Charlie Gracie
Biography
b. Charles
Anthony Graci, 14 May 1936, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The guitarist
and songwriter Charlie Gracie recorded the original version of the rock
'n' roll song "Butterfly' in 1957. Gracie's 45 took the song to number 1
in the US charts and Top 20 in the UK. It sold over a million copies. He
started out appearing as a teenager on Paul Whiteman's top-rated American
television show. Gracie's subsequent singles included the ballads
"Fabulous" and "Wanderin' Eyes", both Top 10 smashes in the UK in the same
year. He still regularly performs in the USA and Europe. In the UK he has
a fiercely loyal following, probably owing to the fact that he was the
First ever rock 'n' roller to tour the UK in the 50s. His superb guitar
playing elicits the highest of praise from music legends like George
Harrison. The ex-Beatle referred to Charlie's
guitar work as
'brilliant' in a March 1996 interview with Billboard Magazine. Paul
McCartney paid tribute to Charlie by Recording an updated version of
'Fabulous' in his new 1999 CD series entitled: "Run Devil Run". McCartney
honored Charlie again that fall by inviting him to the album's premiere
party in London.
The year 2000 found Charlie on the road with
Irish blues rocker, Van Morrison. Van, another Charlie Gracie admirer,
commissioned him to open his shows at the Wiltern in Los Angeles and The
House of Blues in Las Vegas. A short time later, Graham Nash of Crosby,
Stills, Nash and Young fame, declared that Charlie inspired him to a
musical career. Nash then proceeded to contribute vocally on Charlie's
latest CD release-his first of the new Millennium.
Check the official Charlie Gracie web site for current tours & shows: