{"id":42575,"date":"2025-01-15T04:25:24","date_gmt":"2025-01-15T12:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/?p=42575"},"modified":"2025-01-16T00:33:58","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T08:33:58","slug":"beloved-las-vegas-lounge-lizard-cook-e-jarr-dies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/vitalvegas\/beloved-las-vegas-lounge-lizard-cook-e-jarr-dies\/","title":{"rendered":"Beloved Las Vegas Lounge Lizard Cook E. Jarr Dies"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A longtime Strip lounge singer, Antonio Giuseppe Pettine, has died at 83 after a lengthy hospitalization. He was better known by his stage name, Cook E. Jarr.<\/p>\n

Jarr was a throwback to a time in Vegas when cheese was king and devoted fans followed him to nearly 20 Las Vegas casinos over the years.<\/p>\n

They simply don’t make them like Cook E. Jarr anymore. He passed on January 14, 2025.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Bonus points if you noticed the “Tip Jarr.”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cook E. Jarr came to Las Vegas via Atlantic City, first in 1969 at Nero’s Nook (which became Cleopatra’s Barge) at Caesars Palace. The Cleopatra’s Barge space recently re-opened as Caspian’s Lounge.<\/p>\n

Jarr’s first show in Las Vegas tanked (the same was true for Elvis), but in 1982, Jarr snagged a gig at the Sands with his band, The Krums.<\/p>\n

Yes, it was Cook E. Jarr & His Krums. We don’t use the term “cheese” lightly.<\/p>\n

Jarr was known as much for his look as his singing ability. He had a dark tan, lots of jewelry and a hair style he described as a “helmet.”<\/p>\n

Jarr was a native of Philadelphia and originally planned to be an auto and aircraft mechanic.<\/p>\n

We last saw him perform in 2012, and the crowd was loving every minute of his show. Despite his decades in show business, there was something authentic about him. He was unapologetically himself, and he seemed to be in on the joke, which made the whole thing a lot less awkward (including a cloying, go-to number he performed draped in an American flag).<\/p>\n

\"\"
Patriotism is a time-honored shortcut to approval for performers, but Jarr sang from the heart.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The entertainment landscape has changed a lot in Las Vegas, so lounge singers are hard to come by.<\/p>\n

For many years, though, they provided casinos with energy and kept players in the building between gambling sessions.<\/p>\n

As mentioned, Jarr performed in a mind-blowing 19 casinos. They included El Rancho, Silver Slipper, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, the Trop (recently demolished), Bally’s (now Horseshoe), Harrah’s, The Continental (which became Terrible’s, now Silver Sevens), Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall (now Cromwell), Paris and others.<\/p>\n

Back in 2017, Jarr’s friend Mark Block<\/a> made a T-shirt in honor of Cook E. Jarr listing all the venues where Jarr performed.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Most. Residencies. Ever.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A kindred spirit, Pete Vallee (better known as Big Elvis) posted on his Facebook page, “A true Las Vegas legend has passed away. And a dear friend. Rest in peace.”<\/p>\n

Cook E. Jarr wasn’t just a part of Las Vegas. For many people, he was Las Vegas, a colorful character who symbolized a time when Las Vegas was a more colorful place (with more character).<\/p>\n

Cook E. Jarr was a master of working a crowd and delivering his unique brand of shtick with warmth and humor.<\/p>\n

Cook E. Jarr was neon in a world that has become enamored with LEDs. Neon is more vibrant and beautiful because of its imperfections, and the sense of loss is greater when neon goes dark. It’s telling there is a Neon Museum, but no LED Museum.<\/p>\n

Yes, this is a terrible metaphor. We are a blog, not a poet.<\/p>\n

The point is there will never, ever be another Cook E. Jarr.<\/p>\n

Many fans have posted their memories of Cook E. Jarr online, so feel free to do the same in our comments section.<\/p>\n

RIP, Cook.<\/p>\n

Update (1\/15\/25): A fan of Cook E. Jarr mentioned the term “lounge lizard” has historically had a negative connotation. This may help clarify our use of the term: “Historically, the term has had a somewhat negative connotation, implying a person who is insincere or disingenuous in their interactions…it can also describe someone who is smooth-talking, maybe a bit too comfortable in their surroundings, and often seen as trying to charm or entertain others, sometimes to an exaggerated or phony extent.” If you know, you know.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A longtime Strip lounge singer, Antonio Giuseppe Pettine, has died at 83 after a lengthy hospitalization. He was better known by his stage name, Cook E. Jarr. Jarr was a throwback to a time in Vegas when cheese was king and devoted fans followed him to nearly 20 Las Vegas casinos over the years. They […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vegas","category-lasvegasshows"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBeloved Las Vegas Lounge Lizard Cook E. Jarr Dies | Vital Vegas<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A longtime Strip lounge singer, Antonio Giuseppe Pettine, has died at 83 after a lengthy hospitalization. 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