Gary Lewis (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gary Lewis
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Lewis in 1996
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Gary Harold Lee Levitch |
| Born | July 31, 1945 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1960s–present |
| Associated acts | Gary Lewis & the Playboys |
Gary Lewis (born Gary Harold Lee Levitch on July 31, 1945) is an American musician. He was the leader of a popular band called Gary Lewis & the Playboys. His band had many hit songs in the 1960s.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Gary Lewis is the son of famous comedian Jerry Lewis and singer Patti Palmer. His mother wanted to name him after her favorite actor, Cary Grant. But a mistake made his name "Gary" instead.
When Gary turned 15 in 1960, he got a set of drums as a gift. He loved playing them! At 18, Gary formed a band with four friends. They called themselves "Gary and the Playboys." Gary played the drums. His friend Dave Walker was the singer and guitarist.
Gary's mom secretly helped the band buy their music gear. She thought Gary's dad might not want to support the band. At first, the band was not very well known.
A music producer named Snuff Garrett lived near the Lewis family. He did not know about the band until a friend told him. The friend said the band was playing at Disneyland. He suggested Garrett should go listen to them.
Gary Lewis & the Playboys: The Rise to Fame
Snuff Garrett saw a chance to make the band famous because of Gary's dad's name. He helped the band record music in a studio. Gary's mom continued to help pay for things.
Garrett encouraged Gary to become a better drummer. He even got famous drummer Buddy Rich to teach him! More importantly, Garrett made Gary the main singer. This made Gary the star of the group.
Gary admitted that singing was not his strongest skill. So, Garrett used special studio tricks to make his voice sound better. Their song "This Diamond Ring" became a number one hit on February 20, 1965. This made Gary an instant star!
Gary Lewis & the Playboys were very successful. They were one of only two groups in the 1960s to have their first seven songs reach the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Some of their other big hits included "Count Me In" (number two), "Save Your Heart for Me" (number two), and "Everybody Loves a Clown" (number four). Gary said he wrote "Everybody Loves a Clown" as a birthday gift for his dad. But he thought the song was too good, so he recorded it instead!
By 1966, Gary was only singing. Other drummers, like Jim Keltner, took over the drums.
Military Service and Later Career
Gary's music career paused when he joined the U.S. Army in January 1967. He served during the Vietnam War era. He spent time in South Korea. Gary said the Army helped him "grow up."
After the Army, Gary returned to music. But he did not have the same big success as before. In the 1980s, Gary started touring again. He performed with different versions of the Playboys.
In 2013, Gary toured with other famous musicians from the 1960s. This tour was called the "Happy Together" tour. As of 2022, Gary Lewis and the Playboys still tour. They perform on cruise ships, at casinos, and at festivals.
Film Appearances
Gary Lewis also appeared in some movies. He was in his father's movie The Nutty Professor (1963). He also sang a song called "The Land of La-la-la" with his dad in Rock-A-Bye Baby (1958). In that movie, he played a younger version of his dad's character. He also appeared in the movie The Family Jewels (1965).
Personal Life
In 1971, Gary took a break from music. He ran a music shop and taught drumming lessons. Later, he tried to start a new band, but it did not work out. Gary Lewis and his family live in Rush, New York.
Discography
Gary Lewis and the Playboys released many popular singles and albums. Some of their well-known singles include "This Diamond Ring," "Count Me In," and "Everybody Loves a Clown." They also released several albums, such as This Diamond Ring and Everybody Loves a Clown.
