In 2014 Simon returned to the stage to be reunited with Jon English for the first time in many years as they performed in SPAMALOT at QPAC. This sell-out season was a triumph for The Harvest Rain Theatre Company. 2015 Simon has taken over the role of The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz in the Australian production of WICKED and opened with it at the commencement of the Brisbane season. Gallaher recently sat in the director's chair for the first time and created a new version of his ever popular version of The Pirates of Penzance which played QPAC in March to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the arts centre and of the show's original opening. He is currently on the Board of Trustees to the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), the Chair of The Harvest Rain Theatre Company and is also on the board of the Queensland Theatre Company (QTC). He is patron to many arts organisations including The Qld. Show Choir, Qld Youth Symphony Orchestra, Spotlight Theatre Company and the Gold Coast Theatre Alliance. He is a member of Live Performance Australia (LPA) and sits on the Helpmann Awards nominating panel for Musical Theatre.
SINGLES
My Friend
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Simon Gallaher & Jackie Love
| 25 OCT '82 | #27 |
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Gallaher
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
Simon Gallaher was introduced to the Australian world of music in the early 1980's. His father a doctor, proud of his son, financed his first very expensive show at one of the major Gold Coast International Performance Auditoriums, thus launching Simon's entertainment career. The show featured Simon on piano and vocals and he was backed fully by the 29piece Teddy Wallace (1931-2008) Big Band / later to become ABC Orchestra / dressed in jackets of gold orange. (Same band had been called by many names depending on the supporting financial sponsor - the 4IP Orchestra; the 4BH Orchestra. It featured Len Austin; Teddy Wallace; Mick Morgan; and (Dr) Roy Thompson in the front line in the Woodwind section. (The section doubled - clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe). Brian King was on hand for bass and Verne Thompson was at hand (on piano relief) when Simon was moving/ singing. I became one of four backing singers available. Simon followed a slight Liberace style approach to the show, with cool subdued lighting on piano, a candelabra that shimmered lit as he played. The 4IP Big Band dancers (dressed in their pink ostrich feathers with headgear performed in the style of the Moulin Rouge but 'non-topless girls' of France). The beautiful girls accompanied him in his show dancing routines and the whole show was quite spectacular! Teddy Wallace was the Musical Director and Band Leader for Simon's debut performance. Other performances with Simon followed. Lenny Austin on bass baritone added a 'real pink panther' to the show as the band played and he (as the Pink Panther) swinging his tail, came out on stage (costumed) but playing the sax. Meanwhile... Simon and the stage girls hurriedly costume changed. Some time after this debut... Simon teamed up with Jackie Love (who is featured on this site in the video) and the pair focused on duets. Simon then broke into the television industry (QTQ 9 or BTQ 7 - not sure)...I think QTQ 9 because Teddy Wallace as orchestra leader was also supporting Hugh Cornish at QTQ 9 /arranging, doubling and assisting on Hugh's professional piano album...and Hugh was a QTQ9 manager who believed in encouraging all young musician/entertainers, giving them opportunities. It was therefore not surprising that not that long after his debut, and teaming up with Jackie, Simon was offered his own show which in the 1980's became quite successful & well received by the Australian public.
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