Charlie Gracie

Charlie Gracie was Philadelphia's first rock & roll star, the first successful artist on that city's famed Cameo Records, an early regular on American Bandstand, and a skilled rockabilly-style guitarist. He is best known for the 1957 hit single "Butterfly," which rose to number one on the Billboard charts. His popularity was also significant in the U.K. and his lingering influence there is such that his praises have been sung by the likes of Paul McCartney (who covered "Fabulous," one of Gracie's early recordings), George Harrison, Van Morrison and Graham Nash. Born May 14, 1936 (the same day as Bobby Darin), with his surname originally spelled "Graci", Charlie Gracie grew up in South Philadelphia, listening to country music and big-band jazz. At age 10, he obtained his first guitar, and by 15 he was a prodigy, performing regularly and winning contests on the simulcast radio and television show of early jazz great Paul Whiteman. Signed first to Cadillac Records, Gracie's first single, "Boogie-Woogie Blues," recorded in 1951, was not a hit, nor were a couple of follow-ups for other labels. Then, in 1956, he was signed to the fledgling Cameo label. Gracie's first recording consisted of two songs written by the label's co-owners, Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann, "Butterfly" and "Ninety-Nine Ways." With repeated appearances on American Bandstand, hosted by Dick Clark, as well as The Ed Sullivan Show and other TV programs of the day, Gracie's popularity soared, and by April 1957, "Butterfly" had reached number one in the States. ("Butterfly" also became a chart-topper for crooner Andy Williams the same year.) Gracie's style was not as raucous as fellow early guitar rockers such as Gene Vincent or Eddie Cochran, but he made up for any loss of grit with an undeniable professionalism...