zowie bowie

Energetic couple entertains and ignites the spirit of Las Vegas.

By MARISA FINETTI | July/August 2009

While other kids hung prints of Farrah Fawcett on their bedroom walls, Chris Phillips, aka Zowie Bowie, admired his Sammy Davis Jr. poster. That’s because since he was 12, he wanted to be a Las Vegas-style entertainer. Today, Phillips and his fiancé, Marley Taylor, and their band perform every Friday and Saturday at 10 p.m. and midnight inside The Lounge at The Palms in Las Vegas.

Behind the gorgeous and talented duo is their dynamic chemistry and synergy that captivate audiences and keep them coming back for more. Their energizing interpretation of familiar contemporary hip-hop tunes like Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back” and Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” drive crowds into a frenzy. Clearly, their unbridled energy casts a wild and alluring audience magnetism. “It’s important for us to turn it up each night and make a connection with our audience,” Phillips says. He and Taylor try to rekindle the spirit that entertainers had with their audiences during the days when vintage legends like Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme and the Rat Pack graced the lounges on the Las Vegas Strip.

And Zowie Bowie’s audience couldn’t be in for a bigger treat. The Lounge holds an intimate capacity of 250, the perfect size for Zowie Bowie to get to know its crowd. One night, a bride-to-be and her entourage made their way into the showroom. Easily spotted in her white slip dress and veil, Phillips and Taylor brought the bride onstage to indulge in the brief limelight, but it didn’t stop there. It just so happened that the group’s personal friend, a Chippendale dancer, was also in the crowd. Graciously, he hopped onstage and gave the bride a Chippendale-style experience she will never forget. “Our show is more about the people in the audience than the people onstage,” Phillips says.

Phillips and Taylor came to Las Vegas three years ago from Scottsdale, Arizona where they used to perform regularly before 4,000 people on a given weekend. But Phillips’ burning passion for Las Vegas drove them to the town where legendary performers made their mark. “I came to Las Vegas with an agenda to keep the spirit and vibration of this town alive,” Phillips says. “We wanted to bridge the gap between what entertainment in Las Vegas was about back then and what it’s about today.”

Since its emergence in Las Vegas, Zowie Bowie has been recognized as one of the top shows in the country. During a three-year stint at Red Rock Casino, Resort, & Spa, AOL named it “the #1 must-see show” in Las Vegas.” “I think the secret to our success is taking big chances and getting our energy from the unknown,” Phillips says.

Between shows at The Palms, the group performs a unique combination of vintage Vegas big band and hip-hop at corporate events across the country. Zowie Bowie is also closely associated with charitable organizations, such as Opportunity Village, an organization that provides vocational training, employment, and social recreation for people with disabilities. “This year, we’re creating the Zowie Bowie Concert of Love to benefit Opportunity Village,” Phillips says. “We’ve discovered that the true spirit of Las Vegas is the people of Las Vegas.”

*UPDATE*

Back by popular demand, Zowie Bowie is making a return to Red Rock Resort. The duo brings its unique blend of today’s hottest dance, hip-hop and Top 40 music to audiences at Rocks Lounge every Friday, beginning Sept. 3, 2010. Doors open at 10 p.m., and the show will start at 11 p.m. The show is open to adults 21 years or older, and there is no cost for admission. VIP bottle service is available upon request. Entry will be first come, first served and based upon venue capacity.