Photo Coverage: Remembering David Gurland

We here at BWW will remember him as a singer of enormous emotion blessed with an extraordinary voice that elevated every song he performed. 

BWW Photographer Walter McBride has assembled a special collection of photos of David Gurland that he took during the "The Leading Men II" benefit concert for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which was held February 5th, 2007 at Birdland.

David Gurland was one of the most sought after cabaret vocalists in New York City. For his nightclub and cabaret performances, David won the Manhattan Association of Cabaret's HANSON AWARD, as well as being nominated an additional 7 times. He also won 4 Back Stage BISTRO AWARDS, more than any other New York Based Male Vocalist.

In 1999, David finally released his long awaited first CD. The self titled recording was produced with musical director/producer JoNathan Smith ("Jersey Boys" "Swing"), and contains many of the songs from his acclaimed live performances. Recorded with a 7-piece band, it was engineered by Mark Thayer at Signature Sounds recording studio in Western Massachusetts. The album features an eclectic mix of songs by songwriters such as Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Billy Joel, Sting, and Burt Bacharach to name a few, presenting fresh new takes on both classic and contemporary hits. In 2000, it was nominated for a coveted GLAMA award - the "gay" Grammy.

David Gurland performed for sold out crowds at such first class New York venues as BB KINGS, The Bitter End, The Cutting Room, The Living Room, Downtime, CB's Gallery, The Metropolitan Room, Eighty-Eights, The Duplex , Don't Tell Mama, and The Triad, as well as The Gardenia in LA, Twiggs in San Diego, Martini Beach in Cape May, Tim Mcloones Supper club in Asbury Park, and The Manor in West Orange NJ. David was also on the roster of distinguished artists to be included in Carnegie Hall's Neighborhood Concert series, for two seasons in a row.

David and ‘whiz-kid' arranger/musical director Michael Holland collaborated on NEUROTICA - an evening of the music of Madonna, which played to sold out houses during the spring and fall of 2005 and summer of 2006. In 2007 David completed a six month run at the Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Café. Entitled DGUR in Concert - 2007. He created an entirely new concept for solo vocalists in the New York Club scene. Each month he presented a completely different evening of music - different musical directors with different accompanying musicians and guest stars. From show tunes to country music, 1970's music to 1990's music and even a ‘Gurland does Garland' evening.

Since the fall of 2008, while still pursuing his solo career, he was a celebrated member of the 4 man vocal group UPTOWN EXPRESS www.uptownexpressnyc.org. On June 23rd, 2010 the group released their album entitled "Take You There."

Donations can be made in David's name to:
The Ali Forney Center for GLBT homeless youth. 224 West 35th Street, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10001, www.aliforneycenter.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos