SAYATA

What nerdish son of what famous actor had success with his band of playboys in the 1960's?

Answer:

Son of Jerry Lewis, Gary Lewis, had a band called Gary Lewis & the Playboys.

Gary Lewis was born in 1946, before his father reached the top of the entertainment world. By the time Gary Lewis reached his teens he had begun playing drums and leading a combo of his own, which included Dave Walker on rhythm guitar and Dave Costell on lead, Al Ramsey on bass, and John West on the cordovox (a kind of electric accordion).

The younger Gary Lewis and his band got a gig during the summer of 1964 playing at Disneyland, and that engagement, coupled with some urging by the elder Lewis, helped get the band a hearing from Snuff Garrett, a top producer based at Liberty Records.

Their first hit in 1964 was This Diamond Ring that co-authored by a young Al Kooper. Gary Lewis got some instrumental pointers from Buddy Rich. According to some the released song was heavily dubbed. That song was followed by other songs such as She's Just My Style and Everybody Loves A Clown. Then Gary Lewis was drafted into the armed forces in December of 1966, and an attempt at extending his career with recordings completed before going overseas failed.

Although some write that Gary Lewis was an unlikely success, he had many of the same qualities of his father that created a persona people liked. Regardless of any vocal range limitations, Gary Lewis had a nice quality in his voice that can still be enjoyed today as his band plays on.

CHART SINGLES:

This Diamond Ring
Count Me In
Save Your Heart For Me
Everybody Loves A Clown
She’s Just My Style
Sure Gonna Miss Her
Green Grass
My Heart’s Symphony
(You Don’t Have To) Paint
Me A Picture
Where Will The Words Come From
The Loser (With A Broken Heart)
Girls In Love
Jill
Sealed With A Kiss
Time Stands Still
Little Miss Go Go
Way Way Out