turned into many years of sold-out shows. His acclaimed production FRANK… The Man, The Music, a tribute to Frank Sinatra backed by a 32-piece orchestra, was one of his most successful shows on the Strip.
One source we found said that Anderson has appeared in more Las Vegas showrooms than almost any other entertainer in the city’s history. We don't doubt it. He helped boost the popularity of vocal tribute entertainment and was a staple of the local scene throughout the 1970s, ’80s, and beyond.
People magazine named him the #1 celebrity impersonator in the world. In a Las Vegas Review-Journal poll celebrating 50 years of entertainment, Anderson was ranked among the city’s all-time favorite acts, placing between Barbra Streisand and Ray Charles. He’s been voted Best Entertainer in Las Vegas multiple times.
Born in 1950, he's turning 76 this year and still going strong. He continues touring and performing shows celebrating classic vocal legends, especially Frank Sinatra and other icons from the Rat Pack era. Indeed, his tribute show One More for the Road, a Sinatra experience with a full orchestra, was staged Carnegie Hall as recently as late 2024). We also found that he's appeared on stages in Detroit, New York, and Florida and Bob Anderson remains as enthusiastic as ever about keeping classic American vocal music alive for both older and younger audiences.
