Known for singles including the No. 1 “Just Another Day in Paradise,” Phil Vassar has worked with a number of artists; Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina and Alan Jackson, to name a few.

 

Next month, Vassar’s show will open up with the music of Bridgeport native Aaron Gallagher.

 

“When I was a kid in high school, Phil Vassar was a country/pop artist and we used to mess around and play some of his songs,” said Gallagher, who these days is based out of Raleigh, North Carolina. “Mark Medina was the musician. He played the piano. The fact that I’m going to open for (Vassar) is really kind of crazy.”  

 

Since his 2003 graduation from Bridgeport High School, Gallagher has delved into a number of musical pursuits. He launched www.freeandeasyguitar.com, from which millions around the world have learned to play guitar, the instrument which started it all for Gallagher while he was studying biology and playing baseball for West Virginia Wesleyan College. Gallagher also formed the Chris Hendricks Band and has managed Hendricks’ career. By trade, he’s biotechnologist and in addition to all of that, he still has time to go on mission trips to Central America and Africa. Last year, Gallagher recorded an EP of original tunes and released the music free of charge to listeners via noisetrade.com.

 

That venture opened a whole new window of opportunity for Gallagher as a songwriter and performer. With no previously established fan base, word traveled fast, with some interesting offers rolling in. It was early December when he received a phone call from officials at Durham’s Carolina Theatre with regard to the upcoming Phil Vassar concert. (Vassar is pictured just above.) 

 

“They wanted to know if I wanted to open for him and I said, ‘Absolutely – that I had grown up with his stuff and been a fan of his music.’ I was very excited,” Gallagher said.

 

The Feb. 19 show at Durham’s Carolina Theatre begins at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $30 to $51.56 and can be purchased HERE.

 

The EP release also grabbed the attention of well-known Nashville radio personality Dave Harris, who contacted Gallagher with another unique opportunity – to record a tune co-written by Rob Thomas (formerly of Matchbox Twenty) as part of a charity project.

 

“I really thought it was a joke, at first,” Gallagher said. “He told me he really liked my voice and wanted me to sing on this charity album, along with artists including the bass player for Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller.’ All the musicians are from Nashville’s top session – musicians who get paid by big artists to record in the studio.”

 

The project turned out to be absolutely legitimate and Gallagher said he couldn’t be happier to be part of it. The project on which Gallagher will sing “It’s Not Over You,” written by Thomas and Harris, will raise awareness, as well as money toward research and treatment of Kawasaki Disease.

 

“I don’t know how many compilations will be on the CD yet,” he said. “There are several different songs written by musicians from all over the country.” 

 

Read another feature about Gallagher co-hosting The Sportsman Channel's "Gallery of Guns" HERE. 

 

Julie Perine can be reached at 304-848-7200, julie@connect-bridgeport.com or follow @JuliePerine on Twitter!