Charlie Gracie

Charles Anthony Graci (May 14, 1936 – December 16, 2022), known professionally as Charlie Gracie, was an American rock and roll and rhythm and blues singer and guitarist. His biggest hits were "Butterfly" and "Fabulous", both in 1957.

Career Early career Charlie Gracie was born in South Philadelphia to Santo ("Sam") and Mary Graci (née Cappizzi), who were both of Sicilian heritage. At the age of 10, Gracie's father encouraged him to play the guitar. His musical career started at the age of 16 when he appeared on the Paul Whiteman television show in 1952. Gracie performed at weddings, local restaurants, and parties, and on local radio and television. He also won regional talent contests. Charlie graduated from South Philadelphia High School in 1952.

The owner of Cadillac Records, Graham Prince, heard one of Gracie's early radio performances, contacted the young musician and signed him to a recording 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 Charlie's first appearance on Bob Horn's American Bandstand television program, four years before Dick Clark became the host. After cutting two more singles for Cadillac, including one called "Rockin' 'n' Rollin'" in 1952, Charlie moved on to 20th Century Records, where he put out another four sides. 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.

Cameo success years 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 recording studio to record "Butterfly" backed with "Ninety Nine Ways". It became a hit record, reaching number one in jukebox plays in the Billboard chart. Gracie received a gold disc for the two million plus sales. His only other Top 40 hit was with a song entitled "Fabulous" the same year, and toured with Chuck Berry, the Everly Brothers, Bo Diddley and his close friend Eddie Cochran.

Gracie became only the second American rock and roller to bring this new art form to the British concert stage. His two extensive tours in 1957 and 1958 were topped off by headlining the Palladium and the Hippodrome in London. In the audiences, among Gracie's fans, were future rock musicians Graham Nash,

Later career After Cameo, Gracie moved on to other record labels such as Coral, Roulette, Felsted, and Diamond, performing more of the R&B he preferred. Even as success slowed, he continued to perform in clubs, theaters, and resorts all over the USA and Europe, from the 1960s through the 1990s and into the 2000s. He enjoyed a loyal following in the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands, where he regularly toured - thanks in part to his friend and manager, Paul Barrett who represented Charlie until Paul's passing in 2019.

During the late 1990s, he was introduced to Quentin Jones, a guitarist, studio owner and label head. Jones had a strong background in roots music, having played in a rockabilly band produced by the Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker. He also played lead guitar on Robert Gordon's 1996 self-titled CD. Gracie and Jones met at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. They decided to record an album together with Jones acting as producer. He brought in bandmate Dave Ferrara to play drums. Jones played bass guitar, combining with Gracie's guitar and vocals. Gracie invited Jones and Ferrara to back him when Van Morrison commissioned Gracie to open his 2000 West Coast tour.

Contributing their musical talents on his latest CD were Tommy Conwell, whose guitar playing is featured on "Still 19", Ralph Miller on piano, Daryl Jenkins on saxophone, and Pete Barnhart on percussion. Graham Nash contributed vocals to the song "A little Too Soon To Tell".

Gracie's pioneering contribution to the genre was recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and he was inducted into the South Philadelphia High School Alumni Cultural Hall of Fame.

In 2007, a documentary film about Gracie, Fabulous, was aired on PBS stations.

In 2011, ABKCO released the CD For The Love of Charlie produced by Al Kooper and co produced by Quentin Jones, with guest artists Graham Nash, Peter Noone, Jimmy Vivino, Craig Ross, and Dennis Diken, with Gracie singing some of his own songs and some covers.

From 2011 to 2016, Gracie and his son hosted the local radio program "A Fabulous Hour with Charlie Gracie", which aired on Sunday afternoons on WVLT (FM), a classic hits station known as Crusin 92.1FM, based in Vineland, New Jersey, that serves the Southern New Jersey, Northern Delaware and Philadelphia broadcast markets. It spotlighted Gracie's recordings as well as many of his favorites from other artists, and included requests from his family and friends.

On Gracie's 75th birthday, he recorded "Baby Doll" with Producers / Writers Gary Lefkowith and Mike Rogers. The track featured guitarist/vocalist Richie Scarlet, best known for his work with Ace Frehley, Sebastian Bach and Mountain (as well as producing such acts as The Chesterfield Kings). Released in the fall of 2011, it was his first single in over 50 years to receive UK airplay on the BBC. In the US, the record entered the Top 100 on Mediabase's Top 40 Chart, from the strength of Airplay at Sirius XM. Richie Scarlet is featured on lead guitar and played with Gracie at the Bitter End, in New York City, on March 30, 2012, after a live radio broadcast at WFUV. WXPK and WXPN played "Baby Doll," as well, in regular rotation. The World Café featured Gracie at their Philadelphia venue during the same time period, in support of the record.

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.

He continued to perform at many places in the Philadelphia area, and for many years had annual concerts during the summer at Rose Tree Park in Media, Pennsylvania, and Goshen Country Fair in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Personal life and death After dealing with COVID-19 complications since the spring, Gracie died in Philadelphia on December 16, 2022, at the age of 86. He was married for over 60 years to his wife Joan. They had two children, a son and a daughter.

Discography Studio albums 1980 – Rockin' Philadelphia – Big Beat 1981 – The Fabulous Charlie Gracie – Blackjack 1982 – Amazing Gracie – Charly 2001 – I'm Alright – Lanark 2004 – Just Hangin' Around – Rhythm Bomb 2004 – Rockin' Italy (and the Jumpin' Shoes) – Rockhouse 2007 – Gracie Swings Again – Rhythm Bomb 2011 – For the Love of Charlie – ABCKO 2015 – Angel on My Shoulder – Lanark

Live albums 1983 – Live at the Stockton Globe – August 26, 1957 – Rollercoaster Records UK 2004 – An Evening With Charlie Gracie – Rockstar

Compilations 1978 – Cameo-Parkway Sessions – London 1999 – It's Fabulous – Stomper Time 2006 – The Best of Charlie Gracie: Cameo Parkway 1956–1958 – ABKCO 2009 – The Fabulous Charlie Gracie 2011 – For the Love of Charlie

Singles (Not Exhaustive) 1951 – "Boogie Woogie Blues" / "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter" – Cadillac 1951 – "All Over Town" / "Rockin' an' Rollin'" – Cadillac 1953 – "T'Ain't No Sin in Rhythm" / "Say What You Mean" – Cadillac 1955 – "My Baby Loves Me" / "Head Home, Honey!" – 20th Century 1955 – "Wildwood Boogie" / "Honey! Honey!" – 20th Century 1957 – "Butterfly" / "Ninety-Nine Ways" – Cameo 1957 – "Fabulous" / "Just Lookin'" – Cameo 1957 – "I Love You So Much It Hurts" / "Wanderin' Eyes" – Cameo 1957 – "Cool Baby" / "You Got a Heart Like a Rock" – Cameo 1958 – "Crazy Girl" / "Dressin' Up" – Cameo 1959 – "Doodlebug" / "Hurry Up, Buttercup" – Coral 1959 – "Angel of Love" / "I'm a Fool, That's Why" – Coral 1959 – "Oh-Well-A" / "Because I Love You So" – Coral 1960 – "The Race" / "I Looked for You" – Roulette 1962 – "Pretty Baby" / "Night and Day, U.S.A." – President 1965 – "He'll Never Love You Like I Do" / "Keep My Love Next to Your Heart" – Diamond 1968 – "Walk with Me Girl" / "Tenderness" – Sock 'n' Soul 1978 – "Fabulous" / "Makin' Whoopie" / "Wow...w" – London (UK) 1981 – "You Mostest Girl" / "Rockin' the Boogie" – Blackjack (Belgium) 2011 – "Baby Doll" (featuring Richie Scarlet) – Generic Records

Chart singles Year Title Chart positionsUS Billboard US CashboxUK CAN 1957"Butterfly" 1 3 12 20"Fabulous" 16 14 8 6 "I Love You So Much It Hurts" /"Wanderin' Eyes" 71 — — — 14 6 — — 1958"Cool Baby" — — 26 —

Filmography Appearances Jamboree (aka Disc Jockey Jamboree) directed by Roy Lockwood Documentary Fabulous – documentary about Charlie Gracie's career