In his 40 years as a self-described illusionist, Jim Bailey has performed as Barbra Streisand, Peggy Lee, Marilyn Monroe, Phyllis Diller, Bette Davis, Tallulah Bankhead, Mae West, and even Madonna. But his signature illusion has always been, and probably always will be, Judy Garland.
"Judy wore her emotions on her sleeve, and she connected with people in a very personal way," Bailey said recently from his home outside Los Angeles. "I know there were times when she was not in good health, and did not look or sound well. I don't do any of that in my performance. I want the audience to see her looking good, sounding great, in a good mood, and enjoying what she's doing. It's an illusion that the woman is standing right in front of you."
With the aid of a 20-piece orchestra, and two hours of costume and makeup preparations, the illusion will again be conjured on Dec. 20 at the Herbst Theatre in a show officially titled Jim Bailey Is Judy Garland - Live in Concert.
Unlike San Francisco's own Connie Champagne, who performs contemporary songs in the Garland style, Bailey sticks to the Garland repertoire. "But she sang so many songs over her career that I can change it around," he said. "Of course, there are the ones I have to perform or else people would go crazy, but I have a few surprises for the show I'm doing in San Francisco."
Bailey actually got to perform his Garland for the real Garland very early in his career. It was in 1968, a year before Garland died, and her absence coupled with Bailey's uncanny verisimilitude soon landed him multiple appearances on the variety and talk shows where Garland had often been a guest. In the early 1970s, a man performing in female attire, and not for a laugh, was uncommon fare on network television.
"There wasn't anybody like me around," he said, "and the only reason I got to do these shows is the fact that I do what I do with integrity and honesty. A lot of people who watched those shows were conservative people, but because people like Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, and Ed Sullivan were behind me, the public accepted me."
"I want the audience to see her looking good, sounding great."
Unlike a vocal impressionist, who can do a dozen celebrity voices in a five-minute bit, Bailey's elaborate pre-show preparations preclude him from performing as more than a single persona in a performance. Earlier in his career, he would return in the second half of a show to sing as himself, but now he stays in character throughout. "It was just too much to rush backstage and get out of costume and makeup," he said, "though I do miss getting to sing as myself."
Bailey said he's no longer on the lookout for new women to add to his repertoire, though he regrets never getting the chance to do Lena Horne. "I've got her voice down," he said, "but I never got a chance to develop the whole look." He very briefly considered taking on Liza Minnelli, and decided it might just be too strange for both audiences and himself.
Bailey grew up in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and set out for a traditional singing career. He was working the Playboy Club circuit when Phyllis Diller had to cancel a club date. Bailey was brought in, and he decided to try out a Diller impression he had been toying with. It was a hit, and a new career was born.
There have been tribulations along with the triumphs. "It can be a lonely life because everything is work, work, work, and you learn not to trust people because they're full of BS and they'll con you. I love people, but over the years I've gotten myself into situations where people I trusted misrepresented themselves. It's not been a happy situation."
As for the roots of his specific talent, it's not a subject Bailey cares to explore, even with himself. "Sometimes I think, how did this happen? How did I get this gift? And then I stop myself. I don't want to go there and drive myself any crazier than I am."
Jim Bailey will perform at the Herbst Theatre on Dec. 20. Tickets are $30-$60. Call 392-4400 or go to www.cityboxoffice.com.