Getting to know Blanche Morro The Singing Bartender at Resorts Casino
by Mike Vagnoni
She’s one of the hottest singers in Atlantic City and you can see her at Resorts Casino each week. We had a chance to do an Internet Interview and here is what came down with Blanche Morro aka The Singing Bartender!
OOT – Blanche tells us about yourself and what area did you grow up in and also what made you take a path into singing?
Blanche “I was born and raised in the Ducktown section of Atlantic City. I went to the OLD AC High School, that is now a parking lot. My Uncle, “Cooks Books”, Roland Suarez, was a well known singer and cab driver in AC, that formerly worked as an emcee at the 500 Club, and was an AC Ambassador for many years until his untimely death to a murder in 1985 (ironically 26 years ago this month- March 31st) . I called him Uncle Ron, and we were very CLOSE. My Dad, Mario was also an excellent singer but never pursued it. I grew up around music, and sang in the church choir, at St. Michael’s in AC, (which was where I went to grade school) sang in several musicals in high school, was in the high school choir, and show choir, and sang the only solo on an LP that the high school choir produced one year. The song was “Longer by Dan Fogelberg. I performed for many of the March of Dimes telethons as a kid, and over many years. I never had vocal instruction, and started singing with bands right out of high school. I am a wife, and mother to two wonderful kids, a daughter age 17, (also following in my footsteps, and has a beautiful voice), and a very animated 9 year old son”.
OOT – Blanche when did you start working as the singing Bartender?
Blanche “I started working as a singing bartender 15 years ago at an Atlantic City Pub, quite by accident. I sang with the juke box while bartending one night, when a patron asked me why I wasn’t JUST SINGING for a living with such a “beautiful voice”. A light clicked on, and the next day, I asked the owner of the pub if we could lease some karaoke equipment to try it out. He didn’t think it would work, because the place was mostly a shot and beer bar, but then in 2 weeks he, himself, put up a billboard! I now started reading lips, multitasking, taking orders, ringing a register, bringing proper change, all while singing, and not skipping a beat!”
OOT – When did you first get into a Casino to do your thing?
Blanche “3 years later, the President of Resort Operations for Tropicana, Dennis Gomes, walked into this pub, after being told about me by a Marketing exec, and witnessed my act for himself. He hired me for Tropicana on the spot, where he built and named a bar for me, and I had a successful run as the singing bartender, until he left the property 7 years later. In between that position, and my new position with him at Resorts, I worked for private events, in New York, Ct., North Jersey, Maryland, and Las Vegas.. I also worked at Country Clubs, and also was hired in the area for events. In the 5 years between Tropicana and now, whenever I saw Dennis Gomes, he would tell me that as soon as he returned to Atlantic City, that I would return as the singing bartender with him. This came true, as I started working for RESORTS, Dec 7th, 2010. I am now working there Tuesday thru Saturday from 4PM-9:30 with sets every hour, and a great Happy hour Mon-Fri 3-9 PM. I am very glad to be back”
OOT – Thanks Blanche for taking the time to tell us your story and we hope everyone who sees this interview will make it a point to come and visit you at Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City this spring and summer.
Blanche Morro
“Blanche, The Singing Bartender” (TM)
(609) 335-4370