The Stars Aligned with Greg Koss

Greg Koss went to Las Vegas and spent years in the Wayne Newton Orchestra at the famous Sands Hotel Copa Room, where the Rat Pack used to hang out, performing with just about every star that was on The Johnny Carson Show.

Anthony Newley was my favorite show to play in Las Vegas. Tony was so musical and he really understood music. He wrote The Candyman Can and Sammy Davis Junior took him to the top.

Chita Rivera was in the American classic movie West Side Story in 1957. It was such a pleasure to work with her because she had such Dynamic dancing moves and her singing was remarkable!

She’s still going at 88 years old!

The biggest thrill in my life was performing in Vegas with Doc Severinsen from The Tonight Show. He would bring Snooki Young from The Tonight Show Band and it was a thrill I will never forget for the rest of my life! Doc was my idol. It was like playing golf with Tiger Woods!

Greg Koss had the opportunity to play the melody to the Smothers Brothers' TV show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and after the show, used to go to the Sahara Casino in Las Vegas, watch them get on the lounge stage, and laugh until the sun came up!

What a great pleasure working with Tammy Wynette in Vegas. Her musical director was George Jones, a famous country-western singer. One day my brother came to visit me, so we had him sit on the stage at the Sands Hotel and fake a trumpet extra. At the end of the show, George came up to me and said what a wonderful addition to the show! That's Show Business!

Glen played at the Sands Hotel many times and we became good friends. People don't know this but he did all the recording studio work in LA for the Beach Boys and every TV show that was on TV in the 70s including Ironsides, Vegas, Emergency, Rockford Files, Barnaby Jones, Mannix, The Love Boat, and more. He showed me exercises that help to develop strength and agility, and I teach that to my music school students today! Thanks, Glen!

Joan Rivers only had one song to perform in her comedy show and it was called Anchors Away. We played it for about 3 minutes and at the end of her show, our guts would hurt so much – not from playing but from laughing!

Performing at the Aladdin Hotel in Vegas with Lola Falana was one energetic excitement after another! She could dance like you've never seen and her show was fabulous!

We believe in giving back to our community and regularly host events that showcase our students' talents. From charity concerts to music festivals, we have something for everyone.

LUTZ SCHOOL OF MUSIC

914 OAK GROVE BLVD 33559 

LUTZ, FL 33559