Crooner, ESQ.
July – August 2013
Longtime Las Vegan discovers his voice and impresses a Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer.
BY JANET M. GEARY
Currently, with the myriad of information that’s available on the web, getting background information on someone is pretty easy. But when you look up Keith Galliher Jr., you have to go through the first several pages before you actually find anything about his current passion.
That’s because Keith has not only been a practicing attorney in Las Vegas for the past 36 years handling many high-profile cases, but he has written a book on parent-child relationships, been a Judge Pro Tempore for the City of Las Vegas, and has served on multiple boards and professional organizations throughout his career.
But now, the 65-year-old’s life has taken an unexpected turn—he has taken up singing. And we’re not just talking about singing in the shower. He has several songs that are seeing airplay in the Bahamas and New York City, as well as on radio stations across the country. His songs are also available on iTunes and CD Baby.
Galliher readily admits that the success of his music would never have happened without the help of his good friend Clarence Collins. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because he was a founding member and singer with Little Anthony and The Imperials and is in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Keith and Clarence have been friends for 35 years, and when Keith asked Clarence to help him produce a song for his wife, Linda, Clarence was duly skeptical. “I had no idea Keith sang,” Clarence says. Of course, Keith had no idea either, but wanted to gift his beautiful wife with something very unexpected.
Collins had many contacts in the business and proceeded to set up a recording session at the Studio at the Palms—and the rest is history.
Clarence was blown away by Keith’s ability to sing in any key he proposed as well as the even, melodic tone of his voice. Using some of his contacts throughout the industry, he has been able to get airplay for many of Keith’s songs, including the haunting “Memory of All” that was written about 9/11, which can be heard on YouTube.
Keith is coming out with an entire album of love songs devoted to his wife, but says he has no plans to quit his practice and take up singing full time. Of course, if his album takes off, perhaps he could be persuaded.
A Legend Retires in Gerlach
Bruno Selmi, for many years the heart and soul of Bruno’s Country Club in the northwestern town of Gerlach, has finally decided to call it quits. The spry 90-year-old celebrated his “last annual ravioli dinner” with family and friends in mid-April. Selmi—an Italian immigrant—arrived in Nevada in 1946, bought the club in Gerlach in 1952, and has been serving happy patrons ever since. The building is currently for sale, as Selmi will make a permanent move to Reno.
Photographer Larry Turner was among the many there to wish him farewell. “His establishment was packed with well wishers and friends as they consumed the Old World recipe and drank plenty of Picon Punches and red wine,” Turner says.