Gary Lewis & the Playboys
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Gary Lewis & the Playboys | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Genres | |
Years active | 1964–1970, sporadic later |
Labels | Liberty |
Members | Gary Lewis Nick Rather (bass/guitar) Bobby Bond (drums) Dominic Trincini (bass) Mike Gladstone (guitar) Willy O'Riley (keys) |
Past members | David Walker Allan Ramsay David Costell John R. West Carl Radle Tom Tripplehorn Jim Karstein Jim Keltner Alan Rosenthal Bill Boatman Charley Carey |
Website | Gary Lewis & The Playboys |
Gary Lewis & the Playboys were a 1960s era
1960s fame
The group began life as Gary & the Playboys. Gary Lewis started the band with four friends of his when he was 18. Joking at the lateness of his bandmates to practice, Lewis referred to them as "
They auditioned for a job at Disneyland without telling Disneyland employees about Lewis' celebrity father.[1] They were hired on the spot, audiences at Disneyland quickly accepted them, and the Playboys were soon playing to a full house every night.
The orchestra
Garrett brought them to a recording studio with the song "This Diamond Ring" in a session financed by Jerry Lewis' wife Patti. In a 2012 interview, Lewis confirmed that he and the Playboys "played on every single track we ever did", including this song.[4] Garrett wanted to maximize the chances for a hit, so he insisted on using experienced session musicians for the overdubs, which included guitar and keyboard solos, additional bass and drum overdubs, and timpani.
These musicians included
Garrett got airplay in New York City for "This Diamond Ring" by making a deal with WINS disc jockey "Murray the K" Kaufman, who ran a series of all-star concerts at theaters around the New York area. Garrett promised that if Kaufman played Lewis’ record, the Playboys would do his shows. Garrett then had Jerry Lewis use his contacts to get his son onto The Ed Sullivan Show.
However, Sullivan had a general policy that all acts appearing on his show were to perform live. Since so many studio tricks had been used on the record, the Playboys could not recreate its sound. In compromise, Lewis sang along with pre-recorded tracks as the Playboys pretended to play their instruments.[5]
The January 1965 broadcast made Gary Lewis and the Playboys instant stars. "This Diamond Ring" went to No. 1, sold over 1 million copies by April 1965, and became a
The group was one of only two acts during the 1960s whose first seven releases on the
In 1966, the Playboys held their own Television special called "An Evening With Gary Lewis & The Playboys", which aired on
On his 1968 discharge, Lewis immediately returned to recording, reaching the top 40 one last time with a top 20 remake of
In all, Lewis had eight gold
Despite the group's U.S. success, they made virtually no impact at all in the
Former Playboys later lives
- Carl Radle toured with Eric Clapton and his group Derek and the Dominos. Radle died of problems caused by alcohol and narcotics use on May 30, 1980, 19 days before his 38th birthday.[10] He was posthumously inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
- David Walker still performs guitar and other stringed instruments on stage and now resides in Hickory, North Carolina.[11]
- Allan Ramsay enlisted in the Air Force in 1965, and discharged in 1967.[12] He died in a plane crash on November 27, 1985, aged 42. At the time, he was residing in White House Station, New Jersey.[12]
- David Costell and John West retired from the music industry and now live private lives.
- Tom Tripplehorn continued to perform live on stage. He married Suzanne Ferguson, before divorcing in 1965. Their daughter, Jeanne, became a famous actress. Tom died on 15 March 2019, aged 75.[13]
Members
- vocals(1964-1970)
- David Walker - (born May 12, 1943, Montgomery, Alabama) - rhythm guitar (1964-1965)
- Allan Ramsay - (July 27, 1943 – November 27, 1985; aged 42) - bass (1964-1965)
- David Costell - (born March 15, 1944, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) - lead guitar (1964-1965)
- John West - (born July 31, 1939, Uhrichsville, Ohio)[1] - organ and Cordovox (1964-1970)
- Carl Radle - (June 18, 1942 – May 30, 1980) - bass (1965-1968)
- Tom Tripplehorn - (February 2, 1944 – March 15, 2019) guitar (1965-1968)
- Jim Keltner (born April 27, 1942) - drums (1965-1966)
- Jim Karstein - (August 22, 1943 – March 27, 2022)[14][15][16] - drums (1966-1968)
- Charley Carey - guitar (1968-1970)
- Alan Rosenthal - bass (1968-1970)
- Bill Boatman - drums (1968-1970)
Timeline
Discography
Singles
Year | Single | Chart Positions | Catalogue | B-side (featured on same album as A-side except where indicated) |
Album | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US | CAN [17] |
US AC | AU | SA [18] |
UK
| |||||
1965 | "This Diamond Ring" | 1 | 3 | - | 6 | - | - | Liberty 55756 | "Hard to Find" (later replaced with "Tijuana Wedding") (both are non-LP tracks) |
This Diamond Ring |
"Count Me In" | 2 | 3 | - | 49 | - | - | Liberty 55778 | "Little Miss Go-Go" | A Session with Gary Lewis and the Playboys | |
"Doin' the Flake" (Kellogg's Corn Flakes promo release) |
- | - | - | - | - | - | Liberty 65-227 | "This Diamond Ring" / "Little Miss Go-Go" (from This Diamond Ring and A Session with Gary Lewis and the Playboys, respectively) |
non-LP track | |
"Save Your Heart for Me" | 2 | 1 | 1 | 60 | - | - | Liberty 55809 | "Without a Word of Warning" | A Session with Gary Lewis and the Playboys | |
"Everybody Loves a Clown" | 4 | 10 | - | 62 | - | - | Liberty 55818 | "Time Stands Still" | Everybody Loves a Clown | |
"She's Just My Style" | 3 | 5 | - | 53 | - | - | Liberty 55846 | "I Won't Make That Mistake Again" | She's Just My Style | |
1966 | "Sure Gonna Miss Her" | 9 | 21 | - | 72 | - | - | Liberty 55865 | "I Don't Wanna Say Goodnight" (non-LP track) | Hits Again |
"Green Grass" | 8 | 1 | - | 64 | - | - | Liberty 55880 | "I Can Read Between the Lines" | ||
"My Heart's Symphony" | 13 | 31 | - | 98 | - | 36 | Liberty 55898 | "Tina (I Held You in My Arms)" | (You Don't Have To) Paint Me a Picture | |
"(You Don't Have To) Paint Me a Picture" | 15 | 9 | - | 58 | 7 | - | Liberty 55914 | "Looking For the Stars" | ||
"Where Will the Words Come From" | 21 | - | - | 99 | - | - | Liberty 55933 | "May the Best Man Win" (from Gary Lewis and The Playboys) | ||
1967 | "Way Way Out" (Way...Way Out Promo Release) |
- | - | - | - | - | - | Liberty (no #) | non-LP track | |
"The Loser (with a Broken Heart)" | 43 | - | - | 98 | - | - | Liberty 55949 | "Ice Melts in the Sun" (#121 BB) | More Golden Greats | |
"Girls in Love" | 39 | - | - | - | - | - | Liberty 55971 | "Let's Be More Than Friends" | New Directions | |
"Jill" | 52 | - | - | - | - | - | Liberty 55985 | "New in Town" (from New Directions) | Listen! | |
"Has She Got The Nicest Eyes" | - | - | - | - | - | - | Liberty 56011 | "Happiness" | Rhythm! | |
1968 | "Sealed with a Kiss" | 19 | 7 | 32 | 74 | - | - | Liberty 56037 | "Sara Jane" | Gary Lewis Now! |
"Main Street" | 101 | - | - | - | - | - | Liberty 56075 | "C.C. Rider" | Close Cover Before Playing | |
1969 | "Rhythm of the Rain" | 63 | 37 | - | - | - | - | Liberty 56093 | "Mister Memory" (from Close Cover Before Playing) | Rhythm of the Rain/Hayride |
"Hayride" | - | - | - | - | - | - | Liberty 56121 | "Gary's Groove" (non-LP track) | ||
"I Saw Elvis Presley Last Night" | - | - | - | - | - | - | Liberty 56144 | "Something is Wrong" | I'm on the Right Road Now | |
1970 | "I'm on the Right Road Now" | - | - | - | - | - | - | Liberty 56158 | "Great Balls of Fire" | |
1972 | "Then Again Maybe" (Gary Lewis solo) |
- | - | - | - | - | - | Scepter 12359 | "Peace of Mind" | non-LP tracks |
1975 | "One Good Woman" (Gary Lewis solo) |
- | - | - | - | - | - | Epic 50068 | "Ooh Baby" |
Albums
Year | Album | Billboard 200 | Record Label |
---|---|---|---|
1965 | This Diamond Ring | 26 | Liberty Records |
A Session with Gary Lewis and the Playboys | 18 | ||
Everybody Loves a Clown | 44 | ||
She's Just My Style | 71 | ||
1966 | Hits Again | 47 | |
(You Don't Have To) Paint Me a Picture | 79 | ||
1967 | New Directions | 185 | |
Listen! | – | ||
Gary Lewis & The Playboys | - | Sunset Records | |
1968 | Gary Lewis Now! | 150 | Liberty Records |
1969 | Rhythm of the Rain/Hayride | – | |
Close Cover Before Playing | – | ||
Rhythm! | – | Sunset Records | |
I'm on the Right Road Now | - | Liberty Records |
Compilation albums
Year | Album | Billboard 200 | Record Label |
---|---|---|---|
1966 | Golden Greats | 10 | Liberty Records |
1968 | More Golden Greats | – | |
1975 | The Very Best of Gary Lewis and the Playboys | – | United Artists Records |
1990 | The Legendary Masters Series | – | EMI Records |
References
- ^ ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ "Gary Lewis of Gary Lewis and the Playboys: Whatever happened to ...? | cleveland.com". Blog.cleveland.com. 25 April 2011. Retrieved 2014-05-23.
- ^ James, Gary. "Interview With Gary Lewis". Classicbands.com. Retrieved 30 January 2011.
- ^ "Gary Lewis : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts.com.
- ^ "Gary Lewis and The Playboys". Classic Bands. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
- ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ "May 8, 1965 Hot 100". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-04-10.
- ^ a b An Evening with Gary Lewis and the Playboys 1966 TV special, retrieved 2023-04-09
- ^ "Lewis: He's Not in the Army Now". Los Angeles Times. June 14, 1985. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
- ^ "Carl Radle Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ MCBRAYER, SHARON (17 February 2014). "Music Man: Former member of Gary Lewis & the Playboys now resides in Hickory". HDR | Hickory Daily Record. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ a b "AllanRamsay". freepages.rootsweb.com. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Tom Tripplehorn". IMDb. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Jimmy Karstein". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ Johnson, Martin (2022-04-04). "The Song Remains: Jimmy Karstein 1944 – 2022". Americana UK. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "LISTEN: Remembering Tulsa drummer Jimmy Karstein". KOSU. 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1965-08-16. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
- ^ "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 10 November 2019.