Saturday 14 May 2016

Charlie Gracie born 14 May 1936

 

Charlie Gracie (born Charles Anthony Graci on May 14, 1936 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American rock pioneer and singer. His father encouraged him to play the guitar. Charlie's musical career started at the very early age of 14 when he appeared on the Paul Whiteman television show.

Gracie performed at weddings, local restaurants, and parties, and on local radio and television. He also won many regional talent contests. The little money and prizes he received were turned over to his mother to help support the family.


The owner of Cadillac Records heard one of Charlie's early radio performances, contacted the young musician and signed him to a contract. This association yielded the single, Boogie Woogie Blues backed with I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter. The record led to Charlie's first appearance on Bob Horn's "American Bandstand" television program. (This was four years before Dick Clark became the host)
After cutting two more singles for Cadillac, Charlie moved on to 20th Century Records, a subsidiary of Gotham, where he put out another four sides, including Wildwood Boogie. The discs he made embraced a wide variety of styles: jump blues, gospel, and country boogie with the influences of Big Joe Turner, B.B. King, Louis Jordan, Roy Acuff, and Hank Williams. Between 1951-53, Charlie Gracie was experimenting with many types of music, years before many rock heroes had ever set foot inside a recording studio.

By 1956, Philadelphia had given birth to the new Cameo record label. Its founders, in search of a strong talent signed Charlie later that year. With a $600 budget, this new union went into the studio to record a single that would forever change their lives. The record, Butterfly backed with Ninety Nine Ways became a monster hit, reaching the number one position all across America. Charlie received a gold disc for the two million plus sales and became the first native Philadelphia rock star to achieve international success. Other substantial sellers followed: Fabulous, Wandering Eyes, and Cool Baby. The financial success of these hits bankrolled the Cameo label, which became a dominant force in the recording industry for several years.
 
                                

Charlie's personal appearances grew until he performed and headlined some of the biggest venues of that time: Alan Freed's rock and roll shows at the Brooklyn Paramount, The Ed Sullivan Show, Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" and the 500 Club in Atlantic City. He appeared in the 1957 film Jamboree, and toured with the likes of Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers, Bo Diddley and his close friend, Eddie Cochran.
Charlie became only the second American, guitar-toting rock and roller to bring this new art form to the British concert stage. His two extensive tours in 1957 and 58 were a whirlwind, topped off by headlining the Palladium and the Hippodrome in London. He played to packed houses and drew rave reviews. In the audiences, among Charlie's fans and admirers, were future rock greats: Graham Nash, members of the Beatles and Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker and Van Morrison. These performers and many other well-known acts have credited Charlie as an influence. George Harrison referred to Charlie's guitar technique as "brilliant" in a March 1996 interview with Billboard Magazine; Paul McCartney invited Charlie to the premiere party of his 1999 release which paid tribute to the early pioneers of rock music.
Charlie found himself somewhat miscast at Cameo. He moved on to other labels such as Coral, Roulette, Felsted, and Diamond, performing more of the R&B he preferred. Even if success slowed, Charlie continued to perform in clubs, theaters, and resorts, from the 60's through the 90's. He still enjoys a loyal following in Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands. Charlie is a devoted family man, has been married for more than 40 years to his first and only wife, Joan. They have two children, a son and a daughter.
On Gracie's 75th Birthday, he recorded "Baby Doll" with the hill & hifi. Released in the fall of 2011, it was his first single in over 50 years to receive UK airplay on the BBC. In the US, the record entered the Top 100 on Mediabase's Top 40 Chart, from the strength of Airplay at Sirius XM. Richie Scarlet is featured on lead guitar and played with Gracie at the Bitter End, in NYC, on March 30, 2012 after a Live Radio broadcast at WFUV. WXPK & WXPN played "Baby Doll," as well, in regular rotation. The World Café featured Charlie Gracie, at their Philadelphia Venue, during the same time period, in support of the record.

Gracie was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame on November 16, 2012, at the Hilton City Avenue, Philadelphia.In 2019, Gracie toured the UK with Marty Wilde along with Mike Berry, Nancy Ann Lee and the Wildcats.

Charlie Gracie's pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. (edited from last.fm & Wikipedia)

3 comments:

john said...

Any chance of re-upped these links of The Very Best of Charlie Gracie

boppinbob said...

Hello John, At the time of original post from six years ago I never downloaded the album and Jake’s blog has finished. So all I can offer you is a CD I purchased in 1995 which I hope will suffice. You’ll note I have also updated the bio. Regards Bob.

For “Charlie Gracie – 'It's Fabulous' - It's Charlie Gracie (Cotton Town Jubilee 1995)” go here:

https://www.upload.ee/files/14182508/Charlie_Gracie.rar.html

1 Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats– Honey, Honey
2 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – (You Got) A Heart Like A Rock
3 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – Butterfly
4 Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats– Head Home, Honey
5 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – Cool Baby
6 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – Ninety-Nine Ways
7 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – I Love You So Much, It Hurts
8 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – Just Lookin'
9 Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats– Wildwood Boogie
10 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – Wandering Eyes
11 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – Fabulous
12 Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats– My Baby Loves Me
13 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – Crazy Girl
14 Charlie Gracie– Cool Baby
15 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – I'm So Glad It's You
16 Charlie Gracie & The Wildcats– Frankie And Johnny
17 Charlie Gracie– Wandering Eyes
18 Charlie Gracie– Boogie Woogie Blues
19 Charlie Gracie– Rockin' 'N' Rollin'
20 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – Trying
21 Charlie Gracie With Dave Appell And The Applejacks – Dressing Up
22 Charlie Gracie– 'Tain't No Sin In Rhythm
23 Charlie Gracie– All Over Town
24 Charlie Gracie– Say What You Mean
25 Charlie Gracie– I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
26 Charlie Gracie With Don Lang And His Frantic Five– Tutti Frutti (Live)
27 Charlie Gracie With Don Lang And His Frantic Five– I Love You So Much, It Hurts (Live)
28 Charlie Gracie With Don Lang And His Frantic Five– Guitar Boogie (Live)
29 Charlie Gracie With Don Lang And His Frantic Five– Fabulous (Live)
30 Charlie Gracie With The Paul Whiteman Orchestra– Rock The Joint (Live)
31 Charlie Gracie– Butterfly (Demo)
32 Charlie Gracie– Ninety-Nine Ways (Demo)

john said...

Thank you