Video: The Danny Gans of Des Moines shows he's ready for the Las Vegas Strip

We've had great response to our posts about the All-American musical impressionist Rick Ludwig, the Danny Gans of Des Moines, Iowa, who's out there most every night with his "i-man show" when he's not delivering singing telegrams, playing deejay and host at karaoke events or belting out his Two Men And A Tune duet show with Big Al Lauderdale.

The video above shows Rick in performance last month at the Prairie Meadows Casino in Altoona, highlighting his impressions of a Toby Keith & Willie Nelson duet, Elvis Presley, Elton John, Johnny Cash and John Denver. The show also included Rick as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Neil Diamond, Billy Joel, Garth Brooks, Joe Cocker, George Jones, Billy Idol and Ozzy Osbourne.

The video proves the man is a powerhouse performer: a strong singer, excellent impressionist, and family entertainer who should be trading off nights with Frank Caliendo on the Las Vegas Strip. Rick Ludwig is the Terry Fator in waiting!

Rick adds a note: "The camera adds an extra 5-10 pounds to this video. I did a good job of adding an extra 50 over the past 10 years myself!"

UPDATE: Rick Ludwig will be performing his i-man show-- and breaking out new impressions of Joe Cocker and Tiny Tim-- at Trophy's Sports Bar & Grill in Des Moines, from 8 to 10 pm this Wednesday, March 17th (St Patrick's Day!)

Rick Ludwig is the Des Moines Danny Gans

Will Las Vegas ever see another Danny Gans? That's like asking of Las Vegas will ever see another Elvis, Louis Prima or Cook E. Jarr. The likes of the musical impressionist, with his special mainstream gifts, unique background and mysterious life, will never be seen again-- not that there aren't many who would assume his mantle if given the chance.

There are the obvious Gansabees, like Frank Caliendo toiling at the Monte Carlo, or Larry G. Jones, working just off the Strip with Gans' old drummer and pal Raphael Erardy, but one man who just may be working his way toward Gansstyle greatest is plugging away in Des Moines, Iowa, chasing his dream through Singing Telegrams, Phonegrams and karaoke in the voices and personnae of Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Willie Nelson, Elton John, Billy Joel, John Denver, Johnny Cash and-- well, you name it.


Rick Ludwig is his name. Remember that name. We were led to the YouTube video again through a "Danny Gans" Google alert. The video description says:

"Similar to show like late, great Danny Gans in Las Vegas. Visit www.imanshow.com. Demo lasts about 6 min. with costume changes for 11 different artists in this order... Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Frankie Valli, Frank Sinatra, Elton John, Billy Joel, Johnny Cash, John Denver, Willie Nelson and Toby Keith. For hire 515-208-1782 or visit imanshow.com."

Who cares that it's an "i-man" show? Look past the production values and see a true artist with quite a set of pipes. America's Got Talent, look no further...

Leach says Caliendo is the new Danny Gans

"There was little doubt
that the man of many voices
also had inherited the mantle
of the late Danny Gans
as the newest
comedy impressionist
in the entertainment capital
of the world."

That's tabloid journo Robin Leach's verdict after TV impressionist Frank Caliendo opened his longterm engagement at the Monte Carlo Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip officially on Friday night. Caliendo's big show is al;so being hailed as a Vegas milestone because it featured cameo appearances from fellow Strip headliners and competitors Carrot Top, Terry Fator and Louis Anderson.

ALSO: It took more than a month, but our copy of the Danny Gans autobiography, The Voices In My Head, finally arrived from Amazon.com. We've finished reading it and the book's first review is on the way.

Paul Tanner wants to be Danny Gans

It's a busy week for fans of the late Danny Gans. His autobiography arrived in stores, Garth Brooks announced he'll be moving into his theatre, impressionist Frank Caliendo began what could be a ten-year run at the Monte Carlo in hopes of drawing in the Gans crowd, and an impressionist named Paul Tanner says he's ready to take over the Las Vegas superstar's celebrity musical impressionist mantle. He told us in this press release that showed up at the Tabloid Baby offices:

Celebrity Impressionist Paul Tanner
Tapped to Follow in the Footsteps
of Legendary Las Vegas Entertainer Danny Gans

Press Release Distribution Staff

(EMAILWIRE.COM, October 15, 2009 ) LAS VEGAS – It’s been six months since the untimely tragic death of one of Vegas’ top entertainers, Danny Gans, and his absence has left a noticeable void in the entertainment community. Celebrity impressionist Paul Tanner may just be the one to fill that void. He has been contacted by several “interested parties” who see Tanner as the next star following in the footsteps of the beloved entertainer.

A performer who did his first impression at the age of seven, Tanner recalls Danny Gans with the utmost respect and admiration.

“I’m thrilled and humbled every time someone compares my show to Danny’s,” Tanner said “When I heard he passed away, I felt like someone kicked me in the stomach. It was shocking. Danny’s passing is a huge loss for anyone who appreciates great entertainment. I would be honored to carry the torch and honor his tradition.”


Like Gans, Paul Tanner’s show is filled with the great voices of comedy, celebrity, and music. His audiences around the world have included the likes of Pope John Paul II, who upon meeting Paul, gently made the sign of the cross over Paul’s vocal chords.

And when Neil Diamond’s mother came to see Tanner in Los Angeles, she told him, “You sound more like my son than my son does!” He smiles while retelling the story, “You don’t get a better review than that.”

When asked how he felt about the opportunity to step into the spotlight departed by Danny Gans, Paul replied, “No one could ever replace Danny Gans. But I think he would love my show.”

Paul Tanner was classically trained at The Juilliard School and spent time in opera as well as acting on Broadway before he developed his show, “Paul Tanner’s First Impressions”which he has performed all over the world. For a preview of Paul Tanner’s show visit www.youtube.com/paultannerofficial.

New Danny Gans promises "show on steroids"

MADtv and NFL pregame impressionist Frank Caliendo arrives on the Las Vegas Strip tonight to launch a new show that's meant to fill the comic impressionist void left by the untimely death of Danny Gans in May.

Ironically, in light of the speculation regarding Gans' drug use, Caliendo tells the Las Vegas Sun that his act at the Monte Carlo "will be my stand-up show on steroids."

Photo: STEVE MARCUS/ Las Vegas Sun

Frank Caliendo may be the new Danny Gans

Frank Caliendo is the latest talent to be hired as a resident headliner on the Las Vegas Strip. The impressionist will debut at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino on October 10th. He'll share a theatre with Lance Burton and supposedly signed a 10-year contract.


You might know Frank from the NFL Sunday show on Fox where he impersonates John Madden. We know him as the fat guy from MADtv who does Al Pacino, Jay Leno and Bill Clinton and who unfortunately always looks like a fat guy doing Al Pacino, Jay Leno and Bill Clinton. But we're certain he has a fast-paced, entertaining show, and if he adds some musical impressions, he could be the new... well, who knows?

(Coincidentally, Caliendo insists he'd been negotiating a Vegas show even before Danny Gans died on May 1st. His chances got better when Gans moved from the Mirage to the Wynn in February, because, like the Mirage, the Monte Carlo is owned by MGM, and Gans' contract with the MGM Mirage contained a clause that prohibited MGM from hiring another impressionist for any of its nine Las Vegas properties.)