David de Alba is interviewed about his career as an impersonator of Judy Garland and other female performers. He became known as the Cuban Legend while appearing at the famous Finocchio’s nightclub in San Francisco. After the interview with Ninon De Vere De Rosa scroll down to watch the entire “If I can Turn Back Time” concert.
David de Alba, the Cuban Legend who performed at the world famous Finocchio Club in the 1970s and ’80s brought his show to the Winchester Theatre at the Dondero Cultural Centre in Las Vegas on April 1, 2023. The show was called, If I Can Turn Back Time. David did several musical numbers with anecdotes and stories from his childhood through to the present day. Here are the musical highlights from the show. The full show will premier here on his YouTube channel later this year.
Welcome to TransTainment! Ian McKellen plays Mother Goose in Britain. The Cuban Legend, David de Alba brings his “If I Can Turn Back Time” show to Las Vegas. Who is the latest Drag Race performer to appear on Broadway? Another Drag Race alumna comes out as transgender. Find out who in this edition of TransTainment!
The Cuban Legend, David de Alba, has a video wishing us all happy holidays.
David de Alba was born and raised in Cuba until his family moved to Chicago in the mid 1960s. A hairdresser who noticed de Alba’s similarity in facial structure to the star Judy Garland made him up to look just like her. Soon David was doing shows at female impersonation clubs singing Garland’s songs, not lip syncing to a record. Read this interview with The Cuban Legend conducted by Shelley Anne Baker.
A few months ago David de Alba sat down in front of a camera and talked about his life as a female impersonator. The filmmakers sent David a link to a rough cut of all the footage that was shot that day in his home in Las Vegas. Now you can view the interview right here on TGForum. A must for David de Alba fans.
On 10 December 2017 Paul Ryner, David de Alba’s long time partner and “the wind beneath his wings, passed away. He will always be loved and remembered by family, friends but most of all his devoted life partner Heri (aka David de Alba). This is a tribute to commemorate the one-year anniversary of his passing […]
There are dozens of interviews with The Cuban Legend, David de Alba that have been conducted in English. David’s cousin Mario Jimenez came to visit David in Las Vegas and conducted the following interview in Spanish.
David de Alba is The Cuban Legend. He began his career in female impersonation in Chicago clubs after a friend noted how much he resembled Judy Garland and did his makeup for a Halloween Ball. Soon David was practicing singing in Garland’s voice and working in the clubs. Then came a move to San Francisco and his years on stage at the famous Finocchio’s club. For the whole story of David’s life in dresses and heels read this article republished with permission from the Newsletter of the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society.
Earlier this year legendary female impersonator and contributor to TGForum David de Alba was interviewed for Celebrity Radio by Alex Belfield. Belfield is a syndicated radio host who produces interviews with celebrities around the world and is based in England. He traveled to Las Vegas to interview the Cuban Legend and we present the interview here, […]
Aleshia Bravard, a trans woman who got her start in show business working as a female impersonator before having GRS in 1962 passed away on July 1 of this year. After her surgery she returned to her home state of Tennessee and got a degree in the arts from Middle Tennessee State. She then worked as a theater professor and eventually returned to California to pursue and acting career with appearances on numerous shows from The Red Skelton Show to The Partridge Family, Night Gallery and many more. In 2001 she wrote her autobiography and did a sequel in 2010. Before she passed away our own David de Alba did an in-depth interview with her. We present it here with David’s permission.
David de Alba is that last performing female impersonator from the legendary Finocchio’s in San Francisco. In honor of David’s birthday on May 20 we present three videos of his gift to his fans, his August 2016 show in Las Vegas. David sings as Liza and his own stage character Boy Chic. He also tells stories of his time at Finocchio’s. If you are a David de Alba fan, or would like to become one, you won’t want to miss seeing these videos. Happy birthday, David!
Coming in March David de Alba returns to the stage in Las Vegas to present his tribute to the immortal Judy Garland. Anyone who is a fan of glamorous female impersonation when the performer sings live rather than miming to a recorded track won’t want to miss this show. It’s coming March 12. View David’s promotional poster for all the details on where and how to get tickets.
Are you ready? It’s all the trans related news you’d ever want! We call it The Week In Trans! Today we learn that there’s a documentary film about Gigi Gorgeous. Comedian/actor Colin Mochrie has a trans daughter. The state of Wyoming will not be voting on legislation designed to make discrimination legal. David de Alba is profiled in a Las Vegas newspaper. More news from the Restroom Wars. A Marylyn Monroe commemorative stamp used a photo of a drag performer as Monroe. Sweden drops “gender dysphoria” as a diagnosis for trans people. The University of Arkansas drops trans-related healthcare for employees. An 11-year-old actress is eligible for awards in both male and female categories. There’s all that and more in this edition of TWIT!
Since I moved to Las Vegas, I have had the greatest opportunity to become acquainted with the world-famous singer and theater performer, David de Alba. David is renowned for his female impersonations as a legendary ensemble member at San Francisco’s Finocchio Club; and even in retirement, David performs two shows a year here in Las […]
Attention! The Week In Trans is on the air! Among our trans-related stories today you will learn that Major League Baseball will no longer be able to haze rookies by making them dress in women’s clothes. Cartoonist Barry Deutsch has a cartoon that sums up the “bathroom bills.” A court has let a trans girl continue to use the girls’ room. A special edition of National Geographic features trans people on the cover. The Coy Mathis documentary premiers in January. Trans women compete in marathons and cycling. The director of Boys Don’t Cry is met with protests. Jackie Evancho is in trouble with Trump supporters for having a trans sister. A young trans girl was instrumental in getting the laws in Malta changed. Trans activists in China held their first summit. Shangela has a naughty Christmas video. All that and more plus some TWIT Awards is waiting for you in TWIT!
It’s The Week In Trans! Today we learn about a popular Israeli drag performer who comes from a conservative background. We get word that the VA will not be able to provide gender confirmation surgery even though they would like to. A prosecutor’s office in Michigan has adopted a Transgender Interaction Policy. Lil Miss Hot Mess reads to children at a New York City library. Provo, Utah is getting an LGBTQ resource center. A trans woman is running for mayor in her Oregon town. A judge has ruled that MinnesotaCare must pay for trans-related services. YouTube has tons of queens doing makeup tutorials. David de Alba is featured in a Las Vegas newspaper. There’s all that and plenty more waiting for you in TWIT! And yes, we have a few TWIT Awards to hand out as well.
It’s The Week In Transgenderism! All the trans related news gathered in one place for your convenience. Today we learn how actor Mark Rylance created the character of Olivia on stage. I Am Cait bites the dust. Target will spend millions to add single occupancy restrooms. A trans model from the ’60s goes back to work. Federal buildings overseen by the GSA must let people use the restroom of their choice. Tricare will start covering health needs of trans military. Is your lipstick bad for you? A new documentary show about gender change in Britain. Names in the news: Castor Semenya, Ruby Corado and Dr. Aaron Devor. All that plus a lot more news, and a few TWIT Awards, is waiting for you in TWIT!
[youtube]zlTjKBg0GfU[/youtube] You’ll want to be a part of this special show, My Golden Years at Finocchio’s, on August 14 as David’s documentarian will be filming his performance for use in the documentary film about David and Finocchio’s. Speaking of which, here is a rare photo of David at Finocchio’s with Paul Ryner, David’s partner, and […]
The Rev. Yolanda Mapes is going to be celebrating her birthday soon and in honor of the occasion our trans music scene writer Pamela DeGroff has done an interview with the Rev. Yolanda. In case you don’t know about her drag queen gospel show you can learn a lot about it and how Yolanda came to be a minister and a drag queen who created Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour by reading Part 1 of the TGF interview with Yolanda. Then Pam gives you some news about live appearances by several trans artists and reviews a new album from a band called St. Lucia. It’s all there waiting for you in the longest running column on TGF, Perpetual Change.
Tona Brown is a violinist and vocalist who performs across genres, from classical to jazz to R&B. Ms. Brown is a trans woman from Baltimore and she has been interviewed in this column before, back in 2009. Pamela DeGroff interviewed her again recently and brings you that interview today. Ms. Brown has been active in music and also as a presence on social media doing a live interview show. After the interview Pamela has some music news and a mini review of the new Ariana Grande album.
David de Alba, the Cuban Legend is doing a show in Las Vegas on August 18 and he wants everyone to know. He will be doing David de Alba as Boy Chic, My Golden Years at Finocchio’s. The show starts at 3:30 p.m. in the MVIG Cultural Arts Center which is inside the Boulevard Mall […]
Today in Perpetual Change Pamela DeGroff interviews The Cuban Legend, David de Alba about his career, his Cuban heritage and the upcoming documentary about David that is now in post-production. Then Pamela offers appearance news about Coco Peru, Rev. Yolanda, and Georgie Jessup. She has news about a new release from Shawna Virago and a mini review of Cyndi Lauper’s new country album, Detour.
The Week In Transgenderism has condensed and is now ready for your viewing pleasure. Today we learn that many are praising the late Prince for his gender mixing. Donald Trump made a positive comment about trans people in the restroom, but then walked it back. Ted Cruz attacked Trump for his comment and denigrated trans people. There were, again, tons of restroom stories. Gavin Grimm has won the right to plead his case. Patrick Stewart attends an event in drag. David de Alba gets an award. Photos of John Waters and Divine in 1975. A trans male 16-year-old is escorted out of a Cruz rally. A 4-year-old in England knows she is a girl. Drag is big business down under. Many TWIT Awards are given. Stay in touch with trans news from around the world with TWIT!
David de Alba, The Cuban Legend, is not only a famed female impersonator but he has lived an interesting life. He is so interesting that he was recently the subject of a soon to be released documentary. Before the entire documentary is available we’ve been treated to some short snippets by way of promoting the […]
TGF contributor and female impersonator David de Alba had another nickname before The Cuban Legend. When he lived in San Francisco’s Potrero Hills section he was known as Heri Hairstylist to the Stars. A writer from San Francisco, Peter Linenthal, interviewed David and put together his story and we share it here. He calls it David de Alba: Potrero Hill’s ‘Cuban Legend.’
