Jim Bailey Biography

Fast Facts

• In addition to his numerous headlining shows, he also performed for Princess Diana and four U․S․ presidents
• Attended the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and trained as a lyric tenor
• First became famous for his impersonation of female comic Phyllis Diller, whom he met after moving to Los Angeles to perform in nightclubs as himself
• Began his career in New York as a chorus member in stage productions and summer stock performer
• Quote: "From the first minute on stage when I am Barbra Streisand, I look like her, talk like her, I have her mannerisms ․․․ I am Barbra, not an imitation ․․․ [With] my Las Vegas debut in 1970, I opened doors for all the guys who came to town in dresses․"
• Quote: "I don't want to be remembered as one of those guys who ․․․ pretended to be female․ I want to be remembered for the uniqueness of the art form I created․ Not just lip-synching, not just wearing dresses, but singing, acting, the makeup, the details․"
• Best known as a singer, actor and gender illusionist who was famous for his impersonations of Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand and Peggy Lee
• Appeared in a memorable episode of Lucille Ball's sitcom "Here's Lucy" in 1972, in which he impersonated Phyllis Diller
• Being a classically-trained vocalist allowed him to do all of his own singing instead of lip-syncing, prompting the Boston Globe to write, "If he were to appear at Madison Square Garden instead of Barbra, who could possibly tell the difference?"
• His first singing impersonation was of Judy Garland, who praised his act when she saw it and became his mentor shortly before her death in 1969