Legendary soul singer Isaac Hayes will perform 10 p.m. shows at the 1,700-seat Mandalay Bay Theatre on Aug. 25 & 26. Songwriter, arranger, producer, pianist and vocalist Hayes has played an essential part in the development of American soul music.

Hayes' biggest triumph came in 1971, when he scored the motion picture "Shaft." The double album soundtrack and the "Theme From Shaft" won him a Golden Globe, two Grammy's, and he was the first African-American artist to win the Academy Award for Best Musical Score.

Hayes' latest endeavor is the voice of "Chef" on the CableAce award-winning animated show "South Park." Tickets to see Hayes are $45 plus tax, call 1-877-632-7400 or 702-632-7580.

Earth, Wind & Fire will perform four shows in the Mandalay Bay Theatre, Aug. 16-19. The band has sold more than 25 million albums, received six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. Tickets are $50 and $65 plus tax.

Luther Vandross and co-headliners Boyz II Men are booked into the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Sept. 22.

Damon Wayans, the star of "In Living Color" and creator of the off-kilter "Homey the Clown," will present his stand-up comedy at the Flamingo Hilton on Aug. 4 & 5.

Wayans just starred in, and served as executive producer for the independent film "Harlem Aria," co-starring Paul Sorvino. He's even added "author" to his credits with a book called "Word of Mouth" that takes a funny look at family, children, marriage and politics.

Tickets to see Wayans' 9 p.m. shows are $35 and $45, call 702-733-3333.

It's a shame, but Diana Ross and the Supremes "Return to Love" tour has officially canceled the performance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena scheduled for Aug. 5. Ticket refunds are being made until midnight on Aug. 5.

Les Brown and His Band of Renown will play dance music at the Stardust Resort in the Ballroom on Saturday, Aug. 5, from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission is $15 per person.

Brown has enjoyed 67 years of uninterrupted public acclaim. He is listed in the "Guinness Book of World Records" as having the longest organized group in the history of popular music. His band achieved unprecedented notoriety when it accompanied Bob Hope on 18 overseas Christmas shows, playing all over the world for the men and women in the armed services.

On Friday, Aug. 4, "Bela Tabak's Riders of the Thunderdome" from the Riviera's show "Splash," will appear on "Guinness Book of World Records Primetime" on FOX TV to attempt a world record setting ride. They will race five motorcycles at 40-plus miles-per-hour within a 14' 3" diameter metal mesh cage with a woman standing in the middle.

Always pushing the envelope, Tabak and his team appeared two years ago on an NBC special, "Death Defying Thrills," in which they performed their four-man, daredevil motorcycle stunt with Tabak's wife standing in the middle of the globe. More recently, over the Fourth of July weekend this year, they wrote a new page in the history books by riding five bikes within the globe.

Julio Iglesias is a global superstar. He'll headline at Caesars Palace, Aug. 17-20. Tickets are $75 including tax, plus a $3 ticket handling fee, call 1-800-445-4544 or 702-731-7333.

In 1983, he was already in the "Guinness Book of World Records" for selling more albums in more languages than any other artist in history before his music even reached the United States. In January of 1996, the Chinese government awarded him the distinguished "Gold Record Prize" for selling more albums than any other foreign artist in the history of China.

Born the son of a Madrid physician in 1943, Iglesias became a star athlete for a professional soccer team. At 19, his dreams were shattered by a near-fatal car accident that left him paralyzed. During his year of recuperation, a convalescent nurse handed him a guitar to motivate him to exercise his fingers. Music took over his life.

Russell Simmons' Def Comedy Jam will make a two-night stop at the Las Vegas Hilton on Aug. 4 & 5. Now in its tenth season, Def Comedy Jam began in 1992 as a popular late-night HBO cable show dedicated to a fresh new brand of street humor from young unknown comedians. Today, most comedians in the show have hit the big time.

Sheryl Underwood will be the host performer, and she, along with DJ Cool Kid will introduce the three-featured comedians; Earthquake, T.J. Cross and George Willborn. Cross can be seen in the just-released action movie "Gone in 60 Seconds" starring Nicholas Cage.

Tickets for Def Comedy Jam's 9 p.m. shows are $30 and $40, call 1-800-222-5361 or 702-732-5755.

TOP OF NEXT COLUMN

Station Casinos has agreed to buy the 6-year-old Fiesta hotel-casino in North Las Vegas for $185 million in cash. The deal, which is expected to close by early next year, is the latest in a Station Casinos local buying spree. Last month, they agreed to purchase the Santa Fe, also in northwest Las Vegas, for $205 million.

Station Casinos owns the 5-year-old Texas Station property located directly across the street from the Fiesta. The two properties have jointly produced popular fireworks shows for July Fourth celebrations.

Last year the 100-room Fiesta underwent a $25 million expansion, adding two restaurants, relocating a third, and expanding the casino space by 20,000 square feet.

George Maloof, owner of the Fiesta, will use the money from the sale to build a $250 million hotel-casino across from the Gold Coast on West Flamingo Road. The property will have 500 hotel rooms and 95,000 square feet of casino space. It's expected to open by December 2001.

Over 200 colorfully costumed exhibitors will showcase American arts and crafts at the Harvest Festival being held at Cashman Field, 850 North Las Vegas Blvd., Aug. 25-27. There will be traditional and contemporary items for sale as well as edible arts. Continuous strolling entertainment will spotlight a variety of performers and musical styles, including juggling and puppet shows.

General admission is $6. One dollar off coupons can be found in the local newspaper or on Harvest Festival flyers. You can also get a dollar off by donating a can of food which will benefit Safe Nest. Seniors admission price is $5 and $4 for children 6-12 years old. One ticket is good for all three days. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Saturday and until 6 p.m. on Sunday. Call 702-386-7100 for information.

Bellagio will host the K-1 2000 USA Championship on Saturday, Aug. 5, in the Grand Ballroom. The USA Championship event is a full contact, single elimination, marital arts-style kickboxing tournament. It consists of seven, three-round bouts featuring eight North American champion kickboxers battling for one title and the honor of advancing to the K-1 World Championship later this year in Japan.

In addition to the USA Championship, there will be six undercard bouts featuring five fighters from Las Vegas. The first undercard bout begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are priced at $30, $50, $100, $150 and $250, call 1-888-488-7111 or 702-693-7722.

The MGM Grand Adventures Theme Park has a new array of live entertainment shows. The 950-seat Pirate's Cove Theatre showcases the Dueling Pirates Stunt Spectacular, which brings guests up close to Jake and his band of bad guy pirates in a display of exploding towers, hungry sharks, breakaway masts and stunts.

Gold Rush Junction introduces the slapstick comedy group Cowpoke Capers. Stick around afterwards, as Gold Rush Junction is transformed into La Vido Loca Theatre where guests enjoy salsa music.

The BMX Grind features a non-stop Inline skate and BMX bike extravaganza along New Orleans Street's French Quarter.

As guests traverse through the park's numerous themed streets, outdoor venues such as Showplace Junction and the Star Steppin'' Stage provide Fast Forward's musical tribute to the `60s, `70s and 80's and Rave 2K's sounds of today.

The entertainment shows are free at MGM Grand Adventures with the $12.95 admission price to the theme park. There's also a season pass for $42.95, which allows for unlimited visits. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Aug. 20, and weekends only from Aug. 26-Sept. 4. Call 702-891-7979 for information.

Madame Tussaud's Las Vegas marks the first U.S. attraction for the world-renowned Tussauds Group Ltd. and is located in the St. Mark's Library building of the Venetian Resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The museum features more than 100 lifelike wax portraitures of the world's most notable motion picture, television, music and sports celebrities, including several Las Vegas legends. The real plus to this experience is you can mingle, touch and be photographed with the wax figures.

Madame Tussaud's Las Vegas is offering a Summer Family Four Pack deal. The discounted package is $42.50, call 702-367-1847. Hours are daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

James Brotherton, who says he's never won anything during his 69 years, is the winner of a trip to Las Vegas as guests of Siegfried & Roy. He won the trip in a drawing at the Cincinnati Z00 and Botanical Garden, where the illusionists' three mystical White Lions known as the Pride of the Millennium reside.

Brotherton and three relatives will fly to Las Vegas and be treated to a two-night stay at the Mirage, see the magicians perform and visit the "Secret Garden" and the White Tiger Habitat, both located at the Mirage.

The contest was held to thank the people of America's heartland for the support and interest they've shown the three White Lions: Prosperity (the first female White Lion born in Las Vegas and the mascot of the United States Senate) and her two male companions Future and Sunshine.

Cincinnati is part of Siegfried & Roy's three-continent "Living Classroom" education and awareness program of preserving the White Lions for future generations to see in person and not in pictures or on video.

Vocalist, percussionist and saxophonist Tommy Alvarado and his Jazz All Stars are appearing in the Allegro Room at Bellagio through Aug. 1, from 10 p.m.

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