Simon Gallaher Remembers Debbie Reynolds

Australian entertainer Simon Gallaher has paid tribute to the late Debbie Reynolds, revealing that the Hollywood icon played an important role in developing his career.

“I thought yesterday was tragic with (the death of) Carrie (Fisher). I have known Debbie for a very long time and know she would have been feeling it very much. I thought now was not the time to call her. “

Simon Gallaher said to wake up to the news that Debbie Reynolds had died a day after her daughter Carrie Fisher was “unimaginable.” Simon said he became close friends with Debbie.

“She carved out the young Simon Gallaher’s career. I landed an Australian tour with her when I was only 20. She took me under her wing. She was incredible on this quite extensive Australian tour.”

“She would watch me from the wings every night - stand there on the side of the stage in a dressing gown and turban and watch every nuance that I did. She would do her own show, then go back to the hotel, have a glass of wine, then critique me and suggest other things to do.”

“She would talk about her friend Jimmy Durante and say you need to do show songs around the piano. She took me to America and said, ‘I have just seen this glass piano in Las Vegas, you’ve got to get it for your act.’ She was always thinking and being proactive and mentoring me incredibly.”

Simon said he stayed in Carrie Fisher’s room in Debbie Reynolds’ home at the time the young lead of Star Wars was dating Paul Simon. They later married but Simon said Debbie was very much against the relationship.

“You forget that she was a great recording artist as well as an actress. When I stayed in her house I saw gold records for songs like Tammy. 

Simon said Debbie learnt a great deal as a young performer working alongside Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Frank Sinatra.

“She was a sponge. But she always said she wanted to pass on her knowledge to the next generation so they didn’t have to learn it the hard way.”

“She was a workaholic. She went through hard times. She married the wrong men. They took all of her money and she had to go back to work every time. It was something that she loved.”

“Most recording artists hate singing their big hits over and over again. Not Debbie she would say I owe that to my public. Of course I will sing it.”

“She was extremely maternal. I had no other great mentor. I will be forever grateful to her until the day I die.”

Simon said 2016 has been a woeful year, following on from the death of his close friend Jon English. 

"I have lost my two closest artistic collaborators."

Images: Debbie Reynolds and Simon Gallaher, Simon and that glass piano, and  Debbie Reynolds with Simon and Lisa Gallaher.