The Man of Many Voices

I was saddened today to learn of the passing of entertainer Danny Gans at the age of 52. Not many people outside of the residents and visitors to Las Vegas knew of him, but he was known as “The Man of Many Voices.” By all accounts, in addition to his great talent, he was a devoted family man, devoutly religious and dedicated to helping others less fortunate.

Gans’s drive for success and attainment of his goals is a good example for all who continue to work towards success in their chosen field, even when life’s challenges seem insurmountable. And in his life, he was literally and figuratively thrown the proverbial “curve ball.”

Recreating Himself
A gifted baseball player in the Kansas City minor leagues, his sports career came to an abrupt end after an injury left him unable to play. After a period of feeling lost and unsure of his future direction, with encouragement, guidance and faith he decided to develop his other talents, namely a strong singing voice and a keen ear which gave him the ability to recreate the voice, mannerisms and performing style of other entertainers. Once Gans studied a performer, he could masterfully replicate that person’s singing or speaking voice, gestures, gait, etc. In some cases it would appear as if he channeled them as much as impersonated them.

Gans took his act on the road and performed around the country, mostly at corporate functions, over 200 times per year. He maintained a grueling schedule for several years in to pursuit of his dream of success in this second career, to provide for his family, and continue to develop his talent and performing abilities.

In 1996, Gans accepted a job as the permanent in-house entertainer at a small hotel in Las Vegas, leaving his lucrative corporate performing career behind, in order to spend more time with his family. He established roots in the community with his church, schools and charities. After four years, hotel mogul Steve Wynn was so impressed by Gans that he built Gans his own theatre at the Mirage hotel, where his reputation and audience continued to grow. Earlier this year, Wynn built him a second, more elaborate theatre in Wynn’s new Encore hotel.

The marquee for the Danny Gans Theatre at the Encore is the largest marquee in the world. Gans won the coveted Entertainer of the Year award eleven out of the last thirteen years. His career was at the point where he filled the 1,500 seat theatre each night he performed there. His contract with Wynn is believed to have been for 200 million for 10 years. Even with his great success, he was a family man, several local charities depended on him for his ability to raise funds, and he was a fixture at his local church and in the community. He had attained his goals through talent, values, hard work, determination, sacrifice, and a vision for his future...

Then, sadly, at the young age of 52, he inexplicably fell ill and died, leaving a loving family, a community and a professional organization stunned, overcome with grief and overwhelmed by the loss.

Lessons from a Great Career
I saw Danny Gans perform on three occasions. The first time was early in his career (and mine) as the entertainer at a Johnson & Johnson National Sales Meeting. He was unknown at the time and it was a tough crowd, but he handily won over the audience. Five years later, I was in Las Vegas for a business seminar and saw the giant marquee on The Strip with this name and likeness. I was surprised that someone could advance so quickly in such a competitive field. I saw his performance that night and was again wowed by his talent. (He gave a much more polished performance than I recalled from five years earlier in a hotel conference room.) The next time I was in Las Vegas, I took my family to see him perform and they, too, were dazzled. He even brought his father up to the stage to sing! I will always remember that evening.

Although I am saddened to learn of his passing, we can take away and be reminded of a few simple but powerful life lessons from Gans’s story: Find your passion, pursue your dream, live each day to the fullest, cherish those you love and give back to those in need. That is what any person's life should be about.

Mark