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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZGRACIE, Charlie(b Charles Anthony Graci, 14 May '36, Philadelphia) Singer, guitarist; an original talent treated poorly by Philly star-making machine. Youthful guitar prodigy played Paul Whiteman TV show age 14; won prizes incl. family's first fridge. Recorded for Cadillac and 20th Century labels in variety of styles: mixture of jump blues, country boogie with infl. of Roy Acuff, Joe Turner, B. B. King was near enough to rockabilly. Signed to Cameo, recorded 'Butterfly', written by Cameo owners Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann, credited to 'Anthony September', pseudonym of American Bandstand prod. Tony Mammarella, later implicated in payola scandal. No. 1 hit USA gave Gracie a name to live up to; unfortunately little of his gritty guitar work was allowed on record; the label was dealing in teen idols, not rockabilly heroes. Pushed into a mould he didn't fit, Gracie's chart life was predictably short; follow- up 'Fabulous' made no. 16, but was too close to 'Don't Be Cruel' for comfort: Elvis Presley's publishers sued for publication rights and won. Gracie turned to Otis Blackwell for 'Cool Baby', sung in film Disc Jockey Jamboree '57 (ironically, Blackwell had written 'Don't Be Cruel' as well as Presley's 'All Shook Up'). No more top 40 hits in USA, but scored in UK with four top 20 hits: 'Butterfly', 'Fabulous', 'I Love You So Much It Hurts', 'Wanderin' Eyes', plus 'Cool Baby' at no. 26. Live act appreciated in UK, too; continued touring there into '80s. US fortunes not helped by out-of-court settlement of suit alleging non-payment of royalties: little promotion followed. Banished from Bandstand, recorded for Coral, Roulette, Felsted, President Diamond, Sock'n'Soul labels, playing more of the black music he preferred. |