high energy

Gay Icon is a trite expression that usually refers to any celebrity with a larger than life persona. Or perhaps an aging diva who is desperate to connect with her target audience. But this next artist earned his status symbol as televisions first homosexual character. Growing up as a young fag, it was thrilling to see any version of Man Love in prime time. The producers were careful not to attribute any camp mannerisms to Steven Carrington, except for the occasional hissy fit aimed towards his father Blake. And the “love scenes” were fairly chaste. This was in the dark days before The Real World introduced the country to the queer next door. So it was shocking when the actor Al Corley decided to leave his groundbreaking role as a homo hottie to pursue pop stardom. What is it about soap opera stars and their musical ambitions? I must admit that he looked the part of a masculine video vixen with his brooding look and tousled hair. He tried to position himself as the male Laura Brannigan. He adopted the Euro Disco sound that was so popular on the dance floor back in the 80’s. He even drafted instrumental maestro Harold Faltermeyer to helm the production. But his reinvention went unnoticed here in the USA and his single stalled at #80 on the HOT 100. But leave it to the French to embrace what would later become a camp classic. Our Al pouted and shouted all the way to #1 in the Old Country… But he will always be remembered for his star turn as the pink sheep on Dynasty.