Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Trump Marina

WHO ARE THEY: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy managed to accomplish a difficult task: bringing big-band music back to prominence in the 1990s. Dressed in zoot suits and armed with Rat Pack lingo, the Los Angeles band broke through in 1996 when one of its tracks was featured on the "Swingers" soundtrack. The group released its debut self-titled album for Capitol Records in 1998, followed by "A Beautiful Life" a year later. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performed at Super Bowl XXXIII and has had its music used in more than 60 films and television trailers.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Just try to sit still during a Big Bad Voodoo Daddy concert. The big-band swinging style of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is guaranteed to get your fingers snapping, your heart pulsing and your toes tapping. This band has been a cult favorite since the mid 1990s, and continues to win new fans with its upbeat music. The swing genre will always be safe, so long as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is still on the scene, bringing the magic night after night. So, grab a dance partner and get ready to swing the night away at The Shell on Saturday night.

WEB SITE: www.bbvd.com

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $25 and the show begins at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Shell, Trump Marina.

Engelbert Humperdinck

at Trump Plaza

WHO IS HE: "The King of

Romance," as Engelbert Humperdinck is often billed, has been wooing audiences since the 1950s. The smooth balladeer portrayed a mysterious heartthrob and, much like his contemporary Tom Jones, had female fans eating out of the palm of his hand. Humperdinck also possesses a three-and-a-half octave vocal range and has excellent technique; he's not just another pretty face. During the course of his career, Humperdinck has sold more than 150 million albums and has performed across the world.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Humperdinck has been a fixture on the Las Vegas lounge circuit for decades and practically invented the genre. Fans are sure to hear his classic hits, including, "Release Me," while his devoted female following will be enamored once again by his looks and charm, despite the fact that this sex symbol is now 72 years old. Humperdinck has always worked hard to give his fans the very best live show possible. In a 1992 tour book, Humperdinck was quoted as saying, "I take the job description of entertainer very seriously. I try to bring a sparkle that people don't expect." Humperdinck's show may feature cuts from his new album, "The Winding Road."

WEB SITE: www.engelbert.com

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $75 and the show begins at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at the Trump Plaza Theater.

Bruce Hornsby

at Trump Taj Mahal

WHO IS HE: After years of playing in bars and writing songs for others, Bruce Hornsby finally got his chance to shine in 1986 when his debut album, "The Way It Is," was released. The album contained the No. 1 hit single "The Way It Is," along with other hits "Mandolin Rain" and "Every Little Kiss." In 1987, Bruce Hornsby and the Range won a Grammy Award for best new artist. "Scenes from the Southside" was released in 1988 and was a success, but failed to match the commercial achievements of "The Way it Is." Hornsby co-wrote and performed on Don Henley's hit song "The End of the Innocence" in 1989. In the early 1990s, Hornsby went on tour with The Grateful Dead before releasing several solo albums. Later in the decade, Hornsby began playing with The Noise Makers.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Few artists have released debut albums as mature, sophisticated and carefree as Bruce Hornsby's "The Way it Is." It was obvious from the start that Hornsby is a major talent, and his career since that time has proven it. Although he never again achieved the level of commercial success he had in the late 1980s, Hornsby's craftsmanship has never faltered, and he continues to develop as a live act. Unlike the majority of performers, Hornsby does not prepare a set list for his concerts and often solicits requests from audience members.

WHAT'S NEW: Hornsby released two new albums in 2007: "Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby" and "Camp Meeting."

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $38.50 and $48.50. The show begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at Xanadu, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort

Don Rickles at Borgata

WHO IS HE: Don Rickles made his first appearance on "The Tonight Show" in 1965; another 100 appearances would follow. The New York City native became known as an "insult comedian," a reputation Rickles developed after responding to hecklers at his shows. The audience liked Rickles' insults more than his planned routine, so he decided to go with it and it paid off. Throughout his career, Rickles has appeared in movies such as "Run Silent Run Deep," "Casino" and "Toy Story," as well as on television shows such as "C.P.O. Sharkey." He is sometimes referred to as "Mr. Warmth," a satirical reference to his brand of comedy.

WHAT TO EXPECT: This aging "insult comic" has made a career out of the put down and has ridden this success, achieving legendary status in the process. Despite the fact Rickles is not exactly a Mr. Universe candidate, his act has centered around berating others and no one is safe from his rants. The short, bald, homely comedian has been dishing it out for years and shows no signs of slowing down or taming his act.

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $75 and the show begins at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 at the Music Box, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.

Tony Danza

at Atlantic City Hilton

WHO IS HE: This Brooklyn, New York native got his start as a professional boxer, with a respectable 9-3 record before landing a role on the hit television show "Taxi" in 1979. The success of the show and the likeability of Danza's character led to his starring role in the popular 1980s sitcom, "Who's the Boss?" Despite the fact that Danza was adept at playing fun-loving, jovial, street-smart characters, he struggled a bit when "Who's the Boss?" went off the air in 1992. Danza hosted his own talk show from September 2004 until May of 2006.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Tony Danza doesn't stay down for very long. Although his talk show was short-lived, Danza landed back on his feet. Danza has dedicated himself to breaking out of the mold of the dim-witted characters he portrayed on television and becoming a more well-rounded entertainer. He has added singing and dancing to his repertoire, along with joke telling, and fans at the Hilton Saturday night are likely to see it all and then some. There may be more talented entertainers out there, but few of them exhibit the kind of consistent joy Danza brings to every performance. No matter how many times you count him out, the former boxer keeps getting up for one more round.

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $30 and the show begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Atlantic City Hilton Theater.

Comedy Explosion

at Trump Taj Mahal

WHO ARE THEY: Arnez J has been dubbed "the black Jerry Lewis" due to his physical style of comedy. He has appeared numerous times on Comedy Central and "Def Comedy Jam," and continues to keep up a vigorous touring schedule. Sommore is a comedienne and actress from Trenton who has made appearances on "Def Comedy Jam" and "It's Showtime at the Apollo," as well as on sitcoms such as "The Parkers" and "The Hughleys." Sommore has appeared in films including "Soul Plane" and "Friday After Next," and was a participant in the sixth season of "Celebrity Fit Club." After eleven years in the Air Force, Earthquake decided to give stand-up comedy a try and wound up finding a whole new career. Before long, he was appearing on BET, Comedy Central and HBO. George Willborn has been performing stand-up comedy since the late 1980s and has made appearances on "It's Showtime at the Apollo," BET's "Comic View," Comedy Central's "Comic Justice" and is currently co-host of the nationally syndicated radio show, "The Michael Baisden Show." TuRae's comedy career began in the 1990s while he attended Temple University. He became the house MC at the Philadelphia Laff House and developed an act based around his urban upbringing.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The Taj Mahal will offer five great comedians for the price of one Sunday night with "Comedy Explosion." The impressive lineup features the talents of Arnez J., Sommore, Earthquake, George Willborn and TuRae. Although each comic has his or her own style, they all share a common ability to leave audiences in stitches and gasping for air. Sunday night's show offers the unique opportunity to see all of these talented performers on the same stage, and is something that shouldn't be missed.

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $49.50, $59.50 and $85. The show begins at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Arena, Trump Taj Mahal.

Sinbad at Resorts

WHO IS HE: Sinbad began his career in 1983 on a bus tour of comedy clubs across the country. After being discovered by comedic legend Redd Foxx, Sinbad made appearances on television shows such as "Star Search" and "The Redd Foxx Show." The comedian hosted his own talk show, "VIBE," and served as host on "Showtime at the Apollo." In the late 1980s, Sinbad played Walter Oaks on "A Different World," a spin-off of "The Cosby Show." In addition to his career in comedy and acting, Sinbad is a humanitarian who has dedicated his time and money to charitable causes including the Children's Defense Fund, the Omega Boys Club and various AIDS awareness groups.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Sinbad's comedic style revolves around telling real-life stories without a written script. He has an explosive delivery and relies on his strong improvisational skills. Sinbad gives a clean comedy show that is suitable for all ages.

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $40 and $50. The show begins at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 at the Superstar Theater, Resorts.

Kozak the Magician

at Tropicana

WHO IS HE: Kozak the Magician began his career as a street performer in Pittsburgh and quickly rose to become a successful comedian and magician. Kozak headlined comedy clubs for years, eventually branching out to performing at casinos, colleges and corporate functions. Kozak even got an opportunity to perform for Prince Charles and Princess Diana at the Palladium Theater in London. He is currently the host of "Atlantic City Plugged In."

WHAT TO EXPECT: A comedic night of magic is what one can expect from Kozak the Magician, who performs at the Tropicana Casino and Resort's Comedy Stop for an extended engagement. "Magic is a blend of art, science, history, philosophy, theology and psychology," says Kozak on his official Web site. "I bring these to the table along with a razor-sharp wit honed from years of improvisational experience in comedy clubs." Kozak is the type of performer who is always looking to exceed people's expectations. "I never promise more than I can deliver and I always deliver more than I promised," Kozak adds. "My greatest joy is performing the magic I love so much and bringing people laughter."

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $23 and $30, and the $30 tickets include dinner. Dinner is 6 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with the show following one hour later. at the Comedy Stop in The Quarter at the Tropicana.

'Yesterday -

A Tribute to the

Beatles' at Tropicana

WHAT IS IT: Yesterday is a Las Vegas-based Beatles tribute band that began performing as a unit in 1986. The band has appeared onstage with America, Chicago and The Moody Blues. Yesterday was invited to perform at the U.S. Postal Service's unveiling of the "Yellow Submarine" postage stamp. The band strives to achieve the utmost authenticity in every performance.

WHAT TO EXPECT: "Yesterday - A Tribute to the Beatles" is in town re-living the magic of the world's most famous band. Yesterday will be performing "The British are Coming," a live re-enactment of the famous concerts that introduced the first wave of British invasion to the United States. The show includes re-enactments of the Beatles' performance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," plus concerts at the Hollywood Bowl and Shea Stadium.

CRITIC'S CORNER: Press of Atlantic City critic Scott Cronick wrote: "While there are some more elaborate and even better Beatles tribute bands out there, Yesterday's enthusiasm and love for the music shines, and the guys sound as good as most Beatles tributes you will hear. 'The British Are Coming!' is a satisfying, fun and inexpensive night out."

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $25. The show begins 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays at the Liverpool Club, North Tower, Tropicana.

Footloose at Tropicana

WHAT IS IT: "Footloose" is based on the 1984 hit film of the same name. It tells the story of a kid from Chicago who moves to a small town in the country that has banned dancing. The show includes hit songs such as "Let's Hear it For the Boy" and "Footloose."

WHAT TO EXPECT: For those who simply have got to cut loose, "Footloose" is the perfect show. Kick off your Sunday shoes and indulge in the popular musical that captured the hearts of Americans in the mid-'80s. The 90-minute show features 20 performers dancing and singing favorite songs including "Let's Hear it For the Boy" and "Footloose."

SHOW INFO: Tickets are $25, and the show begins 9 p.m. Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays, 8 p.m. Mondays to Wednesdays, and 3:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays through November at the Tropicana Showroom.