Friday, Jan. 7, 2005 | 8:28 a.m.
Some sing for their supper.
Steven David offers supper so that he can sing.
Tired of depending on others for his gigs, the 56-year-old vocalist recently opened a lounge-restaurant to provide a venue for himself and his multitude of friends in Las Vegas to showcase their talents.
"I want this to be a place for musicians," said the former Denver resident. "When I arrived in Vegas there was no place for me to showcase. I wanted a place where I could perform -- a room where I could put a baby grand onstage and make the place available to people like me, a place where I can show what I can do using live musicians instead of tracks.
"I don't have anything against tracks, they have been good to me. But I wanted to be a little more pure in what I did."
The result is a nightclub and restaurant called, modestly, Steven David's, at 545 E. Sahara Ave.
The address, a couple of blocks east of the Stratosphere, isn't exactly in the most exclusive part of the valley, but that doesn't seem to be keeping fans of good music away.
There's plenty of parking in the rear, which is gated and relatively secure. David's also offers an Italian-American menu, with all meals priced less than $20.
And there is the music.
"Right now I sing every night," David said. "I can afford a piano player on weeknights. I know a lot of musicians who are gracious enough to get up and play on weekends."
For now, David's is open 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Fridays and Saturdays are the big nights, with shows at 8 p.m. (featuring David) and 10 p.m. (featuring David and guests).
"This stage is big enough for a 16-piece band, and we've had that many," David said. "I want it to be a place for people to work out, to come and practice their stuff."
His goal?
"I want live music every night," David said. "I want this place to be successful enough for a minimum of a trio onstage every night."
David's interest in music, at least as a profession, blossomed late.
At the age of 40 a couple of friends took him to his first karaoke bar in a Denver suburb. He had just gone through his third divorce and needed some cheering up.
"I watched people at the Holiday Inn making total fools of themselves, but they were having fun," David recalled.
It took him three months to get up enough nerve to step onstage.
He sang a parody of Patti Page's "Tennessee Waltz."
"The fans clapped and laughed with me," David said. "It was a wonderful thing."
He liked the feeling so much he returned every Thursday night to sing the parody.
"People were paying attention to me, and I have always enjoyed being the center of attention," David said.
One night someone convinced him to sing "After the Loving."
"People applauded and I thought that was cool," he said. "Sure, they were all drunk, but it was OK."
David tried different kinds of songs, rock 'n' roll, country and others. But he wasn't satisfied.
"Then I started singing Frank Sinatra tunes and Tony Bennett and Dean Martin," he said. "I could sing them because I was raised on them."
Up until then he had managed a national collection service.
He bought a karaoke setup and started his own karaoke business, making as much as $300 a night for three or four hours of work.
Then he heard about a casino opening in Blackhawk, a couple of hours outside of Denver. He gave them a demo tape, and from that was hired to sing at the Blazing Saddles Casino. Eventually he was performing four nights a week, in addition to his karaoke business.
In 1994 he decided to take a shot at Las Vegas.
"People kept telling me I was too good and that I needed to be in Vegas," he said.
David traveled back and forth for years, performing here and in Colorado.
He had one gig at the Debbie Reynolds casino (now the Greek Isles) that lasted six months. He worked at the Manhattan club, which has changed hands a couple of times since.
Then he and his wife, Susan, decided to quit splitting the career and to move to Vegas full time. She got a job in banking. He became a bill collector during the day while singing at night.
David got to know the Greek Isles' entertainment director, Ron Garrett, a couple of years ago. Garrett, now the entertainment director at the Sahara, liked David's sound and hired him for a two-week gig.
The two weeks turned into 20 months in the lounge at the Greek Isles.
"That was six nights a week, four hours a night," David said. "I got used to singing there. I got better at what I was doing.
"I am not the consummate vocalist, but I have more fun onstage than anyone, and I try to project that, and involve everyone in the fun."
If fun is something you think you might like to be involved in, you can't go wrong at David's.
And you can eat your supper while he sings.
Lounging around
Karaoke is being offered at the Tropicana's Tropics Lounge, temporarily replacing popular entertainer T.J. Fox, who is performing in Atlantic City for the next three months.
Tropicana spokesman Lisa Keim says karaoke will be the entertainment from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays until Jan. 29.
She said the dates may be extended.
The ever-popular dance band State of the Art has changed its name to Art and Soul. The group features lead vocalist Art Porrello, guitarist Mike Murray, drummer Joe LePore, keyboardist Mike Cameron and bass guitarist Angel Santori.
Vocalist Alan Broze will perform at Casa di Amore from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. tonight, backed up by keyboardist Dennis Mellen and saxophonist Rick Jones.
Jazz vocalist/pianist Louise Lambert is starting the New Year with several gigs. From 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays she performs at the Chianti Cafe, 2895 N. Green Valley Parkway.
She will perform from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Oasis Las Vegas Jazz Festival. The event is at the Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort Clubhouse, 2711 W. Windmill Lane. For more information call 327-1611.
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