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.
Tutti Frutti
Charlie Gracie Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Tutti Frutti' by these artists:
Adrian Simionescu Tutti frutti te khelas, Te khelas te gil'abas. Te khelas te …
Adrian Simionescu & L'Orchestre Marin Ioan Tutti Frutti Tutti frutti te kelas, te kelas te giljavas. t…
Adrian Simionescu & Orchestre Marin Ioan Tutti frutti te khelas, Te khelas te gil′abas. Te khelas te …
Adriano Celentano Wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom! Tutti frutti,…
Andrew J. The experts in the club, look at me like a…
Ben E. King & The Drifters Wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom! Tutti frutti,…
Big Sleep Tutti frutti choo choo choose me Cus I've been waiting …
Bill Haley & His Comets Wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom! Tutti frutti,…
Buckwheat Zydeco Wop bop a loom a blop bam boom Wop bop a…
Cássia Eller I've got a girl named Daisy She almost drive me crazy She…
Celentano and Mina Wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom! Tutti frutti,…
Cliff Richard Wop-bop-a-loom-a-blop-bam-boom Tutti frutti, oh Rudy, tutti …
Clint Robinson Wop-bop-a-loo-mop alop-bom-bom Tutti frutti, oh rutti Tutti …
Club Enforcer ain't no but tutti fruity get on the floor if ya…
Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen Penniman-LaBostrie A wop bop a loo bop a lop bam bam…
dan & gullan bornemark Tutti frutti ska vi göra det ska bli en härlig…
Danny Pink Tutti Vamos brincar de tutti frutti Todas as frutas misturar…
Elvis & Friends A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom! Tutti Frutti au rutti Tu…
Fats Domino Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom! Tutti frutti,…
Fleetwood Mac Wop bop a loom a blop bam boom Wop bop a…
Galante Directamente Desde La Mansión Galante Double Dice Music El E…
Gary Corben Imagine se fossem misturadas Todos os sabores deste mundo A …
J-List 'Scuse me (Okay) What are you doin' (Mm hmm) Shakin' that li…
J.B.O. A-Wop-bop-a-loo-lop a-lop-bam-boo Tuttifrutti - auf die M…
J.J. Malone 'Scuse me (Okay) What are you doin' (Mm hmm) Shakin' that li…
Jerry Lee Lewis & Little Richard Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom Tutti frutti,…
Jimi Hendrix Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom! Tutti frutti,…
Joe-E Wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom! Tutti frutti,…
Johnny Be bop a lula balab bam bom Tutti frutti, oh ruti Tutti…
Johnny Hallyday Ba babalooba ba la bamboo Tutti frutti, all rutti Tutti frut…
Kultur Shock Tuti fruti gelato Sao roma gelato Sao roma daje Romale ca…
l. richard Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom Tutti frutti,…
Les Greene Wop-bop-a-loo-bop, ba-la-bop-bop Tutti frutti, oh, Rudy Tutt…
Little Richard Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom Tutti frutti,…
Little Richard & Jimi Hendrix Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom! Tutti frutti,…
Little Richard (Penniman Richard) Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom! Tutti frutti,…
Little Richard / Jerry Lee Lewis Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom Tutti frutti,…
Little Richard and Jimi Hendrix Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom! Tutti frutti,…
Little Richard/Musicfire.in Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom Tutti frutti,…
Los Boys Fashion killa ni mala ni santa, Sólo baila mazucamba Lluvia …
Lubin Labostrie Penniman Penniman Doris Fisher & Elvis Presley A-bop-bop-a-loom-op a-lop-bop-boom! Tutti Frutti au rutti Tu…
MC5 Tutti frutti, oh rutti, Tutti frutti, oh rutti, Tutti frutti…
New Order Tutti frutti Amore mio Tutti frutti No Non è ancora il momen…
New Order;Elly Jackson Tutti frutti Amore mio Tutti frutti No Non è ancora il m…
Pat Boone A-wop-bop-a-loo-lop a-lop-bam-boo Tutti Frutti, all over roo…
Peter Kraus Wop-bop-a-loo-lop a-lop-bam-boo Tutti frutti, oh rootie Tu…
Puhdys A wob bopa loom alop bam boom …
Queen Words and music by Little Richard Bop bopa-a-lu a whop bam…
Richard Little Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom Tutti frutti,…
Roy Orbison Wop-bop-a-loom-a-boom-bam-boom tutti frutti au rutti tutti …
Soleá Morente [feat. La Estrella de David Las Negris José Bonaparte & Checopolaco] Quiéreme muchacho Que yo a ti te adoro Que vengo cargada Con…
Sting A bop bop aloom op a lop bop boom Tutti frutti…
Sydän Sydän Saat maistaa suukkoa kuplivaa Aivoihin aamusella puskee synt…
The Hit Crew Main karari karari hoon Aa chaba le supari hoon Mere nakhre …
The Little Richards Wop bop a loo bop a lop bom bom Tutti frutti,…
The Swinging Blue Jeans Wabadadooda wambambam Tutti Frutti all route it Tutti Frutt…
The Teen Kings Tutti Frutti Pat Boone Peaked #12 on Febraury 4, 1956 #451 …
Tomasz Niecik Powiem ci tak To ma dobry smak Owoców czar W ustach pełen ża…
Trio Bebobalubabalabamboo Girl named Sue knows just what to do …
Udo Lindenberg Ich traf ein Mädchen die hieß Renate hm - das war ja…
V.A. Tutti frutti, oh rutti, Tutti frutti, oh rutti, Tutti frutti…
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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