Columnist Jerry Fink: Zarka keeps mood light during blackout

Friday, April 23, 2004 | 8:24 a.m.

Where was Bruce Zarka when the lights went out at Bellagio?

Because the blackout occurred about 2 a.m. April 11, he was in bed. Zarka was due to report to work in the casino's Baccarat Bar at around 4 p.m. that day.

For the past four years the pianist, accompanied by bassist Geralyn Lee, has performed at the lounge that caters to high-rollers.

Zarka, who toured with Louis Prima in the twilight of his career (1972-'75), was the winner of the 1980 Liberace Keyboard Entertainment Search competition. He has been performing in Vegas for more 30 years.

Lee started her career in 1978 at the age of 17 with the Texas Playgirls, a country band. She performed for a while with Zarka when he had his own band (1980-1990).

Their gig is from 4:15 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays.

This past Easter Sunday Zarka went to work as usual, unaware that an electrical outage of unknown origin had darkened one of Vegas' most luxurious resorts.

When he arrived, the scene wasn't what he expected.

The interior was dark -- not pitch black, but extremely dim. Although the main power and a backup power system were down, there was still a source for some auxiliary power that created enough light so that guests could see where they were going.

And they could see well enough to sit at a bar and take advantage of free drinks and snacks as the mass exodus swept past them.

Zarka said many people seemed to be enjoying themselves, even though all gaming had been shut down.

"All the machines were down," he said. "You could have heard a pin drop. The Muzak in the ceiling wasn't working. But there were still people around. They were being moved out, to other hotels."

Zarka said he was impressed at the way the hotel handled itself during the emergency.

There was no panic, no chaos, no thefts -- as far as he knows.

The escalators didn't work, but the elevators did.

"I understand that out of 3,000 hotel rooms, management had flashlights for each room," Zarka said. "Guests were given flashlights right away."

Zarka and Lee worked their regular shift Sunday, 4:15 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., playing for guests as they made their way out of the hotel towing and carrying their luggage.

It wasn't exactly like the band on the Titanic that continued to play as the ocean liner sank, but it could have been.

The thought of terrorism probably flashed through the minds of a lot of people.

"I'm sure it crosses everybody's mind," he said.

Zarka was told to go home and keep his cell phone on. They would let him know when to return to work.

The hotel and casino were all but empty by the time he left at 8:30 p.m.

"When I went to the valet to get my car, there was no one waiting," said Zarka.

As he drove away, he looked back at the unusual sight he was leaving behind.

"It was weird," Zarka said. "The whole hotel looked black, but inside there were some lights."

Zarka received a call from the Bellagio to be at the lounge Wednesday before 5 p.m., when the resort's doors were scheduled to reopen.

"The entertainment department wanted me playing as the guests came in," Zarka said.

When he arrived at the hotel, he said, "There was a long line of people outside the hotel you wouldn't believe."

He described the handling of the situation as "first class" on the part of the Bellagio.

"Everyone who stayed at the hotel got a complimentary buffet from the 5 p.m. check-in time until 11:30 p.m.," Zarka said.

As for his part, he said he was just practicing the old show business adage -- the show must go on.

Lounging around

Las Vegas newcomer, saxophonist Johnny O (John Ofria) and Cool Mist were hot at Gordon Biersch, 3987 Paradise Road, where they performed from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday.

John Earl and the Boogie Man Band will be at the Emergency Room Lounge, 3550 S. Decatur Blvd., from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday.

At Casa di Amore, the Lynn Ross Trio performs jazz from 8 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

Look for multitalented vocalist Denise Clemente at the Cannery May 4 through May 30. She will perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 8 p.m. to midnight Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

Lounge crooner Brian Evans, who has homes in Las Vegas and Wailea, Hawaii, notes that he is celebrating his No. 2 spot on Amazon.com's best-selling jazz artists. Evans has performed in lounges at Bally's, Desert Inn, the Tropicana and the MGM Grand.

Evans recently announced he is running for the U.S. Senate from Hawaii. A lounge performer in politics? Has he been talking to Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt, who announced recently she is a candidate for governor?