Memorial for Gallagher set for February
BY RICHARD SKELLY
CORRESPONDENT
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 01/31/07

A musical memorial service is being planned to honor the memory of Asbury Park native Big Danny Gallagher, a singer, songwriter, storyteller and bandleader who died Jan. 25 in Nederland, Colo.

The event is scheduled to take place Feb. 11 at Asbury Park's Red Fusion, formerly Harry's Roadhouse on Cookman Avenue.

"Danny was larger than life, and he was a great showman," recalled Gallagher's longtime friend, Eileen Chapman of Asbury Park. "He was more than a singer, and he often stole the show from other performers."

Born Jan. 3, 1948, Gallagher played football for Asbury Park High School and later became an iron worker with Local 373 in Perth Amboy.

A big, burly man known as a gentle soul, Gallagher suffered a fall while on an iron working job in the 1970s. He later augmented his disability income from the iron-workers union by playing at Shore-area clubs.

Through the years, he also performed at many benefit shows for friends and at the annual Clearwater Festival, where Chapman first met him in the late 1970s at Sandy Hook.

Gallagher performed in the early 1980s as part of the Renegade Blues Band with guitarist Billy Hector and harmonica player Bill Lilley.

He recorded a self-produced, self-released album in 1993, Big Danny Gallagher and the Lost Leader Band's "Don't Stop the Dreaming," which featured musical contributions from former E Street Band drummer Vini Lopez, guitarist Kirk Budleman and bassist Vinnie Roslyn.

The album was well-received locally, according to Chapman, who previously owned Almost Live CDs in Belmar, an independent record store. She recalled shipping boxes of "Don't Stop the Dreaming" overseas to England and Ireland, where Gallagher traveled frequently.

Gallagher often told funny stories in addition to playing original blues, roots and rock songs. Chapman recalled how he wrote one funny original song, "Love Gravy," on a brown paper bag one night at the now-defunct Mrs. Jay's Beer Garden, where Chapman had worked as manager.

Chapman said Gallagher had been hospitalized with pneumonia several weeks prior to his death. He died in his sleep.

The Feb. 11 musical tribute will bring together many of Gallagher's old friends from the Asbury Park music scene.

"Vini Lopez, Lee Hefter and Kirk Budleman will be putting together the music portion of the show," said Chapman, "and we'll be looking to raise money to buy some musical instruments for the Asbury Park High School music program in Danny's name."

The Red Fusion event is being called "Big Danny's Final Farewell Tour."

Further details will be posted on Gallagher's Web site, being maintained by his cousin, at www.bigdannygallagher.com.