SongSmith rides storm out

Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005 | 7:58 a.m.

Now they are part of a small community of entertainers from that storm-ravaged part of the nation who have sought refuge in Las Vegas.

The couple, known as SongSmith, are back at work at the Imperial Palace -- only it's the one here.

They can be heard from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays in the Kabuki Lounge until Nov. 23.

Smith said their friend, producer John Stuart, who created "Legends in Concert" at the Imperial Palace, helped get them the gig.

"The hotel actually created the shift for us," he said. "They didn't have anyone performing at that time."

Smith recalled the horrifying time when he and his wife weren't sure whether they were going to live or die.

"We were at Mr. E's on a Saturday night and the storm hit Sunday night," Smith said. "We couldn't get out. Traffic was wall to wall."

When hurricane warnings were first announced they sent their 10-year-old daughter, Sara Shay, out of town with Trish's sister to Atlantic City while the entertainers remained in Biloxi to work.

"At the time we still didn't know if it was going to hit," Smith said. "It came down to a last-minute thing on Sunday. There were reports that there was going to be a tidal surge of 28 feet, but by that time the lines of traffic were unbelievable.

"We didn't want to take a chance getting stuck in traffic -- especially if there was going to be a tidal surge of that magnitude."

The Smiths, who lived in a rental home, sought safety at the home of a friend.

"His house was all boarded up," Smith said. "Ours wasn't."

It was a terrifying night.

"The tidal surge didn't happen, but we got the winds," he said. "Doors were slamming -- we put ourselves up against the door to hold it. For a time we thought we were going to die."

They survived, but their nerves were rattled.

"We went eight days without electricity in 98-degree heat," Smith said. "Mold was growing on the walls. It was just awful."

There was one bright moment -- a benevolent person set up a hot dog stand in the parking lot of a shopping center and passed out hot dogs.

"That was the best hot dog I had ever eaten," Smith said.

Their rental home was severely damaged, with the front side of the roof blown off and water damage to their belongings.

"Everything was ruined," Smith said. "What wasn't ruined, we gave away."

Then another benevolent person came to their aid.

"We didn't know where we were going, what we were going to do," Smith said. "Then my wife's former husband called us from Los Angeles and said to come on out. He and his wife were going to be gone for a couple of weeks and we could house sit for them while we thought about what we were going to do.

"It was just such a wonderful act of compassion. He flew us out there, paid for our tickets and everything."

Smith said he and his wife thought about staying in Los Angeles.

"It's an exciting place," he said. "But there really isn't much of a club market there unless you're 17 or 18, so we decided it probably would be best here in Vegas."

They have a history here.

"We came here from San Diego in the late '80s with the show 'My Generation,' " said Smith, who also was a show producer at the time.

They performed at several places no longer standing -- the Maxim, Continental and Silver Slipper.

When business began to slow down after a couple of years they began performing on Caribbean cruise ships.

"I produced a show for the first gambling cruise ship in Mississippi," Smith said.

For 10 years they performed for all of the major Caribbean cruise lines, living in Key West, Fla., when they weren't at sea.

When their daughter was born they decided to remain ashore.

"We had to change our ways," he said.

They performed a lot in Orlando, Fla., for Disney; they toured the country.

"She was brought up in a suitcase till she reached school age," Smith said.

Then the family settled in Biloxi.

Now, they live in Las Vegas, where they have a room at the Imperial Palace until they can find a place of their own.

When their gig at the Kabuki Lounge ends, Smith expects to have work elsewhere.

"Several other venues have expressed interest," he said.

While many have struggled since the hurricane, Smith says he and his family have been blessed with assistance.

"The Red Cross came through for us," he said. "FEMA came through. MusiCares, the agency with the Grammy Association that helps musicians in disasters -- they helped us. Everybody has been so helpful.

"I'm just thrilled to death."

Jerry Fink can be reached at 259-4058 or jerry@lasvegassun.com.