Charlie Gracie (born Charles Anthony Graci in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, o… Read Full Bio ↴Charlie Gracie (born Charles Anthony Graci in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 14 May 1936; died 17 December 2022) was an American rock pioneer and singer.
Encouraged by his father to play the guitar, Gracie'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 Gracie'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 Gracie'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, Gracie 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, 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 Gracie 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.
Gracie'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.
Gracie 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.
Gracie 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, Gracie' continued to perform in clubs, theaters, and resorts through the 1990s.
Gracie's pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
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.
Encouraged by his father to play the guitar, Gracie'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 Gracie'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 Gracie'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, Gracie 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, 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 Gracie 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.
Gracie'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.
Gracie 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.
Gracie 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, Gracie' continued to perform in clubs, theaters, and resorts through the 1990s.
Gracie's pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
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.
Crazy Girl
Charlie Gracie Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Crazy Girl' by these artists:
???P あなたが望むこと あなたが気持ちいいこと わたしがなんだって かなえてあげる そんな目で見ないでよ そんなとこ触んない…
Basement Jaxx When I met you You were sexy You were freaky…
Beni Like a crazy girl Let's get an another girl You know how…
Bktherula Huh, this bitch don't even know The bitch don't even know Sh…
Eli Young Band Baby why you wanna cry? You really oughta know that I Just…
Fischer Z Closer relations with you. Closer relations with you. Natur…
Fischer-Z Closer relations with you. Closer relations with you. Natura…
Hachioji-P (八王子P) あなたが望むこと あなたが気持ちいいこと わたしがなんだって かなえてあげる そんな目で見ないでよ そんなとこ触んない…
Half Pint Wanti wanti can't geti Getti getti no wanti Don't lose it,…
Helena Paparizou The Swingin' Cats Crazy girl, I want you Crazy girl, I need you so Crazy…
Karl Wolf ft. Taio Cruz (feat. Taio Cruz) Your Crazy Girl (Oh Oh Oh Oh) Your Cra…
Karmella's Game Where are you going? What's the point of fighting? What's …
Ke$ha how do you do it? how do you do these things…
Kelly Pardekooper Another weekend staying out all night We're in the kitchen…
Kesha How do you do it? How do you do these things…
Lissie What does anyone know about you and I? When I'm feeling…
LL Cool J feat. Mashonda (feat. Mashonda) [LL (Mashonda) *Swizz*] Crazy baby Cra…
Mashonda [LL Cool J (Mashonda) Swizz] Crazy baby Crazy, crazy baby Yo…
Rehab She's got views and she's got opinions. She went to school…
Rita Ora Crazy girl Crazy girl Crazy girl Crazy girl Oh I se…
Rock Sugar All aboard! HA HA HA HA HA HA! a'ight, a'ight, a'ight, a'i…
The Co-Writes Hey you, what you trying to do Running all around like…
The Ruse I was trashed in the underground You were alone It was fast,…
twenty4-7 Yeah Climb on the pole for me Start up the show for…
V-BAND Baby why you wanna cry? You really oughta know that I Just…
V.A. Oo I need a crazy girl one that dance for…
Workman Song You are a strange one You are the weird one who…
Young Rome [Romes 1st Verse] Its only right that I'm killin it homey…
八王子P あなたが望むこと あなたが気持ちいいこと わたしがなんだって かなえてあげる そんな目で見ないでよ そんなとこ触んない…
BENI Like a crazy girl Let's get an another girl You know how…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Charlie Gracie:
Butterfly (Ah-ah-ah, doo-wop) You tell me you love me, you say you'll…
Fabulous Well I always knew I was crazy for you But now I…
Gotta Travel On I've laid around and played around This old town too long Su…
I Love You So Much It Hurts I love you so much, it hurts me Darling, that's why…
Ninety Nine Ways There must be ninety-nine ways of losin' the blues That I go…
Ninety-Nine Ways There must be ninety-nine ways of losin' the blues That I go…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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