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Golden Pillow Awarded to Joe Jackson and Nelson Sardelli

By Pete Allman

On June 28, Nelson Sardelli was one of two Las Vegans to receive the Golden Pillow Award from the International Entertainer School of Las Vegas. The event took place downtown at the supper club Take 1 on Fremont and 7th streets near the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas.

Sardelli, a singer, is one of the legendary entertainers who helped make Las Vegas the Entertainment Capital of the World. He is also the president of a fun-spirited club for locals called the F.I.O.R.E. - Fun Italians Organizing Ridiculous Events.

Sharing the honor with Sardelli was Joe Jackson, patriarch of the singing family of Michael, Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, LaToya, Randy, Rebbie and Janet Jackson.

Golden Pillow awarded to Joe Jackson, left, and Nelson Sardelli in Las Vegas at Ben Ardito's Take 1 supper club.

The Golden Pillow is made of the old curtains from New York's famed Radio City Music Hall. When new curtains were installed in 1987, some of the unique fabric was donated to the non-profit International Entertainers School.

Among the other recipients who have been bestowed with the Golden Pillow are entertainers and prominent celebrities, including Bill Acosta, Ben Affleck, Dennis Bono, Ernest Borgnine, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, Billy Crystal, Jerry Fink, Mitzi Gaynor, Whoopi Goldberg, Isaac Hayes, James Earl Jones, B.B. King, Jay Leno, Jennifer Lopez, Lou Rawls, Joe Theismann, Alex Trebek, George Wallace, and Denzel Washington.

"They must have either run out of true celebrities to honor or they have an enormous amount of gold pillows," said Sardelli, humbly accepting his Golden Pillow award. He added that he is grateful to be a recipient of such an honor.

Also happy to be honored was Joe Jackson.

"It was a fun night. I enjoyed the food at Take 1, and I like the pillow," Jackson said.

Pete Allman is a Las Vegas-based commentator, broadcast personality and celebrity interviewer. He also produces inspirational messages for television and other media. Contact him at peteonthescene@yahoo.com or (702)265-9099. Visit www.CelebrityScene.com