• Faith: Christian
• Career: Musician
• Birthday:  April 03, 1942

Wayne Newton is an American singer, actor and entertainer best known for his decades-long career in Las Vegas, where he earned the nickname “Mr. Las Vegas.” Beginning as a teenage performer in the 1950s, Newton became one of the city's most recognizable entertainers and recorded hits including “Danke Schoen,” “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” and “Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast.”

Carson Wayne Newton was born April 3, 1942, in Norfolk, Virginia, to Patrick Newton, an auto mechanic, and Evelyn Marie Smith. His father served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Newton spent part of his childhood in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and showed musical ability at an early age. By six, he was learning piano, guitar and steel guitar, and he later performed country music on a local radio program before school.

Newton began performing with his older brother, Jerry, at clubs, theaters and fairs. Because Wayne suffered from severe asthma, the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1952 in hopes that the drier climate would improve his health. The brothers soon won a local television talent competition and were given their own program, “Rascals in Rhythm.” They also performed with Grand Ole Opry roadshows and appeared on ABC's “Ozark Jubilee.”

In 1958, a Las Vegas booking agent saw the brothers perform and brought them to Las Vegas for an audition. Wayne, then 17, and Jerry were initially offered a two-week engagement at the Fremont Hotel. Their successful run led to a longer contract, and Wayne left high school before completing his junior year to pursue entertainment full time.

Newton eventually established himself as a solo performer. In 1963, he released “Danke Schoen,” which became his signature song and reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other notable recordings included “Red Roses for a Blue Lady,” “Summer Wind” and “Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast,” the latter becoming one of his biggest hits in 1972.

Although Newton released numerous albums and singles, live performance became the foundation of his career. Over the decades, he performed thousands of shows in Las Vegas and became closely identified with the city's entertainment industry. His longevity as a headliner earned him the nickname “Mr. Las Vegas.” Newton also entertained American military personnel overseas and became a longtime supporter of the USO.

Beyond music, Newton appeared in numerous television programs and films, often playing himself or characters that drew on his Las Vegas persona. His credits include appearances in “Licence to Kill,” “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane,” “Vegas Vacation” and television series including “Bonanza” and “The Lucy Show.” He also appeared on reality and competition programs later in his career.

Newton married Elaine Okamura in 1968. The couple had one daughter, Erin, before divorcing in 1985. In 1994, he married attorney Kathleen McCrone, and they later welcomed a daughter, Lauren. Newton has also been known for his longtime interest in Arabian horses, raising and breeding them at his Las Vegas-area estate, Casa de Shenandoah.

Wayne Newton's Religious Beliefs

Newton is a Christian who grew up in a Christian household in Virginia, where church attendance and reading the Bible were part of his early life. Although he has not publicly identified with a particular Christian denomination, belief in God has remained a recurring theme in his public comments and music.

His recording career also reflects his Christian background. Newton released the religious album “Wayne Newton's Songs of Faith” in 1968, featuring traditional Christian songs and hymns including “Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross,” “There Is Power in the Blood,” “Sweet Hour of Prayer” and “In the Garden.” His recordings from the era also included religiously themed material such as “God Is Alive.”

Newton has publicly connected his success and life experiences to his belief in God. He has said, “I've always had great faith in the Man Upstairs,” and has used similar language when discussing the source of his blessings. While Newton generally does not speak in detail about theology or denominational beliefs, his Christian upbringing, faith-oriented recordings and repeated references to God indicate that Christian faith has remained part of his personal outlook throughout his life.