THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

In 1998, their talent garnered the attention of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, where they performed at Copenhagen's New Year's Concert. They've shared the stage with some of the most notable talent in show biz, including Bea Arthur, Phyllis Diller, Judy Tenuta, Mary Wilson, Jennifer Holiday, Judy Gold, Lois Bromfeld, and the Supremes. When they're not stateside, you can find them headlining the main stage for RSVP Cruises in places like Greece, Tahiti, Alaska and Puerto Vallarta, just to name a few. They've even been featured on NBC's America's Got Talent. Their unique blend of music and comedy set's them apart from other acts; Armstrong's humor is as sharp as a knife and, under the musical direction of Allen, their sound is a big as the Windy City itself. It's not a gimmick either. They are as genuine off-stage as they are in the spotlight. One thing is for sure: They are inseparable.

Windy City Times: You guys sing everything, from show tunes to '80s rock to cabaret. What's your favorite genre of music?

Amy Armstrong: It changes a lot, but, really, I'm an '80s baby. Pat Benatar, Joan Jett, even Aretha Franklin during that time; there's a lot of great songs to choose from the '80s.

Freddy Allen: Can you believe it's all retro now?

Amy Armstrong: I know. It is retro and it's all coming back. God, if only I had kept all my stuff I could make so much money. What was your favorite thing from the '80s, Fred?

Freddy Allen: Coca-Cola wear.

Amy Armstrong: Mine would have been all those tacky rubber bracelets and bandanas.

Freddy Allen: A lot of our demographic are those folks who lived the '80s, so a lot of our fans are our age.

Amy Armstrong: Oh yeah, but you know, a lot of younger fans come to our shows, and I love seeing them get into music that they might not have otherwise been able to see performed live. I think it's flattering that we can appeal to our age group, then see a bunch of 20-year-olds say, "I love that new song!" No, sweetie, it's not new; you're just new. It makes me laugh.

Freddy Allen: They get it, though, and it's so much fun for us when it's fun for them. A lot of the kids that see us are so used to Britney Spears and stuff like that. Don't get me wrong; we do a lot of new stuff, too. It's not just all Liza and Bet. But, what we do—music and comedy—is ageless. Amy's comedy goes over whether you're 21 or 81.

WCT: You, certainly, interact with your audiences a lot. Was music and comedy a conscientious choice? Did you always want to do both?

Amy Armstrong: I think you have to engage your audience. People like being messed with. I mean, I wouldn't know how else to do a show. Besides, the show isn't for us; it's for them. So, when everyone is involved it's more fun.

Freddy Allen: You're really quick, too. It's like you have them before they have you. It's what you're so good at, and it's what makes us unique.

Amy Armstrong: I always just wanted to be a singer. And, early on when I'd perform in bars and clubs, I'd get heckled a lot. So, you know, I heckled back and they loved it. It's really of-the-cuff. I don't write out a lot of material because, for me, the funniest stuff just comes naturally.

WCT: You have an interesting dynamic on stage. At times, it seems like Amy is almost heckling you, Freddy. What's that like?

Amy Armstrong: Well, when we first started working together he wouldn't even talk to me. I remember one of our first shows. Between songs I looked at Freddy and said, "How are you doing?" He gave me this wide-eyed look like, "Why the hell are you talking to me?" His honest reaction was comedy in itself. But, you should know, that this man is a jokester. Everyone thinks I'm always messing with him, but he really sticks it to me sometimes.

WCT: Freddy, do tell.

Freddy Allen: One of the funniest moments was way back when we were performing at Gentry. I had these stink bombs—the kind that come in little plastic tubes—that really smelled awful. Amy was singing and I would break them under my feet and the whole front of the stage just reeked. The bartender was in on it, and I did this several nights in a row. So, Amy would be singing and trying not to gag at the same time. She looked like she had Tourette's, trying to hold back her revulsion. So, finally, after many nights of doing this, while she was in the middle of a song, she stopped the show and said, "Alright, that's it! Can't you people smell that! What's wrong with you! If the owners of this place don't fix the bathroom, I'm out of here!"

Amy Armstrong: I thought it was a sewage problem and I thought these people were crazy to sit through a show with that awful smell around them. So, I'm gagging and trying to yell at the crowd without vomiting on them, and everyone is laughing like it's the funniest thing. I looked back at Freddy and he was almost falling out of his seat from laughing. Man, did you make me look like an ass.

Freddy Allen: Yup, that was good.

Amy Armstrong: Oh, then there was this other time when I kept missing all my notes. I thought there was something wrong with my voice. Freddy was like, "I don't know what's wrong." So he tells me to try another song. My voice cracked again and now I'm worried because, all of a sudden, I couldn't sing.

Freddy Allen: Yeah, Amy's on the verge of tears and she doesn't know what to do. She's completely flustered and she says, "Fred, I don't know if I can perform. There's something wrong with my voice." She was squawking these notes and it was so funny to see her mess up on stage. She was so red in the face!

Amy Armstrong: And, with that, Freddy says to the audience, "It's ok, folks, I just raised the keys a little to throw her off. April Fool's!" You thought you were so freaking clever.

WCT: How did you meet?

Amy Armstrong: Well, we're going on 14 years together. We met at an open mic night at Gentry. And—get this—he thought I was a lesbian because I was wore overalls and drove a truck!

Freddy Allen: No, no, I first thought she was a drag queen.

AA [ laughing ] : Oh, like that's supposed to be better. WTF, Fred?

Freddy Allen: She walked in and she had this bejeweled necklace and all this makeup on and this fabulous outfit. I was thinking, "Who is this?" You know, because The Baton was just down the street. So she comes in and she sings and I remember thinking, "Oh my God, she is an amazing singer." That's when I realized she was a woman. Anyway, we met and decided to hook-up for a rehearsal. So, she drove up to my apartment to pick me up in this truck, wearing overalls. And I thought, "Of course, she must be a dyke." So, I went from one extreme to the next trying to figure her out.

Amy Armstrong: Then he realized I was just a straight girl with a fashion sense, who happened to be tall. Oh, but sure, why not just assume drag queen or lesbian first? Wow, I can tell this article isn't going to get me laid.

WCT: Tell me about your first show together.

Freddy Allen: I'll never forget it. We were at Gentry and it was four hours long. I remember thinking there's no way we're going to be able to pull this off.

Amy Armstrong: Four hours! And, when you're on stage that long, it can seem like an eternity, but we did it. We pulled it off.

Freddy Allen: Yeah we did. But, you know, in retrospect, it wasn't that tough because Amy was cracking me up. We had so much fun, and I think that because we were having a good time, so was the audience.

Amy Armstrong: Yes! At that point we'd already "clicked" as partners, but that was a moment when we really shined. Fred hit every number perfectly and when I was razzing him, he fired back with sheer perfection. It was like we'd already done that show a thousand times. It was really great.

WCT: Freddy, you also write your own music, right?

Freddy Allen: I do. A lot of it is inspired by Amy. I also teach piano and voice lessons. My best work, though, is our best work. When I moved here from St. Louis over 20 years ago, I never imagined I'd find a musical partner like Amy. Together, we've produced incredible material.

WCT: You're also a dad?

Freddy Allen: I am. My partner has two children. You couldn't have told me five years ago that I was going to be a stepdad to two beautiful kids. I consider myself so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

WCT: How did you and your partner meet?

Freddy Allen: We met at one of our shows. Amy kind of hooked us up. I actually thought he was straight...

Amy Armstrong: Oh, whatever, he was so not straight, but OK, Fred!

Freddy Allen: Whatever. So, we were performing and I noticed this handsome guy looking at me. Amy caught wind of my distraction and, during the intermission, took it upon herself to tell him that I was single. After the show, he came up to me and handed me this piece of paper that said, "Call me." So I did, I called him the next day, and later that weekend we had our first date.

WCT: Did your partner propose to you?

Freddy Allen: I proposed to him. Two and a half years ago we had this big Christmas party with friends and family. I got down on one knee and gave him this inscribed bracelet—from Tiffany's, of course…

Amy [ Laughing ] : Of course.

Freddy Allen: So I gave him this bracelet and I asked him to spend the rest of his life with me. And, he said yes. We had our commitment ceremony in Key West about six months later. Actually, Amy walked me down the aisle.

Amy Armstrong: Well, I carried him. Ha! No, it was great. I'll never forget, before we walked down the aisle, Fred grabbed my hands and said, "This is the happiest day of my life."

Freddy Allen: It was the happiest day of my life. I just hope that someday everybody can get married; gay straight, whatever … actually, I mean gay people. I hope gay people can get married anywhere someday and not have to worry about all this Prop 8 crap. I know I am a better man because of my family, because of my marriage to the most wonderful man.

WCT: As working performers, you're on the road a lot. Is that difficult for you and your families?

Freddy Allen: Sometimes it is. But, you know, we make it work. When I was single, I had some wild days, but I don't miss that. I would never go back. There is nothing better than being in love with somebody and having a family. When we're away, I find peace knowing that my partner is home waiting for me, that our kids and our dog will be there when I come home. That's what I've learned.

WCT: Amy, before you and Freddy met, where were you?

Amy Armstrong: For the record, I just want to say that I don't have any children. None that I know of anyway … muwahahahaaa! Well, I'd graduated from college with a degree in musical theater. My two gay friends from school and I moved to Boystown into this crappy three-bedroom apartment. That first year was tough. Nobody knew who I was, but I was determined to be a singer, so I started singing in bars around Boystown.

I remember the first bar I went into—Dandy's, which is now Bobby Love's. There was this older gentleman there who said that he'd buy me a drink if I'd sing for him, so I did. I'd sing karaoke wherever I could. I'd get on the bar at Buck's and sing for drinks. It was a wild time. I did all that, though, because it worked. The guys wanted more, and they didn't have ulterior motives. I realized that, if you had talent and they liked you, gay men would take care of you. And, they did. I'd give them my talent and they took care of me when I needed it.

Freddy Allen: When Amy and I connected, we really took off. We started performing at Gentry, and that led to other gigs. We traveled to Saugatuck, Mich., and performed at the Dunes. We started traveling a lot after that.

Amy Armstrong: Actually, after our first couple years together, we played with the Denmark Symphony. We were performing at Gentry and this guy came up to us and said he owned a theater in Copenhagen and he wanted us to come sing with his orchestra for New Year's. We thought he was full of it but, as it turns out, it was real. Hell, Freddy directed it!

Freddy Allen: To have 60-plus instruments behind you as you play was like nothing I'd ever experienced. I mean, I know we compliment each other, but to have our music and her power backed up by those instruments, well, it was pretty amazing.

WCT: Looking back, what were some of your favorite venues?

Freddy Allen: Gentry is really where we got our Chicago start. There were two of them, one downtown and one on Halsted, and we were playing both of them pretty much full-time when we started.

Amy Armstrong: Where haven't we performed? Magnum's was a fun spot. Lake Shore Theater and Roscoe's are places we played frequently. We've done a lot of anniversary parties for places, too. I remember when we did the National HRC [ Human Rights Campaign ] black-tie party in Dallas a few years back. But, really, name a gay bar in Chicago and we've probably played there.

Freddy Allen: Voltaire, of course, was great.

Amy Armstrong: Voltaire was an incredible experience. It was dinner theater with dancers. We put on new shows every month. We had special guests like Phyllis Diller and Judy Tenuta. We had a lot of guests. We brought back the supper club.

WCT: What about other notable singers you have shared the stage with?

Amy Armstrong: I remember, shortly after 9/11, Lee Greenwood came in and sang "I'm Proud to be an American." Bea Arthur sang with us once, too. That was cool. We sang "Some People" from the show Gypsy. I can't remember what else we sang. I wasn't as drunk as she was, but whatever, we'd had a few drinks. It, truly, was a memorable night. Bea Arthur was fantastic! Oh, and we also sang with Dorothy Loudon from Annie. She and I sang "Bye Bye Blackbird." Who else? We've performed with Ann Hampton Calloway and Liz Calloway, Anthony Rapp from Rent and RJ Helton form American Idol. In this business, though, you get to meet incredible people like that. Since we've been doing cruise ships, I've really connected with a comedian by the name of Suzanne Westenhoefer. She's become a friend and big sister to me. I really admire her talent.

WCT: You mentioned cruise ships. Where have you been in the world and what is that experience like?

Amy Armstrong: Oh my God, we've been so many places!

Freddy Allen: Yeah, we've been on over 30 cruises all over the world with RSVP since 1999: Tahiti, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Alaska, Barbados, you name it. We've been given this great opportunity to work with RSVP, to perform for everybody on these incredible getaways. Actually, because of RSVP, we've been traveling a lot more. People will see on these trips and call us and, before you know it, we're booked at some other venue, someplace else in the world.

Amy Armstrong: To be in Europe, floating down the Danube River, and singing while people are having drinks around you, it's like a dream. I remember when I was younger, watching The Love Boat, and I'd dream of being like Charo or Ethel Merman. And, now it's like we are those performers on the RSVP love boat!

WCT: Amy, you've mentioned that you've been singing since you were a little girl. Who were your biggest influences growing up?

Amy Armstrong: Definitely my mother. She was so supportive. I've been a tall, big girl since the age of seven. And, when kids would tease me, my mother would say, "Keep singing. You may not think so now, but those people are going to stand up and cheer for you one day." I was 19 when she passed away.

WCT: That must have been a tough time for you.

Amy Armstrong: It was. She died very unexpectedly from ovarian cancer. My life changed a lot at that point. It was just my dad and I from then on. I was going to school at the time and working three jobs, trying to do the best I could. My dad and I were both very numb after my mom died, and it took us a long time to get past that point in our lives. Singing, though, has helped me deal with that a lot. I think about her being able to see me now in front of cheering crowds. She would be very proud. So, yeah, I sing and I think about my mom, and it gives me the strength to persevere. You have to persevere in this business because it's tough. In our 14 years together we've had some good times and some rough times.

WCT: What's your family dynamic like now?

Amy Armstrong: Well, it's my dad and I now. He also had some health issues at one point, and it was pretty scary. I was afraid of losing him, too. So, I moved him in with me, went to all his doctor's appointments; took care of him. He took care of me, how could I not take care of him. It was tough back then, working late hours and worrying about my dad; up at all hours of the night dealing with medications. Things are better now, though. He's on his own and he's a happy guy, and we're still close. I found him an apartment in my building, so we see each other a lot. He comes to all my shows and he's very supportive. We take care of each other. You know, don't take your parents for granted. Spend as much time with them as you can before you get older. You'll learn a lot from them. I love my father very much. I tell him everything. He's my best friend.

WCT: What aspects of your career are most challenging?

Freddy Allen: Well, being a working entertainer is tough. It's up, it's down, it's late hours, and a lot of time away from family. When we're working it's like being on top of the world. Then there are those times when you don't get the gig, when you have a dry spell, and you worry about the future.

Amy Armstrong: I think being an entertainer is like a rollercoaster ride. There are these big highs and then there are these lows. And, when it's low, it's really low. You cling to those highs to get through the low points. But, if you love something that much, you have to keep doing it no matter what. That's the passion we both have and that's why we do what we do.

WCT: You were also on America's Got Talent. Give us a little insight into the world of reality TV.

Freddy Allen: That was very cool. We went through the cattle-call auditions, then another round, and eventually we were told we'd be going to L.A. to perform in front of Sharon Osbourne, David Hasselhoff and Piers Morgan. We couldn't believe it. In L.A. we sang "Get Here" by Oleta Adams to a room of 2,000 people and we got a standing ovation.

Amy Armstrong: We've played big crowds on cruise ships and we've played smaller venues in bars and clubs, but to be on stage before a national television audience, with thousands of people watching you in one room, the sound is like a roar. To pull off a song or a joke in a room with 2,000 people standing and cheering for you makes your whole body shake.

WCT: Your promo on Entertainment Tonight made it seem as though you guys were being built up for another round on the show. What happened?

Amy Armstrong: Hmm… reality TV really is something. Honestly, it's hard to say why we didn't make it to the next round. I know we were good, thousands of people in the audience thought we were good, our fans around the world e-mailed and called us to show their support, but ultimately we were passed over. Maybe the producers thought other contestants were better than us. Maybe our story wasn't what they were looking for. A lot of being a performer is mastering the art of rejection, especially when you're new to a particular stage. Its just part of the business.

WCT: You two aren't new to playing big audiences. What kind of story do you think they were looking for? Is the story of Amy and Freddy missing something?

Freddy Allen: Who knows? Our insight is limited to our experience of, simply, doing the best we could. And, we did that. For our first time on national TV, we were great! It was huge for us.

Amy Armstrong: I agree. Our story is our life and it's ongoing, so how could something be missing? Maybe we didn't punch up certain details that would have made for a better cast of characters on TV. Maybe Fred didn't emphasize the struggle of being a gay dad, always on the road. Maybe I didn't emphasize details about losing my mom at 19 and taking care of my dad. The reasons for why we didn't make it further are endless. But, that's not what we came to do. We came to sing. We came to do what we know how to do, and that is music and comedy. Those other details didn't get us to L.A., our talent did. When you think about it, our story is like so many others about performers' lives; long nights in clubs and theaters, worrying about booking that next show, hard work and dedication.

Freddy Allen: Regardless of the outcome, it was great exposure. After our spot on America's Got Talent was featured on Entertainment Tonight, our YouTube hits increased by, like, 6,000 overnight. And, sure enough, we're still booking shows.

Amy Armstrong: Maybe you could heavily produce and edit all the details of our lives to create a better TV narrative. Still, that wouldn't compare to who we really are.

WCT: Perhaps I should scrap this interview and start from the beginning. Amy and Freddy, inquiring minds want to know: Who are you, really?

Amy Armstrong: Ha! Smartass, I love it! What is this, a Lifetime original movie? OK, seriously, here's who we are: I am a hard-working gal with a professional partner I love. Fred and I have been at it for 14 years and we're still going strong. We wouldn't be here without the gay community, without all of our fans. And, as far as being on America's Got Talent is concerned, it was an incredible opportunity. Being on TV allowed us to be seen by audiences that have never know us, and for that we are totally grateful.

WCT: Let's talk about your fan base. Chicago fans: Great fans, or greatest fans?

Amy Armstrong: Our fans, especially in Chicago, are incredibly loyal. It's like Cubs fan loyalty. Our fans drink just as much, but they're better dressed—I'm kidding! Seriously, though, they come to see us again and again and it's, truly, humbling. Because of that, a lot of our fans are more than just fans; they're our friends, too. We look forward to seeing them when we perform on cruises and when we do shows here in town. Where would we be without them!

Freddy Allen: Yeah, we couldn't do this without our fans, our friends. It's hard enough to stand out in this business, and because of our fans, we really sparkle. We love them so much. We really do. They keep us going.