“Bill Fayne was the musical maestro of giving. He took every gig he could get, paying or free, just to spread his sweet gospel of sound.”
I woke up to the sad news that Bill Fayne, a beloved musician, songwriter, and performer died from a long illness. Many of us knew Bill was seriously ill, but we hoped he might pull through. His struggle ended this morning.
Bill was a huge believer in free live entertainment here in Las Vegas. He performed thousands of free shows around the city. I saw him, and his many colleagues and collaborators dozens of times. I also saw him perform as Clint Holmes’ musical director. For much of his life, Bill was closely tied to Holmes (both grew up in Buffalo, NY). The duo worked together for 50+ years. Holmes was once the most popular performer on the Las Vegas Strip, and was voted “Entertainer of the Year,” that incredible honor at least in part due to Bill’s tireless perfectionism and work ethic, always trying out new things and keeping every show fresh and original. When it came to stage banter, nobody was better than Bill, who loved toying with those he performed with.
From the obit in the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
“In a piece of stage shtick from their Vegas show, Holmes told audiences, “We went to college together,” with Fayne cutting in, “But I graduated,” and Holmes adding, “And now you work for me.”
Over the years, Bill also opened for many of the biggest names in entertainment (Sammy Davis, Jr., Don Rickles, Diana Ross, Milton Berle, Bob Newhart, Tony Bennett, Wayne Newton, and so many others, just to name a few). Bill performed shows all over the world He was adored by his countless friends and colleagues just as much as he was respected.
But what really stands out to me is Bill’s genuine love for music and unwavering dedication to his craft. He wanted music to be accessible to *everyone*, of all ages and backgrounds. And so, he basically took every gig he could get, paying or free, just to spread his sweet gospel of sound.
Bill made the decision to remain positive and be a living symphony of the human spirit. He was the king of giving. He was the best of us. A few years ago during the deepest depths of COVID, when all performances shut down, I had the great honor to interview Bill on video (now posted to YouTube). We talked about the Las Vegas music scene, his long career, and his outlook on the future. Bill was eternally optimistic, even when looking on the bright side of things that didn’t seem so warranted. A devotee and disciple of Stephen Sondheim, Bill’s philosophy could be summed up in “Send in the Clowns”:
“But where are the clowns
Send in the clowns
Don’t bother, they’re here.”
We will miss you, Bill Fayne.
WATCH AND LISTEN TO VIDEO WITH BILL RECORDED IN 2021 HERE (59 minutes):
