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Vince's Bio

Vince was born and raised in Rockville, MD. He moved to NYC in 1981 and worked in two different salons in the World Trade Center. From there he watched the construction of 7 World Trade Center (the first time), the World Financial Center and Battery Park City (BPC). After seeing the scale model of BPC in the newly opened WFC, Vince knew that was where he wanted to open his own salon. Vince Smith Hair Experience opened on South End Avenue in 1990.

September 11th

On September 11th. 2001, for Vince, as for all of us, the world changed. Vince knew 36 people who died that day; clients, friends, their coworkers and their families. The salon re-opened 2 weeks after the disaster. The fires burned for 3 months. Business was strong from the first day even though it is only 3 blocks from the WTC site. Knowing what a trauma all of the community had suffered, Vince sought the help of a trauma specialist to counsel his staff and his clients (most of whom were evacuated from their homes for up to 6 months). He came to the salon twice a week for two years and helped a lot of people learn how to deal with their experiences. It seems most everyone is doing OK now.

Music Background

Vince’s musical background goes to elementary and high school. He started playing piano in 3rd grade, flute in 6th grade, baritone sax and singing in 9th.

Looking for therapy after 9/11, he turned back to music with classical voice lessons. Primal Scream therapy, of sorts?

To find a release for all the grief and emotion associated with his loss and with all the stories he heard everyday from all his clients about their experiences on September 11, 2001, he started writing poetry. From there, the idea to try to set it to music seemed natural.

In April of 2004, he wrote "The Brothers: A Tribute to the Twin Towers". September 11th, 2004, he performed the piece with 4 part choir for the neighborhood at an informal outdoor observance, to an overwhelmingly positive and emotional response.

Rosalie Joseph, the host of the observance and casting director for ABC-TV said that Vince had found the words to express what everyone was feeling but couldn’t figure out how to say.

In August of 2005, he recorded a new arrangement of the piece with 7 part choir and orchestra. The CD is being prepared and will be available for download soon.

Philanthropy

Vince saw how difficult it was after 9/11 for small businesses to get financial help, so he founded the Lower Manhattan Small Business Fund (LMSBF) to help other small businesses who were still struggling.

After the CD was complete, Vince produced the 1st Annual Small Business Benefit Concert on September 11th 2005 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. donating all proceeds of the concert and the sale of the CD to the LMSBF.

Testimonials

Here’s what some of the attendees had to say in emails to Vince after the 9/11/2005 concert.

Hello Vince!
A fitting conclusion to a very hard day.
Thank you for your care and composition.
You were all splendid, especially you.
Love, Lynda Roy, world traveler, member Explorers’ Club

I am still is such awe of the power and the beauty of your performance, your accomplishment, your message so artfully shared with those of us blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the event. I have known you now for 17 years. Needless to say, I was not surprised. Your heart and soul and the depth of your feeling is something I feel very familiar with. I am just so grateful that you have had and taken the step to bring some of this uniqueness to the world. You have thoughts so worth sharing...they are important. Closing with thanks...and the amusing aside, that I can't get the music out of my head...I hear your voice all day...and it is wonderful...
xox Jacwue Weiss, Director Human Resources. AIG

Vince- I was proud and honored to be with you, with all your incredible talent and your bountiful humanitarianism. I was also proud to be a part of the a truly magnificent concert you produced, which I haven't stopped talking about. All the best, and see you soon.
AJG (Alan J Gerson), Downtown City Council Member and MC of the concert

WOW Thank you..................
Linda Cretella, BPC resident

Hi Vince...
That was BEAUTIFUL!
Thank you so much for including me.
I bought several cd's, and will donate a few to my doormen, who were all here that day.
Nancy, former owner, Urban Bird

The show was really nice and heard great comments all around.
Matt Szwed, tech director of Museum Theater

Congratulations! I was so thrilled and excited by the way the concert turned out. Great work!
Cheers, Ari Goodman, founding member, From the Ground Up

Dear Vince, I'm glad I got a chance to listen to your composition "The Brothers". The heartfelt emotion behind it really comes through in the voices and orchestration. An impressive amount of effort went into this - keep up the good work! And thanks for the haircut....
As always, Susan Wald, translator, United Nations

WOW!!!! I just got your CD. Powerful, stirring, amazing. Thank you for sharing this gift with me!!!
You have a gift with composition, writing, and the singing is wonderful.
Are you going to do more? I hope so!
Thanks again for the gift of your Soul here on Earth.
Blessings, Tod

Concert Info

2nd Annual Lower Manhattan Small Business Benefit Concert
Thursday, November 16th, 7:30pm
Location: Museum of Jewish Heritage

Sponsors:

• Women's Venture Fund
• Battery Park City Authority
• Port Authority of NY and NJ
• Goldman Sachs
• Downtown Council Member Alan Gerson
• Vince Smith Hair Experience

Featuring:

• Vince Smith and the Angels and Heroes
• Surprise Guests

You'll hear:

• A new version of "The Brothers: A Tribute to the Twin Towers"
• The debut of original music
• Original arrangements of well-known songs

Please come support the small businesses that make your neighborhood a great place to live!