Bad luck revisits pair

Thursday, Dec. 8, 2005 | 8:46 a.m.

If it wasn't for bad news, there would hardly be any news at all for a young R& B vocalist from Louisiana and her father.

Phil Todora and his 17-year-old daughter, Sarah, settled in Las Vegas after Hurricane Katrina devastated areas of their home state.

Friday night or Saturday morning their 1986 Honda Accord was stolen from the apartment complex where they have lived since arriving in the valley.

The car had more than 180,000 miles on it, but at least it got them around town.

"It was just an old junk car," Phil Todora said. "I almost laughed at first when I was filling out the police report. Why would anyone want to steal a 20-year-old car?

"The police said it's pretty common thieves steal them for a quick ride to California or Mexico."

The car, parked in the parking lot of the complex at Nellis Boulevard and Vegas Valley Drive, was broken into two weeks ago.

"They didn't get anything," Todora, 43, said. "There wasn't anything in it."

The last time the car was used was Friday night when the Todoras drove to the home of R&B legend Ruth Brown, an idol of Sarah's.

They returned to their apartment, and the next morning the car was gone.

Until they can afford to get another car, the Todoras will be riding the bus.

"I got on a bus (Tuesday) and took it to a coffee house and used their computer," he said.

The Todoras lived in Lafayette, La., before moving to Las Vegas.

They came here two days before Katrina hit to promote a number of Louisiana musicians, setting up gigs for them locally.

But when the hurricane hit, the musicians scattered, and the Todoras were stuck without an income source.

Since then, Todora has been promoting his daughter.

She often sings Saturday nights at Capozzoli's with Jerry Tiffi while looking for other work.

Now, the search will be on foot, bus or computer.

A benefit will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Celebrity Club at North Third Street and Ogden Avenue, across from the Lady Luck, for the Todoras and for the Ernie Cosse family.

Cosse is a vocalist and bass player who moved to Las Vegas from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina destroyed his home.

Both Sarah and Cosse are expected to perform at the fundraiser.

Others scheduled to perform are The Newport Pacific All-Star Band; David Loeb, head of the UNLV Jazz Department; David Perrico; David Van Such; Frank Fabio; Larry White; Debra Mumford; Joe Mumford; Shelley Fisher; The Cunninghams; and Malia Civitz.

Tickets are $30 and are available online at newportpacificrecords.com or by calling 285-3562.

Local DJ John Nasshan will interview the Todoras at 7 p.m. today on KUNV 91.5-FM. Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or at jerry@lasvegassun.com.