Las Vegas Lounge Icon Cook E. Jarr Has Died
If you lived in Las Vegas in the 80’s, 90’s, 2000’s – you knew Cook E. Jarr.
When I first moved to Las Vegas, and started working as a young comedian, Cook E. Jarr and the Krums were the show to see. At that time, Las Vegas lounge shows went from 8pm till the sun came up.
After our shows at Catch A Rising Star (originally at Bally’s, which is now the Horseshoe), or The Comedy Stop at The Tropicana, or the Riviera Comedy Club, we’d all head over to The Continental (now the Silver Sevens), because Cook E. Jarr was playing. It was one of the first real residencies.
Cook E. Jarr Was Seriously Talented
A local comic friend of mine took me to see Cook E. Jarr the first time I saw him. We walked in, and I thought, “no way. You can’t be serious.” Some extremely tan guy with longer jet black hair, big Elvis style sunglasses, and a half unbuttoned shirt showing off his chest, and a Mr. T batch of gold chains. My friend said “wait till you hear him do Toni Braxton’s ‘Unbreak My Heart.” Ok. Sure.
Well, sure enough, I hear the intro to ‘Unbreak My Heart,’ and then I hear Cook E. Jarr. He could sing! But he also did some of the most fun shows you’d ever see. Taking the ‘Love Train’ through the casino with dozens of audience members in tow. From ‘My Girl‘ To ‘Hot In Here‘ – he had it down! Tip Jarr, and all.
I probably saw him a dozen times after that, and he went on to represent nothing but good times and fun in my life, and so many others who saw him. And if you met him, you saw that he was the real deal, and as authentic as they come.
Sadly, Antonio Giuseppe Pettine passed away at the age of 83, after a lengthy hospitalization. You knew him as Cook E. Jarr.
Originally from Philadelphia, he made a huge name for himself in Las Vegas. And we will never forget him!