Dan Gilroy
Born (1947-05-19) May 19, 1947 (age 76)
New York City, New York, U.S.
OccupationsSinger, songwriter, guitarist
InstrumentsGuitar
Formerly ofBreakfast Club
Partner(s)Shelley Duvall (1989–present)

Daniel Alan Gilroy (born May 19, 1947) is an American singer and musician best known as the former lead singer of the group Breakfast Club.[1] Following Breakfast Club, he acted in the children's programs Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme and Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle.

Life and career

Gilroy met Madonna, then an aspiring dancer, at a party in 1979. They became romantically involved and she moved into the synagogue where Gilroy lived with his brother Ed Gilroy in Corona, Queens. It also served as a studio for the brothers, who at times worked as musicians or comics under the name Bil and Gil.[2] While Gilroy and his brother were waiting tables during the day and performing their comedy routines at night, Madonna was at the synagogue practicing drums.[2] She also began writing songs, Gilroy taught her how to play guitar and they formed the band Breakfast Club.[3] She convinced Gilroy to let her perform her own songs, which he reluctantly agreed. Madonna promoted the band and they performed local gigs.[2] In 1980, Madonna left Breakfast Club to form the band Emmy and the Emmys.[4]

By the mid-1980s, Breakfast Club consisted of the Gilroy brothers: Dan concentrated on singing, with Ed on guitar. Gary Burke joined the band, playing the bass. Also, Paul Kauk on keyboards, and Stephen Bray on drums.[5] In 1987, Breakfast Club signed a record deal with MCA Records and released the album Breakfast Club. Their single "Right On Track" peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.[6] They recorded a second album that was never released. Their last song was a cover version of the Beatles "Drive My Car", which was included on the soundtrack for the 1988 movie License To Drive.[5]

Gilroy has been in a relationship with actress Shelley Duvall since 1989.[7] They co-starred in the Disney Channel film Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990).[8][9] Gilroy also appeared as Pete the Postman in the TV series Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle in 1994.[10]

Gilroy was portrayed by actor Calvin Knie in the 2019 documentary film Madonna and the Breakfast Club.[11]

References

  1. ^ "Breakfast Club | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Madonna Rising". New York Magazine: 43. October 14, 1991.
  3. ^ Morton, Andrew (October 20, 2008). "The Lost Madonna Tapes". The Daily Beast. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  4. ^ Graff, Gary (April 25, 1987). "Bray's Loyalty To Madonna Pays Off". Chicago Tribune.
  5. ^ a b Allen, Craig (March 2, 2013). "Meet the '80s band Breakfast Club". New Jersey 101.5. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "Right on Track (song by Breakfast Club) ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts". www.musicvf.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  7. ^ Abramovitch, Seth (February 11, 2021). "Searching for Shelley Duvall: The Reclusive Icon on Fleeing Hollywood and the Scars of Making 'The Shining'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  8. ^ Michele Kort (December 15, 1991). "SHELLEY DUVALL GROWS UP : There's a Lot of the Kid Left in the Tenacious Producer Who Put Cable on the Map and Breathed New Life into Children's TV". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  9. ^ "Audio Archaeology: Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990)". Consequence. September 10, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Scott, Tony (June 8, 1994). "Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle the Not Truthful Cure; The Pet Forgetter's Cure". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  11. ^ "'Madonna and the Breakfast Club' Trailer: Like A Doppelgänger". Nonfics. March 15, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2021.

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