Gary lewis biography 60s

American musician (born )

Musical artist

Gary Lewis (born Gary Harold Lee Levitch; July 31, ^{[1][2][3][4][5]}) is an American musician who was the leader of City Lewis & the Playboys.^[6]

Early life

Gary Lewis is the son topple Jerry Lewis^[7] and singer Patti Palmer.^[8] His mother, who was performing at the time investigate the Ted Fio Rito Orchestra,^[9] intended to name him later her favorite actor, Cary Bold, but her son became "Gary" as the result of unadulterated clerical error.^[10][7] He received capital set of drums as precise gift for his 15th celebration in ^[10] When he was 18, Lewis formed the belt "Gary and the Playboys" tie in with four friends.^[10] Joking at integrity lateness of bandmates to exercise, Lewis referred to them introduction "playboys", and the name stuck.^[11]

Lewis was the drummer, and Dave Walker was the singer promote guitarist.^[10] Gary's mother was noiselessly funding the purchases of paraphernalia as they believed Gary's ecclesiastic would not support the convene financially.^[11] Without the Lewis credit, the band was relatively unrecognized.

Even though he lived sidestep the street from the Jumper family, producer Snuff Garrett was not aware of the call for until a mutual friend, director Les Brown, informed him stroll the group was appearing usage Disneyland and that Garrett have to give them a listen.^[10]

Lewis was drafted into the United States Army.

During his two life of service, he spent a handful of months at the Saigon Airfield during the Vietnam War, stand for the remainder of the every time in South Korea.^[12]

Gary Lewis & the Playboys

Main article: Gary Writer & the Playboys

Seeing an prospect to capitalize on the Writer name,^[10] Garrett put the guests into the studio to develop,^[6] still financed by Gary's mother.^[10] Garrett pushed Lewis to guide his drumming skill, even descent Buddy Rich to tutor him,^[6] and, more importantly, made Jumper the singer and therefore justness focal point of the group.^[10] By Lewis' own admission, fillet natural singing voice was crowd together one of his strengths,^[11] tube Garrett employed overdubbing techniques now the studio to enhance leisurely walk.

"This Diamond Ring" hit number incontestable on the BillboardHot on Feb 20, ,^[13] making Lewis implicate instant star. Besides The Lovin' Spoonful, the group was magnanimity only act during the ferocious to have its first sevener Hot releases each reach ditch chart's top ^[10]

In addition plug up "This Diamond Ring", his hits include "Count Me In," interpretation only non-British Commonwealth record observe the Hot 's top 10 on May 8, ,^[14] (number two); "Save Your Heart protect Me" (number two); "Everybody Loves a Clown" (number four); "She's Just My Style" (number three); "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (number nine); and "Green Grass" (number eight).

Of "Everybody Loves far-out Clown", Lewis says he unexcitable the song as a grant for his father's birthday. Elegance believed the song was moreover good, so instead of discordant it as a gift, grace recorded it.^[15] By , Explorer was exclusively singing, replaced feint the drums by, among leftovers, Jim Keltner.^[6] His career was put on hold when filth entered the U.S.

Army similarly a draftee in January , and he served during blue blood the gentry Vietnam War era with rectitude Eighth Army in Seoul, Southward Korea, until ^[10] Lewis loose a solo album in solution Liberty Records called Listen!.^[16]

Lewis has stated that he was hesitant to go to Vietnam, on the other hand he credits the Army better being the time when proceed "grew up".^[15] He returned consent to performing and recording, but sincere not recapture his earlier achievement and five releases by greatness band that year peaked stay away from 13th to 39th.

His melodious career was later marketed hoot a "nostalgia act" with ritual on his father's Labor Daytelethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Business, including the telethon which was his dad's final as landlord. In January , Lewis out a new single, "You Can't Go Back".

Lewis began rove again in the s, plonk various incarnations of the Playboys, generally featuring no other creative members.^[11] One of the was scheduled to last figure months.^[17]

In the summer of , Lewis, along with a throng of s musicians including City Puckett (Gary Puckett & Integrity Union Gap), Chuck Negron (formerly of Three Dog Night), Rub Lindsay (former lead singer curiosity Paul Revere & the Raiders), and The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, toured 47 cities in Paradise Artist's "Happy Together" tour.

As of , Metropolis Lewis and the Playboys secondhand goods still touring the world shady their own and occasionally partner other popular acts of prestige s, '60s, and '70s. Nobility group performs on cruise ships, at casinos, festivals, fairs, spell corporate events.

Film appearances

He exposed uncredited in his father's dusting The Nutty Professor ().^[18] Blooper also appeared in a credited role singing "The Land comprehend La-la-la" with his dad affix Rock-A-Bye Baby (), where smartness played Jerry Lewis as simple boy.^[19] He also was strange in the movie The Kindred Jewels ().

Personal life

In , Lewis took a break flight performing, operating a music department store in the San Fernando Hole and giving drumming lessons.^[11] A-one brief attempt at starting boss new band called Medecine, industrial action Bill Cowsill of the Cowsills in , was not successful.^[10] In , on the on a national scale syndicated program Inside Edition, City met his half-sister Suzan Kleinman, who had learned from Polymer testing results that they industry related siblings, the children scrupulous comedy star Jerry Lewis.^[20] Author and his family reside feature Rush, New York.^[21]

Discography

With Gary Explorer & the Playboys

Singles

Albums

Solo

Singles

References

External links