Multitalented Brian Gillie Delights Audience at the Barney

It was a like a belated New Year's Eve Party as Brian Gillie performed "The Best Songs of the 20th Century" Tuesday afternoon  in the Hoppin Gallery.

Gillie encouraged the audience to sing along and they sure did as he took them on "a rousing musical journey down Memory Lane with songs that have touched the world."

The program was sponsored by the Friends of the Farmington Library, noted Kathy Lescoe, head of Childrens' and Branch Services.

His repertoire ranged from 1800s waltzes (including a little history lesson and a quiz) to polkas to ragtime to winter favorite "Let it Snow," right up to a realistic Presley rendition of Blue Suede Shoes.

"I'm actually a rock'n'roll drummer. Imagine me in the 60's during the psychedelic rock era with hair, long hair, and a mustache and a Nehru shirt and bellbottoms," he said during a pause in the music.

Asked by a member of the audience how he made the change from drumming to singing he replied "My mom played piano and my dad had over 600 rpm records in his collection, mostly from the swing era, which I used to listened to. I had a very talented and compassionate glee club director at Union College who accepted me when I went to audition, even though I only hit two or three out of the 89 notes."

To illustrate, Gillie then sang "I'm Going to Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter," including the skips from the old record he had learned it from.

Although a Guilford resident now, he is no stranger to Farmington. Gillie worked in the '80s as assistant director of Health and Safety Services at the American Red Cross, training water safety instructors and running the small crafts programs.  He taught weekend canoe classes at Winding Trails and did some cross-country skiing there; provided the sound for the Alyce Carella Dance recitals when they were held at Farmington High School and had his first fulltime piano job at Beefsteak Charlie's and played at Chuck's Steak House. He recalled "Farmington Pizza was the best."

At the end he asked "so how was it?"

"It's so refreshing to hear some good music" called out Jackie Dagenais, who said she comes to most Barney Library programs.  "I love the restored library," she added.

See Gillie in action on his website: http://www.briangillie.com.

View a complete listing of all upcoming Farmington Libraries events  online.