Jim Bailey (entertainer)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (May 2008) |
| Jim Bailey | |
|---|---|
| Born | James William Bailey January 10, 1949 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Occupation | Film, television actor |
| Official website | |
James William Bailey (born January 10, 1949) is an American singer, actor, and female impersonator.
Contents |
[edit] Early years
Bailey was born on January 10, 1949, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Sara and Claude Bailey. As a teenager he studied opera at the Drake Conservatory of Music, and was on the popular television program The Children's Hour for almost a year, where he performed by acting, singing and dancing. His family moved to New Jersey, where he attended Palmyra High School.
[edit] Career
Bailey has appeared in over seventy television and movie roles, including appearances on Ally McBeal, Here's Lucy, Night Court, Switch, Vegas, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Carol Burnett Show, The Merv Griffin Show, and Late Night With David Letterman.
Bailey's fame began in the late 1960s when he created the illusions of singers Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, and Peggy Lee by vocally mimicking them in his own operatically trained voice. Bailey has appeared on stages throughout the world, including headlining in Las Vegas, and performing at New York's Carnegie Hall and The Palladium Theater in London. Bailey has also performed for the British Royal Family and for United States Presidents.
[edit] History
From the mid to the late 1960s, Bailey played summer stock in such shows as The Boyfriend, Calamity Jane with Ginger Rogers and Bells are Ringing.
During this time, Bailey was introduced to and became friends with Phyllis Diller. Bailey learned to re-create the actress's personality and added her to his repertoire. In 1967, Bailey moved to Los Angeles and put together his own nightclub act, performing at the Redwood Room, this time as Judy Garland. When Garland herself came to see Bailey's show, she jumped up on to the stage and asked him to sing a song with her. Bailey agreed and the two sang a duet of "Bye Bye Blackbird", which Bailey had intended on singing as himself. The two later became friends, and Garland became Bailey's mentor. The two remained friends until Garland's death in 1969. In 1970, Bailey was booked in Las Vegas and became an overnight sensation. He appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, which helped launch an international career.
Bailey's success continued as he appeared for performances at New York's Carnegie Hall, the London Palladium, and the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in Los Angeles. He then guest starred on the popular television variety show The Carol Burnett Show, where the two sang a comedic duet of "Happy Days Are Here Again" with Bailey appearing as Barbra Streisand, and made several appearances on Johnny Carson's The Tonight Show.
Bailey was approached by Lucille Ball in 1973 and asked to guest star on her popular television show, Here's Lucy'. Ball was so impressed by Bailey and his performance, that she threw a party for him after the show's taping. The two remained close friends until Ball's death in 1989. Bailey also became close friends with Ball's daughter Lucie Arnaz. The two remained close friends doing benefit performances in honor of her late mother and father at the Luci Desi festival in Jamestown, New York. Bailey was asked to return to Carnegie Hall to perform once again. This time, he was approached by United Artists to record and release his performance. The album became a success and was sold world wide.
Also in 1973, Bailey teamed with Liza Minnelli, daughter of his mentor Judy Garland, in Las Vegas. The two put together a concert recreating the performances by Minnelli and her late mother in London, with Bailey standing in as Garland. The "Judy and Liza Concert" met with great success. Later, Minnelli made a gift to Bailey of one of her late mother's treasured rings.
The mid 1970s and early 1980s saw Bailey as a mainstay in showrooms in Las Vegas. He was also booked for concerts around the world, including the O'Keefe Center in Toronto, Canada, and venues in Australia and South America. In the next few years, Bailey returned to acting in more episodic television work in character roles that were created especially for him because of the uniqueness of his talent.They include Switch (TV series),Vega$ and The Rockford Files
However, Bailey also performed at some major venues. He performed at Super Bowl XII, did a show for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip of England, performed at the 1984 Olympics opening ceremony, and at The People's Choice Awards.
In the late 1980s, Bailey turned his sights once again to television and feature films, including a role on Night Court as Chip/Charlene, Dan's John Larroquette friend from college who had had a sex change, Vultures in Paradise with Stuart Whitman and Yvonne De Carlo, The Surrogate (1984 film) with Shannon Tweed, and Penitentary 3 with Anthony Geary and Leon Isaac Kennedy.
Since Barbra Streisand was not performing on the night club and concert circuit at that time, Bailey decided to re-create some of her great movie performances and adapt them to his stage performances. Ten years later Bailey would perform at an event for Streisand and other stars, like Clint Eastwood and Warren Beatty. In the 1990s, Bailey performed for Princess Diana and Prince Charles in London. He performed at Carnegie Hall and the London Palladium, as well as another long stints at The Sands in Las Vegas. After touring extensively in the 1990s, Bailey opened the Jim Bailey Theater in Palm Springs, California, but closed the theater just ten months later.
At the start of the new millennium, Bailey did a guest starring role on Ally McBeal as "Harold Dale." He continued with concerts and theater performances, including a critically acclaimed performances in Charles Rohm Smith's Tallulah and Tennesee, co-starring Bette Garrett as Estelle Winwood , Mae West at the Club El Fey and Me and Jezebel. Other theatrical work includes “Niteclub Confidential”, “Jeffrey” and “Fragile Fire”, directed by Paul Winfield.
Bailey continues performing his characterizations, including benefits for AIDS research charities around the world.
