Daniel Alexander Holgate
(1933-2017)
Known as “Danny” to all who worked with him and knew him, he arrived on the New York musical scene from Boston’s Berklee School of Music and a tour of duty with the United States Army band. Immediately busy as pianist, arranger and vocal coach, working with young singers, dancers and musicians and many professionals in the business, he moved on to musical director-arranger for a handful of Broadway show hits, such as” Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope” and” Bubbling Brown Sugar” and popular touring shows. Later, further studying orchestration with well-known Nicholas Flagello, he broadened his musical prowess arranging for symphony “pops” orchestras and big bands as well.
When I first met “Mr. Holgate”, after a Broadway show I was in closed suddenly, all my friends said,” Gail, you should put your cabaret act together.” (The New York Cabaret Club scene was becoming very popular.) I asked,” Who should I see?”. They replied, “Danny Holgate”. So, I did!
Putting together my first club act was thrilling and exciting and hard work. Building a musical “Act” of poignant songs and stories to weave the show’s spell, engaging the audience and learning something new each time, was quite an experience.
Through the career years, our musical bond grew and we performed more and more together. He was a wonderful pianist-arranger, not just for me, but for all the entertainers he ever worked with. As my performing career accelerated, his did, too, and he was busy conducting bands and orchestras, playing with Jazz groups and coaching. A very busy man who loved making music!
We were married in 1987, his second, my first… Cab Calloway and his lovely wife Zuelme , known as “Nuffie”, gave us our wedding in their home in White Plains, N.Y. and Cab walked me down the aisle! After the resurgence of Cab’s popularity, Danny became his pianist-arranger until he died.
What a team we were as a couple and a musical pair. We were married for 30 years with never a dull moment, making music together and traveling the world! Danny always said his greatest joy was his daughter, Denyce, who has become a successful lawyer in New York City.
Danny passed away with Parkinsons in 2017.
Pictured below: Grand Children : Danielle with niece, Jahqwan, Danah with pet Diamond, Son in law Billy Wilkins, Sergie (granddaughter) Denyce Wilkins with Danny (her Father) and Gail (wife) on the end.
