Gary Lewis (musician) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gary Lewis
Lewis in 1996
Background information
Birth name	Gary Harold Lee Levitch
Born	(1945-07-31) July 31, 1945 (age 80) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Pop rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Vocals drums guitar
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 the popular band Gary Lewis & the Playboys.

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 in paperwork led to his name becoming "Gary."

In 1960, when Gary turned 15, he received a drum kit as a birthday gift. Three years later, at age 18, he started a band with four friends. They called themselves "Gary and the Playboys." Gary was the drummer, and his friend Dave Walker was the singer and guitarist.

Gary's mother secretly helped the band buy equipment. She thought Gary's father might not want to support their music. At first, the band was not well-known. A friend told producer Snuff Garrett about them. Garrett then went to see them play at Disneyland.

Gary Lewis later joined the United States Army. He served for two years. During this time, he spent two months at the Saigon Airport during the Vietnam War. He spent the rest of his service in South Korea.

Gary Lewis & the Playboys: Rise to Fame

Producer Snuff Garrett saw a chance to make the band famous using the Lewis name. Gary's mother continued to help pay for their studio time. Garrett encouraged Gary to become a better drummer. He even arranged for famous drummer Buddy Rich to teach him.

More importantly, Garrett made Gary the lead singer. This made Gary the main focus of the group. Gary admitted that singing was not his strongest skill. So, Garrett used special studio techniques to make his voice sound better.

Their song "This Diamond Ring" became a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on February 20, 1965. This made Gary Lewis an instant star. Gary Lewis & the Playboys were one of only two groups in the 1960s to have their first seven songs reach the top 10.

Gary Lewis (second from right) with The Playboys in 1966.

Besides "This Diamond Ring," they had many other hits. These 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 father. But he liked the song so much that he recorded it instead.

By 1966, Gary was only singing. Other drummers, like Jim Keltner, took his place. His music career paused when he joined the U.S. Army in January 1967. He served in Seoul, South Korea, until 1968. In 1967, Gary released a solo album called Listen!.

Gary Lewis said that serving in the Army helped him "grow up." After his service, he returned to music. However, his new songs did not reach the same level of success. Later, his music career became part of "nostalgia" shows. He often appeared on his father's Labor Day telethons for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. His last appearance on his father's telethon was in 2010. In January 2012, Gary released a new song called "You Can't Go Back."

Gary Lewis started touring again in the 1980s. He performed with different versions of the Playboys. Usually, no other original band members were with him. In 2013, Gary toured with other musicians from the 1960s. This included Gary Puckett and Chuck Negron. As of 2022, Gary Lewis and the Playboys still tour around the world. They perform on cruise ships, at casinos, and at festivals.

Film Appearances

Gary Lewis appeared in some movies with his father. He was in The Nutty Professor (1963) without being credited. He also sang "The Land of La-la-la" with his father in Rock-A-Bye Baby (1958). In that movie, he played a younger version of his father's character. He also appeared in the movie The Family Jewels (1965).

Personal Life

In 1971, Gary Lewis took a break from performing music. He opened a music shop in the San Fernando Valley. He also gave drumming lessons. In 1974, he tried to start a new band called Medecine. He worked with Bill Cowsill from the Cowsills, but it was not successful.

In 2009, Gary met his half-sister, Suzan Kleinman, on a TV show. DNA tests showed they were related through their father, Jerry Lewis. Gary Lewis and his family live in Rush, New York.

Discography

With Gary Lewis & the Playboys

Singles

Albums

Solo

Singles