Reno Gazette-Journal from Reno, Nevada • Page 82

Ineps Willis trades action roles for a blues harp Who: Bruce Willis and the Accelerators When: 9 p.m. Nov. 22 Where: Silver Legacy, Grande Exposition Hall Cost: $50 Details: (800) 687-8733 Web: www.silverlegacy.com class South Jersey upbringing to paychecks upwards of $20 million, maintains he isn't straining to display his versatility, however. "I would get asked back if Ijustdid'Die Hard 9'," he said, lightly chortling. "As long as it made money, the studios would ask me back.

I'm just trying to keep myself interested, so I don't get bored that's why I seek out things that are different each time." Willis works only about five to six months a year now, taking the rest of the time off to "hang out with my kids. I enjoy taking time off as much as I do working." He remains cordial with ex-wife Demi Moore and sees a lot of their three daughters Rumer, 13, Scout, Willis, who once had a Best known for action roles twinged with sardonic humor, Bruce Willis also has the heart of a rocker, as evidenced by his musical pursuits. Willis and his band the Accelerators will play a concert on Nov. 22 at Silver Legacy's Grande Exposition Hall. Willis may smirk on-screen from time to time, but he does take his soul and blues music seriously.

A lifelong fan of that style, he made his recording debut, "The Return of Bruno," for Motown Records in 1986, at the height of his fame on the television series, "Moonlighting." Since that CD which featured the MTV hit "Respect Yourself," a cover of the Staple Singers' classic Willis has split time between films and live performances. This year featured a 10-city summer tour, as well as a late September tour in Iraq as part of the USO's "Touch of Home" tour for the troops. "It was a life-changing experience for me and one I will never forget," said Willis, who was born on a military base in Germany. The Accelerators hand-picked by Willis from gigging bands and the recording session circuit feature guitarists Doug Hamblin and Miles Joseph, bassist Johnny Bazz, drummer Josh Kelly and harmonica player Bruce Dimattia. The WillisAccelerators shows have been known to turn into dance parties, and as such the Legacy's hall will be modified to reflect a more intimate 'Uy iiiijNin i club-like setting.

Willis is continuing this musical thread with his newest business venture, a record label called Uptop. The first signing is Ivan Neville, the youngest of the famed Neville Brothers. The Accelerators will also record for Uptop, as well as tour as time permits. "I think I'm never in any danger of being accused of being a singer. But it's fun," he says of this 'second' career.

"It's a good hobby." Shortly after his performance in Reno, Willis will begin production on his latest film "Hostage" in which he stars as hostage negotiator Jeff Talley. Although it is an action role, Willis told the Associated Press recently that he doesn't want to be typecast as an action hero hence his riskier roles in films such as "The Sixth Sense," a thriller that turned into a megahit. "I'm lucky. I've had a little success in other genres," he said. "Because that really determines how versatile you get to be.

You're not going to be invited Provided by the artist Bruce Willis reputation as a party-hearty guy, says he never paid attention to his own mortality until he had kids. "Even if you live to be 80 years old, it still goes by real quick. I've been aware of how quick life goes by for a long time, and how easily it can be taken away," said Willis, whose brother, Robert, died of cancer last June. back to do other comedies if you don't do one that makes some dough. It is a business.

Hollywood's not just everybody out there going, 'Let's get together and make a It's a big business." Willis, who's gone from a working- Robinson wrote, sang some of Motown's revered classics is Who: Smokey Robinson When: 10 p.m. Nov. 21 and 22 Where: Reno Hilton, Theater Cost: $45, 35 Details: 789-2285 or (800) 648-3568 Web: www.renohilton.com kids, who were very young at the time. I felt like I was no longer contributing to the group and I was vice president of Motown, so I just figured I'd stop singing and recording and just be VP and go to my office every day and do that job and let that be it. I was going to have this early retirement.

That was a big mistake. After about three years or so of that, I was climbing the walls." So Berry Gordy Jr. founder of Motown Records, whom Robinson met in the late 1950s, and Robinson's wife at the time, Charlotte, convinced Robinson to leave the office and get back to where he belonged writing, recording and performing. "They ganged up on me and said, 'We want you to get a band, get yourself together, record some music and get out of here because you are making us So that's what I did. Thank God, I have been here ever since that George Burns of this end of show business." Before his three-year hiatus, Robinson had written some of rock's most beautiful songs and love ballads.

His more well-known tunes include "Tears of a Clown" (music written by Stevie Wonder), "I Second That Emotion," "Shop "Ooo Baby Baby," and "You've Really Got a Hold On Me." "The Tracks of My Tears" recently was named one of the five best songs ever written in a poll of 20 songwriters, including Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson, in England's Mojo magazine. His solo hits include "Cruisin' and "Being With You." Robinson also wrote hit songs for the Temptations Girl," "Get Ready" and "The Way You Do the Things You Mary Wells Beat Me to the Punch," "My Guy" and "Two and Marvin Gaye That Peculiar" and "I'll Be Smokey Robinson says he loves writing, and he's had plenty of practice. Dubbed "America's greatest living poet" by Bob Dylan, Robinson wrote a steady stream of top 10 hits for his vocal group The Miracles, many more songs for his continuing solo career, and yet more material for Motown acts like The Temptations, Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye. Add to that his work as a vice-president at Motown Records during its peak years, and you have one busy musician. "This is what I love," Robinson said in a recent Reno Gazette-Journal interview.

"It's my life and it's what I love, and I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing. So I just continue with it, man." Despite a career that has spanned more than 40 years and has included 36 Top 40 hits, a Grammy "Living Legend" Award and a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Associated Press file Smokey Robinson left to do." Despite the dedication, there was a time when Robinson did think of other things to do besides performing. After a decade of success with the Miracles and helping Motown make a name for itself, Robinson left the group in 1972. He had been made vice president of Motown in 1961 and thought he would focus on that. "I left because of the fact that I thought (the Miracles) had done everything a group could do, and I wanted to Fame, Smokey Robinson doesn't feel he's reached the pinnacle of the music industry.

"It kills me when I hear people say, 'Well, he's on top of show Robinson said. "Well, no. There is no top. There's always something spend more time with my time. I'm going to be the.