I had been in so many bands, and was yet to be a bandleader and have my own . That was to come a  year later with Jessica and Fantasy. The year was 1976, and  Commonwealth was breaking up. I don’t remember why we broke up, perhaps we were tired of the road. Jorge wanted to go back to Miami to get his music degree.

I got a chance to go out on my own, when a nice producer had faith in me to book me in to Shipwreck Kelly’s showroom at the Marina Hotel with the fruit-smashing Gallagher.

I was very nervous, Jorge was writing the charts for my show, we chose Minnie Ripperton‘s Lovin’ You, for my opener. Jorge thought I should start off stage with the soprano hook, and then walk up the stairs going into the song. It was quite effective.

I sang the Joni Mitchell classic Twisted and  Maybe this Time, from Cabaret. I would wear gowns from Joseph Magnin and was now getting excited about my solo debut.

I consulted Billy Kaye, a very well known comedian for advice on my banter. His advice: “Be yourself!” I have been myself on stage ever since.

Jorge and I were drifting apart. He wanted to return to Miami. I felt like my career was just taking off. The pressure was intense, we loved each other, but he moved out. We still saw each other, it was like an addiction, but we couldn’t live together. He had a temper, it had flared up years before, and I always forgave. Now I felt independent and let him go.

Gallagher and I became friends, and we hung out on our nights off… I felt he was a volcano, and if he didn’t become very famous, quickly, he would blow! There was a real need for attention and success that drove him.

Gallagher started surprising me on stage, when I was right into the middle of a torch ballad, he would rollerskate around me and try to crack me up. I never broke. The audience roared and we were held over and over for months.

My dad was my biggest fan and always came in and brought friends like Louis Bellson, and Leonard Feather, who reviewed me for Variety Magazine. A very nice review might I add. He started the piece by saying, “She came out in a gown like second skin.” Pretty good for the ego.

Twenty years later, he called me up and said, “let’s do it again”. I worked the Sahara Hotel with him twice in the 90′s. We picked up where we left off, I’d be singing and he would come out with a hose and spray the audience.

My daughter, Lexi, then in high school now, brought her friends, and insisted on sitting right in front where you get food thrown at you. This time Gallagher wanted me in a bathing suit to hand him the food he was going to smash. I insisted on a raincoat, and got filthy every show, ran up to the shower and tried not to vomit. I would get food in my eyes, it was hell.

I went grocery shopping a few times with him, and found him very moody.  We decided not to finish the engagement, He paid us and we went our separate ways. I haven’t heard from him since.

My Commonwealth bandmates were scattering. Jorge was in Miami; Maurice went to Chicago. Gallagher is still touring, smashing fruit at every opportunity. I kept working and still am.I am one very lucky lady, with an angel on my shoulder. Which is so much better than the sauerkraut that Gallagher threw on me night after night!

Jessica Marciel
Las Vegas Vocal Training

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