Sometimes with great talent comes great… vice. It’s no secret that with the glam and glory of fame, many well-known musicians indulge in an occasional bad habit. We’ve compiled a list of four musicians who really enjoy (or enjoyed) gambling. Some of the names on this list are sure to surprise you!
Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra is nothing if not a music and film icon. Being one of the all-time best-selling musicians, you could be forgiven to assume that his career was always clear cut and that he rose to fame with little effort. However, after releasing his debut album, The Voice of Frank Sinatra, in 1946, his career stalled for a while. In that time he joined the Las Vegas scene as part of the Rat Pack. He performed in casinos often and in 1960, he bought a share in the Cal Neva Lodge & Casino. Sinatra not only plays casino games but he also inadvertently advertised Las Vegas through his music and in his films!
Nelly
Nelly is an all-round talent having done everything from rapping, singing, writing songs, being an entrepreneur, investor and an actor. But he is most well known for his best selling album ‘Country Grammar’ and his number one hits “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma” from his later albums. On the Top Artist of the Decade, Billboard ranked Nelly number three. Nelly is really into poker and he played the Main Event at the 2007 World Series of Poker. Unlike Frank Sinatra, who hung around land casinos, nowadays it is easier to practice different casino games online and Nelly definitely put this into good use. He also played The PokerStars European Poker Tour and PokerStars Caribbean Adventure.
Davido
David Adedeji Adeleke was born in Atlanta and grew up in Lagos and is best known by his stage name Davido. “Dami Duro” from his debut studio album Omo Baba Olowo was the first single to really put Davido on the scene. After signing a record deal with Sony Music he released “Fall” which Rolling Stone magazine said was one of the top 100 most Shazamed singles in America in January 2019 and according to Billboard, the ‘longest-charting Nigerian pop song in history! Recently, he was spotted and videoed gambling with his friends. During the game, it is apparent that he lost his Rolex watch and cash, altogether costing him N61m an hour into the game.
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight is an American singer, songwriter, actress, businesswoman, and author. She has had quite an eventful life, being married four times, and had three children. She suffered from both drug addiction and later gambling addiction. On one occasion, when she lost $60,000 in one night at the baccarat table, she signed up for Gamblers Anonymous, who helped her get rid of the habit. Despite all this, Gladys is mostly known for the hits she recorded with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips like “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “That’s What Friends Are For”, and recording the theme song for the 1989 James Bond film “Licence to Kill”.
