A concert for Mickey

When Jacqueline Gallagher lost her father last year, she wanted to do something to honor him. Michael Gallagher of Rockville Centre, a retired sergeant with the New York Police Department, died of esophageal and liver cancer shortly after his 60th birthday.
“The day after he passed away, we were riding in the car, listening to [’50s singer] Dion and going to White Castle in my father’s honor,” said Jackie, whose father had an affinity for the fast-food restaurant. “We knew we wanted to contribute, to do something for him ...”
An idea came quickly to Gallagher and her companion, Sean Llewellyn, who live in East Atlantic Beach. “[Last year] was the 20th anniversary of our band, the BelAirs, and he loved our music,” said Llewellyn. “He came to see us play at Jones Beach last summer, and it was something that he really enjoyed. It was the last concert he attended.”
It didn’t take much for the idea to take shape: The band would celebrate its two decades in the business with a concert honoring Gallagher, who was known as Mickey, with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. They called it the Concert for Mickey.
Llewellyn started the BelAirs in 1989 with friends Joe Licato and Frank Maiello. All three grew up in Lynbrook.
“I petitioned the NYPD to do this event and to use their logo,” said Licato, an NYPD sergeant in Manhattan North. The concert, set for June 26, will be sponsored by the department’s Sergeants’ Benevolent Association.
The group — guitar, percussion and vocals — performs a variety of music styles. “It’s New York kind of music,” said Llewellyn. “Urban, gritty and with class. If the state has a sound, we’re it.” The group has recorded three albums over the years, the latest being a double CD titled “Family Album.” They play at Long Island clubs, engagement parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs and retirement parties, and have had gigs at Jones Beach and on Fire Island. Their repertoire includes tunes from the 1950s and 60s, classic rock, standards, dance music and seasonal songs.
“These are all original songs,” Maiello said of the latest CD. “We’ve been playing other people’s songs for 21 years. This is ours.” Other band members include Chris Bisciello, Fred Waxenberg and Frank Saladino.
“We’ve invited a number of people who have played in the band over the years,” said Licato. “They’ll be coming up on stage at the fundraiser to guest star. It’s a positive way to celebrate.”
“This is his party,” Jackie Gallagher said of her father. “It will be all his family and friends, together.”

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