The legend of ‘Legends’ dies at 82 in Las Vegas

John Stuart was the legend who founded “Legends.” Las Vegas’ groundswell of tribute performers dates to his show on the Strip in the early 1980s.

The founder of “Legends in Concert” died at 1:15 a.m. Sunday at the home of his son Shane Stuart. The elder Stuart was 82. He had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma in January.

Shane Stuart had been caring for his father for several weeks, up until his death. He and his brother, John Stuart Jr., and Stuart’s dog, Ginger, were with the “Legends” icon at his passing.

Stuart was known as the “Father” of impersonation productions. He brought “Legends in Concert” to the Strip at Imperial Palace in May 1983, having run a version of the show at John Wayne Theater at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, Calif.

Stuart relocated from Orange County to Las Vegas in October 1982, brought to the I.P. by then-hotel owner Ralph Engelstad, living for years in a top-floor suite.

The original “Legends” cast was Elvis, Buddy Holly, Janis Joplin, Marilyn Monroe and Bobby Darin. The show would go on to run 38 consecutive years, the longest run ever for a Vegas production show on the Strip.

Stuart’s production company divested in the show he envisioned in 2008, with On Stage Entertainment taking over as producers.

Such icons as Elvis, Tom Jones, Cher, Barbra Streisand,Garth Brooks, the Blues Brothers, members of the Rat Pack, Dolly Parton, Bob Marley, Freddie Mercury, Bruce Springsteen, Britney Spears and David Bowie have been in the “Legends” rotation.

“He is responsible for, I can’t tell you how many lives. Everybody from musicians, stage hands, dancers,” said Steve McCoy, who has portrayed Jones since opening with Stuart’s show in 1990. “He touched so many people on so many different levels.”

McCoy says he was “a half-a—-d landscaper” in 1989 when he won a Jones lookalike contest hosted by a radio station in Atlantic City. Jones was headlining at Trump International at the time and judged the show. Stuart saw McCoy’s impromptu performance, worked with him on the character and gave him a shot in “Legends.”

“I said, ‘You can make a living doing this?’” McCoy said. “I was stunned.”

Veteran Vegas showman Art Vargas portrayed Darin beginning with the show in Las Vegas. The format was to focus on departed legends.

“‘Legends in Concert,’ in its heyday, was a young entertainer’s dream to be a part of,” Vargas said. “I learned much on Johnny’s stages, not only in Vegas but across the country. It was the greatest education, Showbiz 101. He jump-started my Vegas entertainment career.”

David Saxe worked with Stuart in some capacity for 30 years. Stuart helped made the connections for Saxe to open his “V — The Ultimate Variety Show” at The Venetian in the early 2000s. The show at the original V Theater helped Saxe grow production company to Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood.

“He opened a million doors for me,” Saxe said. The producer had known Stuart was in grave condition and left a voicemail last week. “I told him I loved him, and he called me back,’ That meant so much to me! I love you, too!’ He was one of a kind.”

Stuart had been in recent contact with fellow producer Adam Steck, founder of SPI Entertainment. Stuart had expressed his gratitude for Steck’s friendship in a voicemail in late-October, which Steck took as a goodbye message. “I knew he was close to the end,” Steck said. “He was certainly a legend.”

After Stuart split with “Legends,” the show moved moved to Harrah’s in 2009, then Flamingo in 2013 and Tropicana in 2017, where it performed the all-female “Legendary Divas” lineup (Adele, Lady Gaga, Cher and Celine Dion) and eventually closed with an Elvis “Back in the Building” tribute through New Year’s Eve 2022.

The show came back for a limited engagement at the Orleans Showroom in July 2023 to celebrate its 40th anniversary in Las Vegas. Despite efforts to return to a Vegas showroom, the production has been dark in Las Vegas since its Orleans revival. But versions run in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Branson, Missouri; and Waikiki, Hawaii.

Most recently, Stuart had remained involved in tribute-style shows. He was co-producer of “Kyle Martin’s The Piano Man” tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John, performed nightly at V Theater at Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood.

Shane Stuart says a celebration of life will be held at Stuart Ranch at Las Vegas Boulevard and Windmill road on Jan. 6, the date of his father’s 83rd birthday.

Stuart had been shaken by the loss of his wife, Alex, last year, who had made many road trips with her husband.

In a 2024 interview on NDD Network, Stuart told host Ninon De Vere De Rosa of his “Legends” philosophy, “If it helps a lot of people, the performers or whoever it is, that’s great. It makes me feel good.”

John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at jkatsilometes@reviewjournal.com. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.