Las Vegas Legends & Showroom Classics – Famous Guitar Songs

This page includes acoustic guitar lessons for elegant standards like Ella Fitzgerald’s “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” Jerry Butler’s “Moon River,” and beloved nightclub favorites from Engelbert Humperdinck, including After the Lovin’, How Do I Stop Loving You, and Love Me with All Your Heart.

You’ll also find classic hits by Paul Anka, Matt Monro, Francis Langford, Louis Armstrong, and Vegas icon Wayne Newton, with songs such as Put Your Head on My Shoulder, Times of Your Life, and Through the Eyes of Love.

Each tutorial includes clear chords, strumming guides, rhythm tips, and helpful song background so you can bring these legendary showroom tunes to life on your guitar.

Dream A Little Dream is an old number recorded by Ella Fitzgerald with Louis Armstrong in 1950 and appeared on the album Ella and Louis.

Although the song dates back to 1931, Fitzgerald’s version became one of its most beloved interpretations. It wasn’t a major chart single for her at the time, but it remained a staple of the Great American Songbook.

No official video exists, though televised performances helped popularize the duet. Many artists later covered the song — including Mama Cass, whose 1968 version became the biggest hit. The Fitzgerald–Armstrong rendition is often praised for its warm chemistry, even though the two recorded their parts separately in the studio.

After The Lovin was released in 1976 and became one of Engelbert Humperdinck’s signature ballads and appeared on the album of the same name.

The single reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, earning Engelbert a Grammy nomination. No formal music video exists, but it became a staple of his Las Vegas performances.

The song has been covered by artists including Wayne Newton and Mel Tillis. Engelbert said this was the first song in years that “felt like a true comeback,” re-establishing him as a leading adult-contemporary vocalist.

How Do I Stop Loving You is a beautiful song recorded in 1970 that was featured on Engelbert Humperdinck’s album We Made It Happen. Released as a single in several markets, it reached No. 39 on the UK charts and became a favorite among his fans for its sweeping orchestral arrangement.

No music video was produced, but Engelbert performed it regularly on television specials. The song was later covered by singers across Europe and South America.

Engelbert often described the song as “one of the most difficult to sing live” because of its demanding final note.

Love Me With All Your Heart was translated from Spanish to English and recorded by Engelbert Humperdinck in 1967, appearing on his album Release Me. Although not released as a major single in the U.S., it became a live-show favorite and a popular international track.

The song is an English adaptation of the Spanish bolero “Cuando Calienta el Sol,” which has been recorded by dozens of artists. No official video exists.

Engelbert’s smooth phrasing helped push this song into his permanent setlist, even though other artists — including Ray Charles Singers — charted with it more noticeably.

I'm In The Mood For Love was recorded by Frances Langford in 1935 for the film Every Night at Eight, became her most famous performance. The single topped early radio charts and helped establish her as “The Sweetheart of the Airwaves.”

Long before the album era, the song circulated as both sheet music and 78-rpm singles. It has been covered extensively — including versions by Louis Armstrong (1935), Ella Fitzgerald (1946), and Bryan Ferry (1999). 

Langford’s original rendition became so iconic that the film studio rewrote scenes to feature her more prominently after hearing her test recording.

What A Wonderful World hit the airwaves in 1967 and can be found on the album What a Wonderful World and first charted in the UK, reaching No. 1 for four weeks. In the U.S., it initially stalled due to poor radio promotion but later became one of Armstrong’s most beloved songs after being reissued in 1988, reaching No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100.

No official video existed, but it regained popularity thanks to its use in films like Good Morning, Vietnam.

Armstrong recorded the song late at night to avoid traffic noise outside the studio — and he was paid only $250 for the session.

Be My Lady was a song written by Filipino songwriter Vehnee A Saturno in 1983 and was recorded by Matt Monro in 1968. It appeared on his album This Is the Life!. The song was not a major charting single, but it became known for Monro’s smooth vocal style and orchestral arrangement.

No music video exists, though the song appeared on several televised performances.

Monro was so respected among musicians that many referred to him as “the singer’s singer,” and songs like Be My Lady strengthened his reputation as a master of phrasing.

Softly As I Leave You released in 1962, became one of Matt Monro’s defining ballads and appeared on his album Matt Monro Sings. The single reached No. 10 on the UK charts and remains one of his most enduring classics.

No music video was made, but Monro performed it widely on BBC television. The song has been covered by dozens of artists, including Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and Michael Bublé. 

Despite its romantic feel, the original Italian lyric was actually about a man leaving his lover as he dies from illness — a much darker meaning than the English version suggests.

Put Your Head On My Shoulder was a 1959 release on Paul Anka’s album Paul Anka Sings His Big 10, Vol. 3. The single reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of his most iconic teen-idol hits.

No music video existed, though Anka performed it regularly on variety shows. The song has been covered extensively, including versions by The Lettermen (1975) and Michael Bublé (2005).

The classic “close-crooner” microphone technique Anka used for this recording inspired many later doo-wop ballads.

Times Of Your Life was released in 1975 and doubled as both a commercial jingle for Kodak and a full-length single. It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart, later appearing on Anka’s album Times of Your Life.

No official music video exists, but the Kodak TV ads served as its visual companion.

The song became so emotionally tied to Kodak’s “capture the moment” campaign that Anka later re-recorded it for several international versions of the commercial.

The Candy Man was written for the 1971 movie "Willie Wonka And The Chocolate Factory" and was sung by Aubrey Woods who was the store owner in the movie.

Sammy Davis Jr was not fond of the song but recorded it for his 1971 album "Sammy David Jr Now" and when released as a single, became his only #1 hit. 

Barry Manilow used the original vocals from Sammy and created a duet for his album in 2014 called "My Dream Duets".

Remember When We Made These Memories came out in 1965 and can be found on Wayne Newton’s album Summer Wind. The single reached No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 but performed better on adult-contemporary radio.

No music video exists, but Newton performed it frequently in his early Las Vegas shows.

This number was written by Bert Kaempfert, whose works were also recorded by Sinatra, giving it that classic mid-1960s pop-standard sound.

Through The Eyes Of Love recorded in 1967 and appeared on Newton’s album Mr. Las Vegas.

Released as a single, it reached No. 27 on the Adult Contemporary chart. The song did not have a formal music video, but Newton’s live performances helped make it a fan favorite.

Decades before Melissa Manchester’s song of the same title became a hit, Newton’s earlier version was already circulating — sometimes leading to confusion among collectors.