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.
Keep Searchin'
Gary Lewis & The Playboys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No one will understand what I've gotta do
I've gotta find a place to hide with my baby by my side
She's been hurt so much, they treat her mean and cruel
They try to keep us far apart, there's only one thing left we can do
CHORUS #1
Searchin', searchin', she'll be by my side
If we gotta keep on the run we'll follow the sun-ah, wee-ooh
Follow the sun-ah, wee-ooh
BRIDGE:
Doesn't matter, doesn't matter what people might say
She's mine and I'm gonna take her anyway
CHORUS #2
Gotta keep searchin', searchin', find a place to stay
Searchin', searchin', every night and day
If we gotta keep on the run, we'll follow the sun-ah, wee-ooh
Follow the sun-ah, wee-ooh
LEAD BREAK
REPEAT CHORUS #1
Follow the sun-ah, Follow the sun-ah, Follow the sun
The lyrics of "Keep Searchin'" by Gary Lewis & The Playboys tell the story of a man who must protect his beloved from those who have hurt her. He knows that no one will understand what he's doing, and he must find a place to hide with her by his side. They are being kept apart by others who are cruel and mean, but they have only one thing left to do, which is to keep searching for a safe place to stay. No matter what people say or think, the man is determined to protect his love and take her away with him. He repeats the mantra "Follow the sun-ah, wee-ooh" to symbolize the journey they are on and the hope they hold on to.
Overall, the song presents themes of love, protection, and resilience in the face of adversity. The lyrics are a call to action, urging the singer and his lover to keep moving forward and searching for a better life. The bridge highlights the idea of love being stronger than external opinions, and the chorus encourages them to keep searching for a place where they can be together without fear or judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
No one will understand what I've gotta do
I feel no one can relate to the situation I'm in and the choice I need to make.
I've gotta find a place to hide with my baby by my side
I need to leave and protect my loved one from those who have hurt them, and be with them so I can care for them.
She's been hurt so much, they treat her mean and cruel
My partner has faced a lot of pain and mistreatment from others who are cruel to them.
They try to keep us far apart, there's only one thing left we can do
Those who try to harm us are trying to separate us, but there's only one option we have left to be together: hide and run away.
We gotta keep searchin', searchin', find a place to hide
Our priority is to keep moving and searching for a safe place to hide where we'll be protected.
Searchin', searchin', she'll be by my side
I won't let my partner face any more harm alone, I'll be there with them every step of the way.
If we gotta keep on the run we'll follow the sun-ah, wee-ooh
If we have to keep moving we'll use the sun to guide us to find a safe and secure location.
Doesn't matter, doesn't matter what people might say
I won't be influenced by anyone's opinion or negative input, my love for my partner drives my decision.
She's mine and I'm gonna take her anyway
I will do whatever it takes to care for my partner and keep them safe, regardless of what others might say or think.
Gotta keep searchin', searchin', find a place to stay
We cannot stay in one place for too long as our safety is at risk, we need to consistently search for secure shelter.
Searchin', searchin', every night and day
We're tirelessly searching for a secure spot to hide, all day and night.
Follow the sun-ah, wee-ooh, Follow the sun-ah, wee-ooh
Our only guidance is the sun, so we will follow it in hope to find a sparing place where we seek asylum.
Contributed by Muhammad B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.