Gerry Granahan

Gerald Granahan (April 20, 1932 – January 10, 2022) was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, best known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s.

Life and career Granahan was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania on April 20, 1932. He worked at WPTS as a radio announcer and disc jockey in his youth. His Elvis Presley-like voice got him a job recording demos of songs submitted to Presley. Granahan was offered a contract with Atlantic Records in 1957 as a rockabilly artist under the name Jerry Grant, but his first record release sank without a trace, and another release shortly after on Mark Records was also a flop. None of his next four singles for Sunbeam, however, were successful. while reaching No. 8 on Billboards chart of "Most Played R&B By Jockeys" and No. 14 on Billboards chart of "R&B Best Sellers in Stores".

The single's success resulted in Granahan recruiting a backing band consisting of Harvey Davis (bass), Al Ways (sax), Ray Gangi (guitar), and Dave Alldred (drums) to tour and record as Dicky Doo & the Don'ts, who went on to chart several more singles. Dicky Doo & the Don'ts would see four more of their songs chart in 1958 and 1959. while its flipside "Flip Top Box" reached No. 61 on the Billboard "Top 100 Sides". Their final charting single, "Teardrops Will Fall" reached No. 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959. Under his own name, he released a version of "Unchained Melody",

Granahan also produced extensively. He recorded the doo wop group The Fireflies and the Angels, and later in the 1960s, Patty Duke and Jay & the Americans. Granahan produced The Wild Ones' version of the song "Wild Thing", which was dwarfed by the success of the version by The Troggs.

Later in his career, Granahan served as vice president of Dot Records and Paramount Records. His two daughters Tara Granahan and Gerrianne Genga are both in the Rhode Island entertainment industry - Tara is a radio personality on WPRO-AM in Providence and Gerrianne is an actress and theater choreographer.

Granahan died at his home in East Greenwich, Rhode Island, on January 10, 2022, at the age of 89.

Discography Dicky Doo & The Don'ts Teen Scene (1960), United Artists: UAS 6097