Charlie Gracie

about

Charlie Gracie (born Charles Anthony Graci in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 14 May 1936; died 17 December 2022) was an American rock pioneer and singer. Encouraged by his father to play the guitar, Gracie's musical career started at the very early age of 14 when he appeared on the Paul Whiteman television show. Gracie performed at weddings, local restaurants, and parties, and on local radio and television. He also won many regional talent contests. The little money and prizes he received were turned over to his mother to help support the family. The owner of Cadillac Records heard one of Gracie's early radio performances, contacted the young musician and signed him to a 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 Gracie's first appearance on Bob Horn's "American Bandstand" television program. (This was four years before Dick Clark became the host) After cutting two more singles for Cadillac, Gracie moved on to 20th Century Records, a subsidiary of Gotham, where he put out another four sides, including Wildwood Boogie. 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. Between 1951-53, Gracie was experimenting with many types of music, years before many rock heroes had ever set foot inside a recording studio. By 1956, Philadelphia had

top songs

albums

The Best of Charlie Gracie 1956-1958

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Cameo Parkway - The Best Of 1956-1958 (Original Hit Recordings)

The Best Of 1956-1958

Charlie Is Fabulous

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Magic Moments - The Definitive Burt Bacharach Collection

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I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter

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Lux And Ivy's Favorites Volume 6

The Roots Of Nick Cave

For The Love Of Charlie

Cameo Parkway 1957-1967

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Lux and Ivy's Favorites Volume Nine

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All Time Greatest Hits

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