Premier Estate Properties agent Cindy O’Dare is sponsoring Live From Vero Beach, a music series taking place this upcoming January, February and March at the Emerson Center. O’Dare’s fascinating past has a lot to do with her desire to support the arts and her community in Vero Beach. Today, O’Dare assists high-end clients with buying and selling luxury properties as a top-performing and award-winning broker associate at our Vero Beach office. Some may not realize that her real estate career was somewhat inspired by an unrelated industry and a unique business she ran in Miami during the ’70s and ’80s. O’Dare had a business called Home at Last, designed to take care of rock groups that recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami. She and her partner handled housing, transportation, catering, and anything else the musicians needed so they could focus on their music. She met and sometimes formed friendships with some of the major bands who recorded at Criteria, including Chicago, The Bee Gees, The Eagles, The Allman Brothers, and more. Over time, her business in Miami naturally evolved into an interest in the real estate industry.
“In 1976, my clients, The Bee Gees, called from The Isle of Man and said they wanted to buy three houses on North Bay Road and asked if I could help with that,” O’Dare said. “I immediately took a one-week crash course with Bert Rogers School of Real Estate and got my license. They arrived a few weeks later and I sold them three of the most expensive homes in the history of Miami Beach.” The transition from taking care of the rich and famous to selling luxury properties in Vero Beach was quite seamless, as the two share many similar elements and skillsets. You could say O’Dare has always been in the business of hospitality and making people feel at home, both temporarily and permanently. Her involvement with the music industry and celebrities also inspired her love for music, and a desire to support the environment and the arts. O’Dare is on the board of the Environmental Learning Center and contributes to the Cultural Council, Ballet Vero Beach, and other local causes. Plus, as part of her commitment to supporting the arts in 2017, O’Dare is sponsoring the entirety of the Live From Vero Beach music series. She sponsored a show last year and could not pick just one to support this year, so she decided to get behind the whole series. “I felt like our country wouldn’t be what it is without the artists, the musicians, the dancers and the poets,” O’Dare said. “The arts are always the first to go when the government makes cutbacks so it was a very clear decision I made this year.” The series kicks off on Friday, January 12, and runs through Friday, March 30. Performers include Livingston Taylor and Karla Bonoff, Peter Yarrow, Live from Laurel Canyon, Poco, The Association, Broken Arrow (a tribute to Neil Young), “1964” The Tribute (a tribute to the Beatles), Firefall, and John Sebastian. O’Dare even has a personal connection to Firefall, her former clients and long-time friends. The band is best known for their biggest selling hit, “You are the Woman.” O’Dare has maintained many celebrity connections to this day, as her clients became friends, especially after staying with her for long periods of time. The Eagles stayed with O’Dare seven times for months at a time to record “Hotel California,” and O’Dare and her business partner even have the first “thank you” on the album’s liner notes. In addition to supporting the work of musicians, O’Dare is passionate about promoting a local event in Vero Beach. She truly loves the community she lives and works in. “I love that Vero Beach is small but mighty,” O’Dare said. “We have beautiful beaches, clean air, great restaurants and shopping, a world-class art museum, two regional theaters, an incredible ballet company, and no traffic. I love the sense of community here.” Join O’Dare and her mission to support our local community and its amazing arts culture by attending any of the shows at Live From Vero Beach in January, February or March. Check out the full schedule and purchase tickets!