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David De Alba Interview |
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Artist Interview: David de Alba
Interview By: Len
1.) Lots going on for you right now David, with your new CD just coming
out. Thanks for taking time with us. What prompted you to do the CD at
this time? Is this something you have been working on for awhile?
Well, I have been asked by many fans since my San Francisco Finocchio days
(many of them have passed on by now) that since I have had such a large
repertoire of songs, and since most female impersonators, no matter how
good they are at their craft, pantomime to recordings, why I did not have
any CDs or videos available for sale. So I decided that the time was right
in this Year of 2002, and with the great help of my partner/Webmaster
Paul, the dream became reality.
Now the funny thing is these same fans of mine that write to me all the
time via e-mail have not |
bought my new CD, but are just wishing me good luck with it. Total
strangers who have never seen me perform are the ones who have bought them
thus far and that even includes people from Europe. We just had them
ready for sale since about two weeks ago, but I was very lucky that Irish
music critic and ex-record producer Billy Tweedie got one of my copies and
gave me a glowing online CD review. I hope that will open the doors to
more sales. This reminds me of some old recordings where I heard the great
Ella Fitzgerald remind her audience after she sang a song that got a lot of
applause that she had a new record out and please go out and buy it. So I
guess if that was good enough for Ella to say so, then I will do the same.
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2.) In addition to your well known act at the Finocchio Club, you are
a celebrity interviewer, hairstylist, and have indeed met many
celebrities yourself. Is there a particular part of your career which
you have enjoyed the most?
I enjoyed my hairstyling career, especially when I opened that
well-known Potrero Hill salon in San Francisco: "Heri, The
Hairstylist to the Stars". My mom Tila was my secretary there too
after she retired from teaching in Chicago, Illinois and I had a lot
of fun at the shop with her and many of my lovely ladies and very nice
male clientele. I attracted the TV cameras there for many
mini-documentaries done about my unique hair salon and about my own
hair work. The ultimate was to have actor Tony Curtis film a
sequence for a TV pilot called "Spies". He was very charming
to me and the few ladies I was grooming then at the salon and I will
never forget that day! Tony took me out across the street to meet his
filming crew and I was even asked to talk on camera for the few
minutes of film left.
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The performing career is what I love best of all. Not just my long run at
Finocchio's from the early 1970's to the mid 1980's, working with some
of the nicer performers there, but I also did many television shows and
performed at so many nightclubs and private parties, radio shows, theatres and
especially working in Miami and Miami Beach with my old friends and singing
idols from Cuba, Olga Chorens and Tony Alvarez.
My
Celebrity Interviews
Series has been fun and a pain in the neck too. Some people do not
cooperate giving you the answers or the photos on time and it is as if they
were doing me a favor, when it is just the opposite. I'm trying to give
them valuable world wide web exposure, as a tribute to those who have retired,
and as a career boost to those still working or just starting out in the field
of entertainment. It is costing us money to keep those interviews
alive on my Web site. I have so many by now that they don't fit on our
regular server and had to go out to other servers and buy storage space.
Even a dear old friend of mine had the gall to ask me point blank "David,
what is your agenda behind doing these interviews?" That really hurt!
I even got to do some big Stars like Buddy Ebsen and Robert Goulet, who
certainly did not need any help from me in their careers. They did
appreciate the unique exposure and the chance to promote their latest project
such as a book, etc. to my online audience.
The positive part of my interviews is that I did meet a few entertainers who
are very appreciative of what Paul and I set out to do and we have become good
friends. By the way, Paul does the photo layout, the final editing of
the text and launches them on the Internet. Without his invaluable help
none of these interviews would exist on my
Website.
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3.) Which celebrity that you have met was the biggest thrill and why?
In Cuba as a young child meeting the very famous singing couple Olga
Chorens and Tony Alvarez. As a teen in Chicago in the late 1960's,
when I met the one and only Miss Judy Garland and she even kissed me
on the cheek. (For more about this incident, please check my Web site page "My
Encounters with the Legendary Judy Garland".) Then many
years later meeting the charming actor Tony Curtis at my hair salon in
San Francisco.
4.) I understand you have a large collection of Judy Garland
memorabilia, would you tell us something about your collection?
My extensive record (and now cassette and CD) collection started in
the mid -1960's in Chicago when I learned about Judy Garland and then
met her in person. When I was living in San Francisco my partner
Paul helped me to buy many rare movie posters on Polk Street; also
going to old movie theatres and buying lobby cards from the theatre managers
after a Garland movie was shown. In the mid 1970's I attended
the Judy Garland Auction in Los Angeles and bought a pair of shoes she
wore in her last movie "I Could Go On Singing" in the scene
where she sings "Hello Bluebird", and some
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of her musical arrangements hand written by Mort Lindsey, that I used in my
own act later on. By the way, I appeared in People Magazine holding
one of Judy's gowns at that auction. Then of course being a member of the Judy
Garland Fan Club in London and some of the fan clubs here in the USA I bought
many items. There is also my collection of Wizard of Oz dishes and others
featuring Judy, photo scrapbooks, Garland dolls and so many things that it
would be impossible for me list them all.
5.) How did you get started in female impersonation?
I got started in female impersonation in Chicago in the mid-1960's when a
well-known and very handsome hairstylist that worked in a salon near where I
lived told me he wanted to make me up one day and create something a-la drag
out of me, and after doing so he told me that I resembled Judy Garland.
I never had a Drag Mother and the people that were in the business already
working in shows in Chicago did not like the competition and did not help me
out at all.
I never pantomimed. I always liked to sing live. I only had to pantomime twice
on TV since I could not bring my musical arrangements to the TV station,
because they had no budget to pay for musicians. Most of the time I managed to
either bring my own musicians or to have my own orchestral sound tracks to
sing to. My entire show career is detailed in my Résumé on my Web site
if anyone cares to read it.
6.) Was impersonating say for instance, Judy Garland, something which came
naturally or was there training involved? If there was training, what did that
include?
Judy Garland was never hard for me to impersonate. It came almost
naturally but she was never easy to do vocally since Judy was such a great
singer with a voice that was uniquely her own. I had to take many voice
lessons and watch tapes of her TV and concert work to do learn all of her
expressions and gestures. I never claimed to sound exactly like her or
Liza (my other act), but to come as close as I can with the best of my
ability. So that makes me in a second rate copy of them, but I am first rate
original when I do my own International Boy-Chic act, because that is me
singing out there as myself!
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7.) Did you make your own costumes?
My first costumes (drag and male dancing) were made for me in Chicago
during the mid 1960's by my very devoted Grandma María, then
years later Paul made me a Liza costume, my FI friend Robin Price made
me some costumes to wear at Finocchio's, some by top San Francisco
designer Jheri, some by a dear lady fan and friend of mine, the late
Bess Pollaceck, and others came about when Lavern Cummings retired
from Showbiz and I bought many of his lovely costumes. Actually
some were purchased from very fancy second hand stores in the Pacific
Heights area of San Francisco when I found out from Harvey Lee that
many wealthy matrons donated their gowns there. You see I was still a
poor boy from Cuba and could not afford the thousands of dollars
designer prices. I saved most of my money to invest in fancy musical
charts for my Finocchio Club stage work. The Finocchios did not
appreciate it at the time, but I did it for myself to make sure I had
the best of musical support for the audience to hear.
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8.) What was it like, performing at the Finocchio Club?
In the spring of 2002 I will release a CD of my backstage Finocchio Memoirs
which includes some rare musical tracks recorded live on stage. Meanwhile, as
I said in some other interviews, especially in one I did for LadyLike Magazine
for Interviewer/Historian of FIs, Ms Bob, I mentioned there that there were
some happy memories and some bittersweet ones too. The audiences I loved for
the most part because they were wonderful, and meeting some big name
celebrities who came to see our show and sometimes even visit us backstage. Of
course there are a few entertainers I worked with at Finocchio's that I
miss terribly like Bobby de Castro, Carroll Wallace, Rene de Carlo, Marlo
Adame, Jackie Phillips and Lavern Cummings that come to mind now. But
the instigation that went on at Finocchio's that gained its reputation as
"The House of Hate" among many of the older entertainers in
the Drag World of Show business that performed there, that part I did not
like. You see I came from Cuba from a loving close-knit family atmosphere and
I don't have a mean bone in my body, so I was not use to that kind of verbal
abuse.
9.) You worked with so many talented and well known people, do you have a
favorite?
That would be like asking a mother which of her children she loves the
best, but I must say that the entertainers I mentioned in the above question,
fit the bill of my favorites from that Finocchio bunch. Of course, outside
Finocchio's, working with Olga and Tony in Florida and appearing with Filipino
singer Amapola in San Francisco on her KEMO TV shows also are fond highlights
in my career.
We have some questions which were mailed in by members and Equal Pride
readers. Hope you don’t mind?
10.) A couple of questions were asked by more than one, so we are combining a
few. Where can you be seen now? Plans for future performances?
Right now we are trying to sell our home here in Arizona to move to the Las
Vegas area. So I am concentrating on doing one or two more online interviews
for my
Website, trying
to market my first Spanish CD, and then recording two more CDs later this
year. After that I may put a video of some of my show highlights on the
market. My show friends Marlo Adame and his show partner Carlos Candiani who
perform in Mexico are trying to get their big revue booked in Las Vegas and
they want me to be a part of it, for which I am delighted. Otherwise I will
haunt every agent's office in Las Vegas (if I ever move there) to do
periodically some gigs here and there. Right now I am asked quite often
to go on tour to places like Singapore or two go on on a cruise ship for 6
months, or to fly all over the USA doing 'one nighters' here and there,
but I hate traveling, so I declined such offers. I even had a chance to
work out of Hamburg, Germany with some show friends of mine, but I am too much
of a homebody to leave my parents and pets for such a long time, since Paul
could go with me without any problem. That was one of the nicest things about
being working at Finocchio's; to be able to work in a world famous nightclub
at night and then be able to return to my home the same night.
11.) From sarieB:
I saw you perform at Finocchio’s on more than one occasion. Unlike some
shows I have seen there was variety to yours. Did the performers have control
over their choice of material? Was there a format you followed which was set
down by the management?
The featured performers, like myself, (I was never in the chorus line, The
Eve-ettes) had control of what songs to sing in our own acts. I invested a lot
of my own money in musical arrangements for the audience to hear a great
variety of musical material. Not just for my Judy Garland Act for which I have
oh so many musical charts to choose from, but for my Liza Minnelli Act too,
and of course a lot of material (both in Spanish and English) for my forté
act, Boy-Chic. But when any of us were in the production numbers set by
the Finocchios, we had to sing whatever songs were chosen by them.
Sometimes I was able to squeeze two or three of my own act songs in the
Finocchio Club musical productions when I became a regular guest Artist,
replacing someone who was absent. Mrs. Eve Finocchio allowed me to do so
knowing I could not learn a new song overnight and that I had a superb choice
of songs to choose from my own repertoire. I would always let her know
ahead of time which song I thought would be appropriate before I inserted it
into her production numbers.
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12.) From Beau:
I only got to see you once, what a great experience that was! Will
any of the material you did on stage be included on your CD? Will you
be coming out with a CD which will include material from your stage
shows?
Some of the Spanish songs I did at Finocchio's are on my first CD, but
on the two CDs to follow I will include many more of what I call my
Finocchio Club Hits. Those will include some of the Judy and Liza
songs I sang then and a few from my Boy-Chic act as well. I hope you
folks out there will buy my CDs. To my knowledge there is
nothing available to the public thus far on any Finocchio artist, and
Finocchio's was in existence for 63 years in San Francisco. My
CDs should be valuable to those who collect female impersonation
material and if you are a Finocchio Club fan, even more so!
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13.) From Gabrielle:
I have heard that female impersonation is a very competitive and rough
field. Is this true? A few friends have told be there are a lot of
"behind the scenes" areas where it can get very intense and abusive.
Yes, I hate to sound pessimistic or to have a sour-grapes attitude, but it is
true. Unfortunately among most female impersonators the competition is
so very keen and everyday there are less and less clubs, at least here in the
USA, that specialize in female impersonation, now with even more with
Finocchio's gone, all this jealousy and pettiness seems to get worse. Of
course I heard from some impersonators that I interviewed for my Web site that
they got a lot of help from other impersonators. Well, I am happy for them,
because I was never that lucky and others I worked with told me they had a
rough time too, being with other drag acts that were impossible to get along
with. I survived because I have done lots of concerts alone and being
alone means I can always trust myself, but being in a revue can present
problems because of all the egos and personality defects that you have to put
up with.
14.) From Terri:
I am just getting into FI, any advice?
Well, try to learn how to make-up properly, wear wigs properly that frame your
face nicely, and wear flattering costumes on stage. If you sing or dance, try
to take some lessons like I did, but if you cannot do either one well and you
have to pantomime, try to choose a character that you like and that you feel
you can identify with and try to study them well so your portrayal will be
unique and believable. I wish some new female impersonator out there would do
an impersonation of Ella Fitzgerald. She would a great one to do, and
with exception of the late Craig Russell who did a little of Ella in his act,
I have never seen anyone do her on stage.
15.) From Frank:
My wife and I caught your show on our honeymoon. We were so glad to see
that you would be included here. You have always been a part of a most special
memory to us. We would like to have a picture of you as Judy Garland, is that
available anywhere?
Thank you Frank for your nice comment. If you e-mail me through
StoneWall
Society or from my
website,
and send me your snail mail address I will put in the mail one of my 8 x10
photos for you right away. In fact, why don't you buy my new Spanish
songs CD, and I can send the photo with it if you wish. This way, as Len Codi
said in the Web site Review he did on me, "You can have David de Alba not
just as memory, but live in your living room."
16.) From Billie:
I am also a big fan of Judy Garland’s. Where or how can I get started
with my own collection of her memorabilia?
Well my dear nowadays it is very expensive to do so, because Garland
Collectors know how much their priceless collection is worth now and many
places like on E-Bay you can see what I mean. I started mine in the mid 1960's
when a lot of material was available for a reasonable price. Anyway,
keep trying; buy Judy's new CD releases, videos from her movies and TV shows,
etc. and at least you have the great Judy right there for you to enjoy.
Good luck and thanks for asking me.
Well David, our readers have asked some very interesting questions. Thanks for
answering them for us.
Comments from some of
David's Fans
The most recent pleasure
of seeing David de Alba perform was in the fall of 1978. It was truly an
act of magic at Finocchios's, since I only expected
"just" another drag queen. Not so. My
friends from Circus Vargas and another show, The Gatti-Charles
Circus were in attendance. We were introduced to a performer
called David De Alba by a very matronly yet delightful performer, the
M.C., Caroll Wallace. David de Alba took the
stage with no hesitation and with only a few seconds of fanfare. From
David's spectacular, if not striking entrance as Judy Garland, we
became enchanted. His voice softly began our favorite song,
"Somewhere Over the Rainbow"... Tears ran down our faces...
Chills crept across our bodies... "It must be Judy! It's just
like Judy!", the most jaded of circus folk and other audience
members gasped. True. We were rapt with the magic David de Alba gave
us. Please be assured that David is one of the finest performers
to bring happiness and enchantment to the stage since Judy Garland
herself! Hugs
& Luv,Patrick
Dear StoneWall Society,
I saw David de Alba perform on an evening out with my mother, a true
Garland fan. It was to be the last evening out with Mom. I will never
forget the happy tears she shed when Mr. de Alba sang "Over The
Rainbow!" A memory I will always treasure.
Thank you David de Alba! A Fan, Bobby
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Comments from some of
David's Fans
To StoneWall Society:
I received the David de Alba "Loving Tribute" CD as a gift and
enjoyed listening to what was produced. Best wishes for your next and
future projects...Please submit to Len for adding on tribute page.Thank-You!
Tom
http://community.webtv.net/TOMCROSSFIRE/SingerIllusionist
Anita Mann/Female Impersonater/Diva
http://community.webtv.net/TOMCROSSFIRE/Impersonator
Dear Len/Codi,
I may have forgotten a fabulous phone call
I received from David de Alba a few months ago... I wrote to him when
I was feeling "down", and he returned my e-mail with a phone
call and a song... He sang "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" to
me with such heartfelt love. It was a gift I'll appreciate forever.
This may sound silly, but such a nice gesture meant so much to me that
I'll be gratefull for a long time. David de Alba made my day, and
certainly created a new day for me... He's a guy with a giant heart as
well as a tremendous talent. God Bless him!
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17.) What would you say is the largest difference between the world of female
impersonation today versus when you were performing at Finnochio’s?
I don't know much about today's world of female impersonation, since I am not
traveling around the country looking for engagements. The only female
impersonation revues I have seen have lately was one in Lake Tahoe and two in
Las Vegas, one that I liked in Key West with two live singing impersonators, one
San Diego revue that played a one nighter in Parker, AZ and a twin brother
live singing impersonator act right here in Laughlin, Nevada, which was very
good, but was not here very long. So many shows today are all pantomime.
I still miss a real live show like the one we had at Finocchio's.
18.) What do you miss the most? And..... what are you the most happy to be
away from?
I miss some of the great people I have seen on stage that have passed on like
Craig Russell and Charles Pierce and the great Judy Garland especially,
and of course, some of my Finocchio co-workers. Also I miss seeing my
Cuban friends Olga and Tony perform together. Being away from the instigation
that goes along with Showbiz is a big relief!
19.) Do you get a chance to catch many performers now? Do you have a favorite?
As I answered in a previous question, I talk about some shows I have seen.
I do have a favorite that still is performing, the marvelous Jim Bailey, whom
I got to interview recently for my
Celebrity
Interviews Series.
20.) What changes do see in our GLBTI community? How do you feel we can
improve?
I am sorry, but I don't feel that I know enough about it to give an
opinion except to tell you that even with the AIDS epidemic all these
years, I don't think gay men have changed much as far as their kindness
towards each other. In the bars and the bath houses I can see they
still discriminate and stay in their little cliques of friends. To
me there is nothing worse than putting people in special categories, which
here in America is the thing to do, like using the specific
expressions of "Femme or Butch" when talking about gay men and
lesbians. Why can't a person have some of both traits? No wonder I call
my own International singing act "Boy-Chic", I mean it! Also I
think when I was a teenager in Chicago in the 1960's with the flower children,
people seemed to have sweeter dispositions.
All I can say to you dear Len/Codi is thank you for creating a David de Alba
Wing for me in your prestigious StoneWall Society Web site and if we had more
Len/Codi's in this world it would be a better place, and I am not trying to
butter you up now, I really mean it! God bless, David de Alba, The Cuban
Legend from Finocchio's. Also I want to thank you Len for adding a special
touch (no one has ever done that before, not even me) by adding to this
interview some questions and a comments from your readers for me to respond
to.
Thank you so much David. Would you like to take a moment to talk about a
special topic of your own?
I hope your readers will visit my award winning
Website.
There are so many informative theatrical things, not just about me and my
career, but about other fine entertainers. Also, please e-mail me. It
means a lot to me when I hear from old and new fans who write to me when they
discover I am still around and active, and even call me on the phone when they
feel "blue" so I can sing for them. To me that is the best applause
of all.
God bless you all and may you have a very Happy Year 2002!
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