Talking With Joe Lano – April 21, 2025

This week on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” the spotlight shines on legendary guitarist, arranger, and composer Joe Lano—one of the true masters of the Las Vegas jazz sce-ne. Joe joins Ira ahead of his upcoming performances at the Jazz Society’s 50th Anniversary Jazz Celebration (April 26-27 at the Winchester-Dondero Cultural Center) and at Vic’s Las Vegas (May 2-3), to share the remarkable story of his life in music. From his early days growing up in Philadelphia—playing guitar in clubs by the age of 12—to the glittering stages of Las Vegas, Joe recounts a career filled with iconic mo-ments. He talks about his move from L.A. to Vegas, joining the elite showroom orches-tras, and playing alongside legends like Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gormé. (Fun fact: Lena never sang a song the same way twice—and was a total sci-fi geek.) Joe also shares the behind-the-scenes of Vegas in its golden age: how he landed gigs straight away, the role of the Musicians Union, getting the nod from Sands bandleader Antonio Morelli, and performing with entertainment royalty like Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. He even dives into the drama that followed when he began working full-time in town. And of course, he opens up about his lifelong love for jazz, his connection to the Las Ve-gas Jazz Society, the ego-fueled world of professional musicians, and what it was like working seven nights a week for two years straight. Don’t miss this intimate, insightful, and often hilarious conversation with one of Las Vegas jazz’s most respected voices. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)