Casino Sidemen: Reno Showroom Musicians of the 1950s-1990s

For casinos of Reno and neighboring cities along the folds of the Sierra, the popularity of stage shows with headliners and large orchestras reached their peak during the 1960s and 1970s. Casinos offered elaborate live entertainment to attract patrons ultimately to gaming floors. In the process, musicians involved in this entertainment settled into a fascinating showroom culture.

Musicians hired as sidemen on casino stages worked to provide accompaniment for prominent singers, dancers, and comedians, but the showroom culture that defined these musicians encompassed so much more. Viewing music just hours before performances, convincingly playing diverse musical styles, facing the minefield of live shows, confronting challenges never addressed in conservatories, and efforts to gratify audiences molded the culture under the spotlights. Relationships with peers, conductors, entertainers, and bosses, and struggles to maintain personal and professional standards further distinguished the culture, all within a town that thrived on sin. Interview subjects blend misgivings, enthusiasm, and humor to describe showroom life and the musical legacies they left behind.