Buddy Shanahan
Gay local pianist Buddy Shanahan, 50, died suddenly Sunday night.
Shanahan was scheduled to play for singer Denise Lee at Woody’s Sports and Video Bar on Sunday evening but did not show up. Lee posted on her Facebook page, “due to circumstances beyond my control I won’t be playing at Woody’s tonight. Sorry for the inconvenience.”
When Norman Williams stepped in to perform with Lee, singers Anton Shaw and Paul Allen went to Shanahan’s house, where they found him deceased. The cause of death was believed to be cardiac arrest.
Shanahan has accompanied many singers at Dallas gay clubs. For years he was a regular at Bill’s Hideaway. More recently, he performed often at Alexandre’s and Woody’s.
He also played regularly for Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Dallas.
Shanahan was also known for performing at charity events in the LGBT and HIV/AIDS community. On Oct. 20, he accompanied Lee and other singers at a fundraiser for Legacy Counseling Center at The Brick.
For a full story on Shanahan, see Friday’s Dallas Voice.