Gary Lewis and the Playboys were a pop/rock group fronted by musician Gary … Read Full Bio ↴Gary Lewis and the Playboys were a pop/rock group fronted by musician Gary Lewis, son of comedian Jerry Lewis, which earned its most success as a 'swinging sixties' band. Releasing four gold albums as well as many hits, songs "Count Me In" and "This Diamond Ring" in particular continue to receive significant airplay. The group initially auditioned for a job at Disneyland, supposedly without telling Disneyland employees about Lewis' celebrity father.
They were hired on the spot, audiences at Disneyland quickly accepting them and loving their good-time image, and the Playboys were soon playing to a full house every night. Band leader Les Brown had known Jerry Lewis for years, and he told record producer Snuff Garrett that the younger Lewis was playing at Disneyland. After listening to the band, Garrett liked their sound and thought using Gary's famous name might sell tons of records. Garrett took them into a recording studio with the song "This Diamond Ring" in a session financed by Jerry Lewis' wife Patti. However, according to Lewis, the Playboys werenโt allowed to play their instruments except on the backing tracks.
Garrett wanted to maximize the chances for a hit, so he insisted on using experienced studio musicians for the overdubs, which included guitar and keyboard solos, additional bass and drum overdubs, and timpani. These musicians included Tommy Allsup on guitar, Leon Russell on keyboards, Joe Osborn on bass, and Hal Blaine on drums. Session singer Ron Hicklin did the basic vocal track. Garrett then added Garyโs voice twice, added some of the Playboys and more of Hicklin. "When I got through, he sounded like Mario Lanza," Garrett commented.
Regarding the musicians who performed on "This Diamond Ring" and other tracks by the band, Gary Lewis told Songfacts, "The Playboys played on every track we ever did, the Wrecking Crew did solos and overdubs. I sang every song myself and had a backup singer that sang only harmonies with me. My producer Snuff Garrett can back up everything I've told you, and so can Leon Russell, who was the arranger of everything I did."
Garrett got airplay in New York City for "This Diamond Ring" by making a deal with WINS disc jockey Murray the K Kaufman, who ran a series of all-star concerts at theaters around the New York area, promising that if he played Lewisโ record, the Playboys would do his shows. Garrett then had Jerry Lewis use his contacts to get his son onto 'The Ed Sullivan Show', which often 'made' an artist. However, Sullivan had a general policy that all acts appearing on his show were to perform live (although one of his frequent guests, The Dave Clark Five, had lip-synched from their second appearance on, in early 1964). Since so many studio tricks had been used on the record, the Playboys could not re-create its sound. In compromise, Lewis sang along with pre-recorded tracks as the Playboys pretended to play their instruments. The January 1965 broadcast made Gary Lewis and the Playboys instant stars.
"This Diamond Ring" went all the way to #1, and pressing plants reportedly could not keep up with initial demand for the record. Successful touring and persistent airplay has made the tune a part of 60s music history, appearing in many multi-artist collections. However, only West and Lewis remained in the band by the end of 1965. Other members later included Tommy Tripplehorn (father of actress Jeanne Tripplehorn), Carl Radle, Jimmy Karstein, Dave Gonzalez, and "Myke".
In 1965, Gary Lewis was deemed 'Cash Box' magazine's "Male Vocalist of the Year," winning against nominees Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. As a testament to his group's success, his was also the only 60s artist to have its seven single releases reach Billboard magazine's Top 10 on the Hot 100 chart (with "Count Me In" (#2), "Save Your Heart for Me" (#2), "Everybody Loves a Clown" (#4), "She's Just My Style" (#3), "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (#9), and "Green Grass" (#8) all hitting the upper reaches of the chart). Lewis was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1967 and discharged in 1968. He immediately returned to recording but was unable to regain his group's earlier momentum. Lewis continued touring, eventually marketing the band as a nostalgia act.
In total, Gary Lewis and his band has had eight gold singles, 17 top 40 hits, and four gold albums. In addition to playing on 'The Ed Sullivan Show', he appeared on 'American Bandstand', 'Shindig!', 'Hullabaloo', 'The Sally Jessy Raphaรซl Show', 'The Tonight Show', 'The Mike Douglas Show', 'Nashville Now', and Wolfman Jack's famous program. Gary Lewis has also appeared and performed on many of his father's Labor Day telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
They were hired on the spot, audiences at Disneyland quickly accepting them and loving their good-time image, and the Playboys were soon playing to a full house every night. Band leader Les Brown had known Jerry Lewis for years, and he told record producer Snuff Garrett that the younger Lewis was playing at Disneyland. After listening to the band, Garrett liked their sound and thought using Gary's famous name might sell tons of records. Garrett took them into a recording studio with the song "This Diamond Ring" in a session financed by Jerry Lewis' wife Patti. However, according to Lewis, the Playboys werenโt allowed to play their instruments except on the backing tracks.
Garrett wanted to maximize the chances for a hit, so he insisted on using experienced studio musicians for the overdubs, which included guitar and keyboard solos, additional bass and drum overdubs, and timpani. These musicians included Tommy Allsup on guitar, Leon Russell on keyboards, Joe Osborn on bass, and Hal Blaine on drums. Session singer Ron Hicklin did the basic vocal track. Garrett then added Garyโs voice twice, added some of the Playboys and more of Hicklin. "When I got through, he sounded like Mario Lanza," Garrett commented.
Regarding the musicians who performed on "This Diamond Ring" and other tracks by the band, Gary Lewis told Songfacts, "The Playboys played on every track we ever did, the Wrecking Crew did solos and overdubs. I sang every song myself and had a backup singer that sang only harmonies with me. My producer Snuff Garrett can back up everything I've told you, and so can Leon Russell, who was the arranger of everything I did."
Garrett got airplay in New York City for "This Diamond Ring" by making a deal with WINS disc jockey Murray the K Kaufman, who ran a series of all-star concerts at theaters around the New York area, promising that if he played Lewisโ record, the Playboys would do his shows. Garrett then had Jerry Lewis use his contacts to get his son onto 'The Ed Sullivan Show', which often 'made' an artist. However, Sullivan had a general policy that all acts appearing on his show were to perform live (although one of his frequent guests, The Dave Clark Five, had lip-synched from their second appearance on, in early 1964). Since so many studio tricks had been used on the record, the Playboys could not re-create its sound. In compromise, Lewis sang along with pre-recorded tracks as the Playboys pretended to play their instruments. The January 1965 broadcast made Gary Lewis and the Playboys instant stars.
"This Diamond Ring" went all the way to #1, and pressing plants reportedly could not keep up with initial demand for the record. Successful touring and persistent airplay has made the tune a part of 60s music history, appearing in many multi-artist collections. However, only West and Lewis remained in the band by the end of 1965. Other members later included Tommy Tripplehorn (father of actress Jeanne Tripplehorn), Carl Radle, Jimmy Karstein, Dave Gonzalez, and "Myke".
In 1965, Gary Lewis was deemed 'Cash Box' magazine's "Male Vocalist of the Year," winning against nominees Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. As a testament to his group's success, his was also the only 60s artist to have its seven single releases reach Billboard magazine's Top 10 on the Hot 100 chart (with "Count Me In" (#2), "Save Your Heart for Me" (#2), "Everybody Loves a Clown" (#4), "She's Just My Style" (#3), "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (#9), and "Green Grass" (#8) all hitting the upper reaches of the chart). Lewis was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1967 and discharged in 1968. He immediately returned to recording but was unable to regain his group's earlier momentum. Lewis continued touring, eventually marketing the band as a nostalgia act.
In total, Gary Lewis and his band has had eight gold singles, 17 top 40 hits, and four gold albums. In addition to playing on 'The Ed Sullivan Show', he appeared on 'American Bandstand', 'Shindig!', 'Hullabaloo', 'The Sally Jessy Raphaรซl Show', 'The Tonight Show', 'The Mike Douglas Show', 'Nashville Now', and Wolfman Jack's famous program. Gary Lewis has also appeared and performed on many of his father's Labor Day telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Hard to find
Gary Lewis & The Playboys Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Hard to find' by these artists:
11 - Skillet - Rise (2013) Turned on the TV yesterday So much pain bleeding through I…
Aha Gazelle I been running from my problems Yet they keep revolving Slip…
Bane Because this is what you'll back on It will cut right…
Bane (Hardcore Punk) Because this is what you'll back on It will cut right…
Bedtime Khal Too long and hard to find I lose you every…
C.T.P. They say Influenced by crime, addicted to grindin' Where…
Cayson Renshaw Hey, I love talkinโฒ on the phone But hey, I just…
Chike Yooooo Two years since I met you One year dating now I'm rea…
Codeine A good friend is hard to find But you'll have one…
E-Money They say Influenced by crime, addicted to grindin' Where I …
Khushi V1 Autumn throws what summer grows Like morning shows the n…
KITCHEN 1 - The National I can see the glowing lights I can see them every…
Lit Look around, look around for answers (Someone tell me) Whe…
Lovebugs I met a girl With no fingernails And a diamond tooth Oh she…
Peach Shed The sun coming down on a midwest summer Wish I had…
R.triple7 So hard to find your so amazing I love you mine…
Round2Crew you got me turning my head whenever you past by you catch…
Selohrae She floats above, everything else on my mind If she wants…
Six Foot Midget They say to quit your whining Your life has turned out…
Skillet Turned on the TV yesterday So much pain bleeding through I…
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes (J. Lyon) Joseph and sweet Mary scratching in the sand H…
Squeeze I tried to tie you to the bed saliva at…
Strong Asian Mothers Autumn froze With summer grows Like morning shows The night …
Teet Love is hard to find When you come by, realize that We…
Tender Games No I won ฬt Lie You ฬve been on my mind, and…
The American Analog Set We stay hard to find 'Cause it's too hard to take…
The Elderberries You know that I've got my pride Walk within my stride The…
The LOVE I think I struck gold, yes I'm mining Some things are…
The National I can see the glowing lights I can see them every…
The National (LatestFreeDownload.Org) I can see the glowing lights I can see them every…
The National - Trouble Will Find Me I can see the glowing lights I can see them every…
Travis Bretzer Why does she know me Is it her intent to confuse…
Voix Keep going back on everything you say Keep me in the…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Gary Lewis & The Playboys:
A Hundred Pounds of Clay He took a hundred pounds of clay And they He said…
All day and all of the night I'm not content to be with you in the daytime…
Autumn You could search the whole world over But you'd never…
Count Me In If you need someone to count on, count me in Someone…
Down in the Boondocks Down in the boondocks Cown in the boondocks People put me …
Dream Lover Every night I hope and pray A dream lover will come…
Dreaming As I hold you in my arms You whisper while your…
Everybody Loves a Clown Everybody Loves A Clown Gary Lewis and the Playboys Written …
Face In A Crowd She doesn't know my name, she couldn't feel the same Got…
Face In The Crowd She doesn't know my name, she couldn't feel the same Got…
For your love For your love For your love I'd give you everything and more…
Forget him Anthony Forget him if he doesnโt love you, forget him if…
Free like me (Background: ooohhhh yeah don't know why but I believe I…
Girls in Love Speaking of all those girls in love With a guy in…
Green Grass Green Grass Gary Lewis and the Playboys Written by Roger F. …
Happiness We are an immortal generation We just won't live forever…
Heart Full of Soul Sick at heart and lonely, deep in dark despair When you…
How Can I Thank You The cold days of spring give way to the summer and…
I Can Read Between The Lines Got your letter todayYou didn't have much to sayC …
I Don't Wanna Say Goodnight Baby, here we are; somehow I knew I'd feel like…
I Kissed You Tina, I held you in my arms and the world…
I Won't Make That Mistake Again I made the mistake of sayin' I care She took all…
Jill Jill, between you and me I can see the gleam in…
Judy In Disguise Judy in disguise, well that's what you are Lemonade pies wit…
Keep Searchin' Shannon No one will understand what I've gotta do I've g…
Let's Be More Than Friends From the very day I met you It was love at…
Lies Yeah, yeah, yeah They want me dead or they want me…
Little Mis Go-Go She goes downtown in a pair of old blue jeans (Little…
Look Through Any Window Look through any window yeah, what do you see? Smilin' faces…
Love Potion #9 Leiber-Stoller I took my troubles down to Madame Rue You kn…
Love Potion Number Nine Leiber-Stoller I took my troubles down to Madame Rue You…
Me About You I ain't gonna write about you anymore Like I done a…
Mr. Blue Our guardian star lost all his glow The day that…
My Heart When you told me that you loved me And I thought…
My Special Angel Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah I never seen someone so pretty Why do…
Needles & pins I saw her today, I saw her face, it was…
Never My Love I betcha my heart I love you That's what I [Incomprehensibl…
Palisades park Last night I took a walk in the dark A swinginโฒ…
Rhythm of the Rain Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain Telling me just…
Runaway I've seen the world, been to many places Made lots of…
Save Your Heart for Me Walk along the lake with someone new Have yourself a summer…
Sealed with a Kiss Though we gotta say goodbye for the summer Darling I promise…
Sha La La Les Mardi Gras รงa vient de tout partout Tout autour au…
She's Just My Style Every time I see her She don't even look my…
Shout Pt. 1 He went ahead and built, the town on the swampland that…
Sure Gonna Miss Her I never did too much to make her stay here And…
Sweet Little Rock And Roller Berry Now ten years old and as sweet as she can…
Take Good Care of My Baby My tears are fallin' cause you've taken her away And through…
The Birds and the Bees Let me tell ya 'bout the birds and the bees…
The Diamond Ring Who wants to buy this diamond ring? She took it off…
The Loser Gary Lewis Miscellaneous The Loser (with A Broken Heart) THE…
The night has a thousand eyes Garrett-Wayne-Weisman They say that you're a runaround lo…
This Diamond Ring Who wants to buy this diamond ring? She took it off…
Time Stands Still Time stands still I guess it always will Since I don't hav…
Tina Tina, I held you in my arms and the world…
Tossin' and Turnin' Baby, baby, can't you see what you're doing to me? I…
Way Way Out 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! We're…
Way Way-Out 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! We're…
Where Will the Words Come From Where will the words come from When I tell you I…
Without a Word of Warning It's too late for me, but, buddy not for you, Listen…
Without a world of warning It's too late for me, but, buddy not for you, Listen…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Gary Lewis:
Born A Woman It doesn't matter if you're rich or poor Or if you're…
Count Me In If you need someone to count on, count me in Someone…
Everybody Loves A Clown Everybody Loves A Clown Gary Lewis and the Playboys Written …
Green Grass Green Grass Gary Lewis and the Playboys Written by Roger F. …
Jill Jill, between you and me I can see the gleam in…
Little Miss Go Go She goes downtown in a pair of old blue jeans (Little…
My Heart's Symphony When you told me that you loved me And I thought…
Save Your Heart Walk along the lake with someone new Have yourself a summer…
Save your heart for me Walk along the lake with someone new Have yourself a summer…
Sealed With A Kiss Though we gotta say goodbye for the summer Darling I promise…
She's Just Me Style Every time I see her She don't even look my…
She's Just My Style Every time I see her she don't even look my…
Sure Gonna Miss Her I never did too much to make her stay here And…
This Diamond Ring Who wants to buy this diamond ring? She took it off…
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Playboys:
Because Of My Heart Ah, la, la, la, yes, yes! Alright, Thomas, let's hear you…
Birds N' Bees Let me tell ya 'bout the birds and the bees And…
Brand New Cadillac For Goodness' sake I got the Hippy Hippy Shakes I got the…
Bumpinโ Bus Stop Oscar you are the best There's heaven in my heart that's how…
Hawaiian War Chant There's a sunny little funny little melody That was started …
Hot Hot Baby ็ไฝๅฏไปฅๅๅค้ขๅฏ ๅฏงๅฏไปๆไธๅบๅปๅฐๆน ๅๆๆๅฏๆตไธ้้ช้ ๆไปฅ่กทๅฟ็ฅๆฑไฝ ๅฏไปฅ็ไธ ไพไธ่ตท้ ่ฟๅฟ่ฑๆพ ่ฎๅฐ้นฟ็ๅๅฟ่ฃกไบ้ …
Hug Me Well, hold me baby, hold me baby Hold me baby, hold…
I One Last Bite of this life for me and it…
I Need Somebody You see the best in you somehow I know we'll make…
Judy In Disguise With Glasses Judy in disguise, well that's what you are Lemonade pies wit…
Let's Twist Again Come on let's twist again Like you did last summer…
Long Tall Sally I'm gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John He said he…
Lost In Heaven Up in the castle, I'm cooking it up, making music…
Over the Weekend Think it over, over the weekend Don't be so quick to…
Rock'n'Roll ๏ปฟ้ฃ่ปๆญ่ๆจ่ๆ ๅฑ๏ผThe Boogie Playboys ๆฒ๏ผ้ฃๅๅฃซ ่ฉ๏ผ้ฃๅๅฃซ ็ทจ๏ผ่ญ้ธๆด / ่่ชฟไบบ ็ฃ๏ผ่ญ้ธ…
Rock-a-bye baby blues Well, I've got a brand new lover I love her, yes…
Sad The sunrise gave no warning The winds belied no hurricanes T…
Sure Gonna Miss Her I never did too much to make her stay here And…
The Class ๏ปฟๆๅทฅไปๆจๆฒ ๅฑ๏ผThe Boogie Playboys ๆฒ๏ผ่ญ้ธๆด ่ฉ๏ผ่่ชฟไบบ ็ทจ๏ผ่ญ้ธๆด ็ฃ๏ผ่ญ้ธๆด ไธๆฉ่ตท่บซๆ…
The Grass Green Grass Gary Lewis and the Playboys Written by Roger F. …
The Twist Come on let's twist again Like you did last summer…
This Diamond Ring Who wants to buy this diamond ring? She took it off…
Where Do You Go to What is really sensible, is to let go, is to…
Wonderful! Wonderful! Oh oh oh Baby Lover lover baby This song is yours Once…
You Cheated Me (Background: ooohhhh yeah don't know why but I believe I…
You Stole My Love I betcha my heart I love you That's what I [Incomprehensibl…
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Peter Emmert
I don't think Gary Lewis was in the song (if he was, you can hardly hear the drums), but I think that members of the Wrecking Crew were in it (that must be Leon Russell on the organ).
imperialfreek
awesome cut...I love that they recorded this...
Gerard Ross
Yes, the other b-side was "Tijuana Wedding". They're showing love of jazz here as jazz bassist Leroy Vinnegar wrote this.
Gerard Ross
@Steveo Musicman I have both B-sides. "Tijuana Wedding" is pretty amusing as B-side filler, but "Hard To Find" is the keeper. Leroy would also wind up in some rock and roller's collections via Van Morrison's "Almost Independence Day" from SAINT DOMINIC'S PREVIEW.
Steveo Musicman
I think they quickly changed the B side to get more revenue and cut Leroy out! TJ Wedding was a tune written by Gary and the gang (it sucks)
Deb C
Wow.... it is sooooo neat to see this song downloaded !!!!
MikeBlitzMag
The average record buyer in January 1965 had a bit of a challenge with this one. It's the flip side of Gary Lewis And The Playboys' cover of Sammy Ambrose's This Diamond Ring. But that 45 was issued with two different B-sides; the other being (as noted elsewhere here) Tijuana Wedding. Both flip sides are great, so picking up both pressings was inevitable. However, the single was on Liberty, which usually pressed its 45s on fairly decent quality vinyl. But this single took off unexpectedly, and Liberty had to farm out orders to outside pressing plants. The problem was those other plants used low grade styrene (which is what is shown in the opening screen grab above), and the overall sound quality and durability of the 45 suffered accordingly. Thankfully, both pressings are still fairly easy to find in the collectors' market, and all tracks remain available in various CD compilations. It's a good one!
Hala Huntington
The best flip side ever!!!!
Steveo Musicman
THOse are some heavy condensed grooves on that styrene 45! The Canadian vinyl 45 was so much nicer on the needle.
Steveo Musicman
yeah love this cut Love that Cordovox" Organ sound i do think its Leon Russell...