Gary Lewis & the Playboys

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Gary Lewis & the Playboys was an American pop band from the 1960s.

history

Gary , the son of Jerry Lewis , got a drum kit for his fourteenth birthday . He liked playing so much that he decided to start a band. He called her The Playboys and after a few years was so far that he applied with her in 1964 for the job of a house band in Disneyland . The Playboys got the job, followed by appearances on the TV show Shindig , which in turn led to a record deal .

Her first single, This Diamond Ring , was a hit and sold in millions . Al Kooper composed the song .

Until 1968 the band was regularly represented in the American charts. The band actually split up in 1966 when Gary had to join the military for two years. But the record company still had enough recorded tracks from the group in stock to bridge this gap.

When he returned in 1968, Gary Lewis tried to get the Playboys back on their feet. But now the group had little success and soon disbanded for good. Most of the members joined other bands or became studio musicians . Only Carl Radle achieved a certain level of awareness as a player in Eric Clapton or Joe Cocker .

Gary Lewis still occasionally appears in the American Midwest with various formations, each of which is part of the name Playboys .

Members

  • Gary Lewis (Cary Levitch), born July 31, 1946, drums
  • Al Ramsey, born July 27, 1943, guitar
replaced by Tom Tripplehorn, * February 2, 1944
  • John R. West, born July 31, 1939, guitar
replaced by James Karstein
  • David Walker, born May 12, 1943, keyboard
  • David Costell, born March 15, 1944, bass guitar
replaced by Carl Radle, * June 18, 1945

Discography

Albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
US US
1965 This diamond ring US26 (25 weeks)
US
A Session With Gary Lewis And The Playboys US18 (20 weeks)
US
1966 Everybody Loves A Clown US44 (16 weeks)
US
She's just my style US71 (17 weeks)
US
Hits again! US47 (24 weeks)
US
Golden greats US10 (46 weeks)
US
1967 (You Don't Have To) Paint Me A Picture US79 (16 weeks)
US
New Directions US185 (4 weeks)
US
1968 Gary Lewis Now! US150 (9 weeks)
US

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
UK UK US US
1965 This diamond ring - US1 (12 weeks)
US
Count Me In - US2 (11 weeks)
US
Save Your Heart For Me - US2 (11 weeks)
US
Everybody Loves A Clown - US4 (11 weeks)
US
She's just my style - US3 (12 weeks)
US
1966 Sure Gonna Miss Her - US9 (9 weeks)
US
Green grass - US8 (8 weeks)
US
My Heart's Symphony UK36 (7 weeks)
UK 		US13 (7 weeks)
US
Chart entry in UK only in 1975
(You Don't Have To) Paint Me A Picture - US15 (8 weeks)
US
Where Will The Words Come From - US21 (9 weeks)
US
1967 The Loser (With A Broken Heart) - US43 (6 weeks)
US
Girls in Love - US39 (6 weeks)
US
Jill - US52 (7 weeks)
US
1968 Sealed With A Kiss - US19 (14 weeks)
US
1969 Rhythm Of The Rain - US63 (12 weeks)
US

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ For more information on the title, see: Bronson, Fred: The Billboard Book of Number One Hits . 3rd revised and expanded edition. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications, 1992, p. 167
  2. ↑ a b Chart sources: UK US

literature

  • Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia Of Pop, Rock And Soul . 3rd revised edition, New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989, p. 401 - ISBN 0-312-02573-4 .