Patsy Gallant (Canada's Disco Diva! I met her!)

[Erik87]

I discovered Patsy last New Year's eve when a vintage performance of "From New York to L.A" came on TV.
Patsy has pretty much been forgotten which is a shame because she did some great disco records in both english and french. "From New York to L.A" was pretty huge at the time, biggest selling single in Canada the year it came out and I've heard the 2million+ copies sold stat thrown around a couple of times. It reached #6 in the UK where it sold an impressive 200,000 copies.
Back in the day Patsy was a big star in Canada and even got some international acclaim and toured the world on promo tours. She even had her own variety show, in typical 70s style called, you guessed it, "The Patsy Gallant Show."
Patsy's star lost its brilliance as disco approached its tragic death. Patsy's recorded her final album, "Take Another Look" in 1984 and since then has basically made a living doing musicals, most notably, she played Stella Spotlight in Plamondon's "Starmania" for 8 years in France.
This past weekend Patsy did a free show in Montreal (she has recently moved back to the city) and here is my story. It's worth reading!

On Sunday July 31st an unexpected dream came true... I got to meet and chill with my Canadian disco cult idol, the divine, Ms. Patsy Gallant.

I'm a generally paranoid person and I worry about stupid things; I really wanted to be in the front for Patsy's show (part of Pride week) and got to Emilie-Gamelin Park where the concert was going to be at 9:30am when the show was going to start at 11am. I figured there would be a huge line up, but there was not a single person in sight.

I started to drift up St.Catherine street to pass the time; when I had walked a couple of blocks, I decided to walk back for no particular reason. As I'm walking near the concert site, I see this short, blonde woman in a green shirt and a white coat with big sunglasses on. Could it be Patsy herself? I wasn't sure, but I decided to ask anyway, and it was actually PATSY GALLANT! I was so excited, I told her what a huge fan I am; she was very sweet but in a rush because she was late for soundcheck so she invited me to go along with her! I couldn't believe this was happening, there has never been a greater example of being at the right place at the right time. If I didn't believe in fate before that day, I'm one hell of a believer now.

I got to go backstage with her and talk with her for a bit and watched her run through her set. It was fantastic! She sounded amazing and it was great to see a singer do their soundcheck, it was like a private show almost.
After her rehersal we said our goodbyes and I thanked her so much for letting me tag along.

As soon as I left I went to a pay phone to call one of my best friends and tell her what just happened- I was SO excited. As I was on the phone I saw Patsy go into this little restaurant. I decided I really wanted her autograph, so I ran to the music store down the street, bought her "Patsy!" album and ran to the restaurant. I knew I might come off as a little stalker-ish, but I realised, it's Patsy, she probably hasn't signed in autograph or gotten much fan attention in 2 decades.

When I went up to her table, I was out of breath and I told her about how I ran to get her CD, she was really flattered, and asked me to pull up a chair, and I got to talk to her a little more and she signed my CD and was super nice and sweet. She was set to perform at 4:00 and told me I could meet her backstage before she went on, and told me to bring a camera so we could take some pictures.

At 3:30 I went backstage to meet Patsy, and she was so sweet as usual. I took a couple of pictures with her and got to hang around the backstage area. When she went on stage I got to see her set from right up front, it was fantastic.
After that set, I went backstage again, and we chatted a bit more until her second set at 5 o'clock. After her final set, she invited me backstage yet again and I got to say goodbye and thank her for making my day so wonderful.

To think I almost didn't go because my best friend was (regretably) unable to come with me.


(Me and Patsy!)

[Eurodancemix]

Erik87,

She sounds like a true gem! Congrats on meeting one of your idols. It's great when stars realize that the fans are the reason they're there in the first place! I hope you have a journal and wrote down every detail of your day...that's definitely something you'll want to read and re-read years from now.

I lived in Montreal when Patsy's disco hits started hitting the pop charts. One of the tracks I like most from her is "Sugar Daddy" (which I have on a K-Tel album titled "Disco Rocket" from waaaayyyyy back in 1976! :D )

[neonlights]

great recap of your disco diva encounter! I wonder since she's still performing, if Patsy will record ever anything new one of these days..

[Erik87]

great recap of your disco diva encounter! I wonder since she's still performing, if Patsy will record ever anything new one of these days..

She really wants to. I read in an article she's written about 125 songs for a new album over the years! It's been 21 years since her last studio album.
This past may she released a compilation album called "Tout va trop vite," as a "gift to her fans" and as a way to re-introduce herself to the public and so that a new generation of music listeners will get to know her; she wanted to do this before releasing an album of all new material. So hopefully a new album will be on the way soon! Right now she's putting together show she's getting ready to do at the Montreal Casino which is set to take place in February 2006.