SAD NEWS - DICK GALLAGHER - DEAD AT 49

DICK GALLAGHER - October 16th, 1955 - January 20th, 2005

Dick Gallagher, beloved son of Lorraine and Joseph Gallagher, brother of Daniel and William and cherished uncle to many, died on the afternoon of Thursday, January 20th after a long illness. Mr. Gallagher was 49 years old.

He was best known for his masterful piano accompaniment of the cream of the New York cabaret scene. Along with Mark Waldrop he wrote the scores for three award winning off-Broadway reviews. WHAT NOT won the 1990 Richard Rodgers Production Award and WHOOP-DEE-DO was the winner of the 1993 Outer Critics Circle Award. However, it was the run-away hit, WHEN PIGS FLY, which the duo created with Howard Crabtree that has proven to be most popular of their creations. Bette Midler recorded one of the songs from that score, "Laughing Matters." It's been produced internationally after an extended run in New York, having won the 1996 Outer Critics Circle award for Best Musical Review, and the Drama Desk Award for Best Off-Broadway musical.

The cast albums for these shows have been best sellers worldwide. He also wrote the words and music for the off-Broadway musical HAVE I GOT A GIRL FOR YOU: The Frankenstein Musical, along with the title song for the Charles Busch comedy, YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY. Also written with Mark Waldrop were two shows for the New York based theatre company, Theatre Works: GOLD RUSH and A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Originally from Chicago, Illinois, he graduated with honors from the Northwestern University School of Music. He received his masters degree from the University of Illinois at Champagne. Arriving in New York, he immediately began accompanying a wide variety of some of the city's most well-known cabaret singers, appearing several times at Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, the Oak Room at the Algonquin, Rainbow & Stars, the Carlyle, The Russian Tea Room and every important cabaret room in the city.

He became famous for creating unique musical arrangements for Liza Minnelli, Karen Akers, Liliane Montevecchi, Julie Wilson, Hildegard, Bruce Vilanche, Andrea Marcovicci, David Staller, Charles Busch, Karen Mason, Sally Mayes, Lina Koutrakos, Laura Kenyon, Mandy Patinkin, KT Sullivan, Jeff Harnar and Phillip Officer among dozens of others. He's won more MAC awards (the New York Cabaret award) than any other pianist. For the last several years he has been arranger, accompanist and conductor for Patti Lupone. Along with writer/director Scott Whittman he created several shows for her, which they performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, on Broadway and cabaret appearances and concerts internationally.

In lieu of flowers, they request donations to be made to The Actors Fund of America (http://www.actorsfund.org/) in his name. A memorial service is planned for Sunday the 23rd of January, 6:00 pm, at the FRANK CAMPBELL FUNERAL HOME (1076 Madison Avenue @ 81st Street, NYC - 212-288-3500).

If you wish to add a thought of rememberance,
send me your comments at stuhamstra@svhamstra.com
and if deemed appropriate, it will be added to this page.

 

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