Who was a contemporary of Wayne newton?

Answer 1

The closest was Bobby Darin, though in reality, NO ONE. When Newton bursed onto the scene in 1963, no one his age was doing his type of music especially in his live shows as he was prone to do Tin Pan Alley music with an updated, swinging' arrangement. Everyone else his age was doing R&R, or were much older, hence Darin.

Later in the 70's Newton's song became modern and hip, putting him more in line with Elvis, but again, the age gap held newton in his own right, where he stands today.