Gifted with a powerhouse voice & magnetic stage presence….
Marlene Ricci by age 20 was headlining casino lounges of Reno, Tahoe, & Las Vegas.
“They were amazing training grounds for me – so many appeared in those rooms.…Van Dyke, Rickles, Wayne Newton.”
It wouldn’t be long before Marlene would catch the attention of an iconic name and that moment arrived with Frank Sinatra!
Among those present that night were Mr. & Mrs. Danny Thomas and Sinatra’s wife, Barbara. Impressed by her talent, “Ol’ Blue Eyes” invited Marlene to join his upcoming tour. For a small-town girl from upstate New York, life suddenly became a whirlwind of concerts, television appearances, & live performances.
“Once Frank made me his opening act, doors opened to other major stars. That’s how I got to work with so many incredible people.”
For three years, Marlene toured regularly with Sinatra and throughout the 70’s, she became a familiar face on television, appearing on The Dinah Shore Show, The Mike Douglas Show, The Tonight Show, and her personal favorite — The Merv Griffin Show.
“Merv was so kind and complimentary. I was on his show multiple times.”
Sinatra was so taken with his protégé that he asked the legendary arranger Don Costa to create custom orchestral charts for her. Those arrangements proved invaluable when used for her casting in “Cinderella at the Palace,” a TV special filmed live at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
“She was the new star on the rise,” said agent Jaki Baskow.
Marlene co-starred with Tom Jones, Sammy Davis Jr., Ann-Margret, Andy Williams, Paul Anka, Gene Kelly, and Frank Sinatra even made a special appearance.
During production, Warner Brothers were negotiating a recording contract with Marlene. However, the wholesome “girl-next-door” image she portrayed in Cinderella at the Palace clashed with the edgier rock persona the label envisioned.
“We went back & forth, but the deal just fell through,” Marlene recalls.
Determined to keep moving forward, Ricci traveled to Germany to record a series of disco tracks. Her first single “A Woman In Me” became a hit in Europe, leading her to sign with Laura Branigan’s producer Jack White, resulting in Marlene’s Top 20 “Tonight.”
“It’s been quite a ride!” Marlene says.
She has been a working entertainer throughout her life, touring the country, performing private & corporate enagements. Marlene Ricci’s contributions continue to be recognized, having receivws the VEGAS ICON VISIONARY AWARD, recognizing performance artistry in live performance.
Sands Entertainment 305.582.4276