Gale Stoddard - Pianist/Songwriter
GALE STODDARD
Veteran nightclub entertainer, recording pianist, composer and performer and Humanitarian.
Gale has been featured in over 300 publications for her musical versatility and charitable endeavors including being the featured pianist for the Golden Anniversary of the Southern California Arthritis Foundation, co-headlining with TV host Robin Leach and veteran actress Jane Wyman.
She is a board member with LAWIM (Los Angeles Women in Music). She enjoys the role of mentor to aspiring songwriters and for her various musical contributions to veterans of World Wars for which she was given awards by the Los Angeles County Supervisors( Michael Antonovich) and The City of Los Angeles(Bernard Parks).
Gale gained prominence as one of the more successful female piano bar artists working in three clubs simultaneously from 5 p.m. to 2 A.M. 7 days a week. She was held over for three years at the world famous El ENCANTO hotel in Santa Barbara, Miramar Hotel and Santa Barbara Inn. She was held over for two years at the famous Lobster Trap in Channel islands and 7 years at the Horikawa Restaurant in South Coast Village.She toured successfully for 8 years from Reno where she opened the El Dorado Hotel, and worked for 2 years in Las Vegas Landmark hotel ( owner Howard Hughes.) Held over for 2 years at the Disneyland Hotel (owner Jack Wrather of Lassie and Queen Mary fame) with stints at various clubs in 20 states.
Her musical versatility brought her to Europe in Austria and Germany where her current CDs are receiving radio airplay.She has written over 75 songs with Sam Slavik and Roland Valentino.She is currently collaborating with recording artists on writing the BLUES!
Her musical fantasy was finally realized when she was chosen to be the only composer to write six songs with the legendary three time Oscar winning lyricist RAY EVANS of Mona Lisa, Que Sera Sera, Never let me Go, Silver Bells fame outside of his lifetime musical partner Jay Livingston. It would be a 55 year wait before Ray would write his second Christmas song. This time, he chose gale(gale is quick to admit, it was all in God's Plan) to compose the music to "Christmas in Brazil) which was featured on ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT Christmas 2005 with Brian Rooney concluding "This just might be the next Christmas Classic!" Her musical partner recording artist Roland Valentino recorded the song which has won a lot of musical awards.Gale and Roland's songs have won the ASCAP PLUS AWARDS five years in a row!
Gale and Roland makes beautifiul music together in various hotels doing private gigs for several organizations. Roland was the singer chosen to record the Stoddard/Evans 6 song collaboration because of his smooth style reminsicent of Johnny Mathis and Al Jarreau. Gale's vocal soundalike in her piano bar days were Timi Yuro and Vikki Carr. While her piano styling is a blend of Roger Williams and a touch of Carmen Cavallaro( two of the finest pianists in the world because of their classical training and fantastic pianistic stylings of popular songs.)
Tedd Thomey: Long Beach Press Telegram
"gale is undoubtedly one of the most talented pianists/performers of her time. Her award as" entertainer of the year" is well-deserved. I can listen to her all night like her endless loyal following."
Dave Rose:Orange County Register " As soon as Gale touches the piano
its obvious she is something special. Concert-trained and at 13 "pianist of the year" in her native Philippines, gale brings a regal touch to her Music".
Forrest Duke of Las Vegas:gale stoddard is a charming and talented doll from the Philippines and she is gaining fans with her singing and pianistics at Club 27 high atop Hotel Landmark. She knows more than 5,000 songs from memory.
With such a rich musical experience, gale remains an enigma. She has name recognition in Hollywood because of her work(event coordinator for the Songwriters Guild of America for 7 years and produced their annual showcases) but prefers to live a quiet life in Orange County where she enjoys her privacy and a small coterie of friends.She is a voracious reader, and an avid gardener raising exotic plants to give away as gifts.
But she can be found in the forefront when it comes to volunteering. She helped produced two successful fundraising showcases for the famed L.A. Musical Landmark THE WORLD STAGE GALLERY.She also enjoys bringing her piano and vocal students to convalescent homes and hospitals like the Queen of the Valley and City of Hope.
Gale is well-liked among her peers and many musical organizations she belongs to, finds her an asset for her knack in recruiting hundreds of members.