12/21/2022
❤️Such a Great Man and Legend. We were blessed to work with Him through the years. Praying for his Family. God Bless❤️
Farewell to a Pioneer! 🎸
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Charlie Gracie, 86, Philadelphia’s “Original Rock ‘n Roller” and a longtime friend of the Wildwoods.
In fact, Gracie likely holds the record as the island’s longest-tenured performer, and remains one of its most influential.
During the Spring of 1957, the 21-year-old guitar virtuoso arrived in the Wildwoods for the first time. Weeks earlier, his smash hit “Butterfly” had topped the American and British charts, knocking “The King” Elvis Presley himself from his throne.
The song would go on to sell over three million copies worldwide. Along with subsequent hits, such as “Fabulous,” “Ninety-Nine Ways,” and “Wanderin Eyes,” Gracie essentially bankrolled Philly’s famous Cameo-Parkway record label.
Gracie’s debut in Wildwood was a weeklong stopover right before his first trip to England.
“I was booked to play at Eddie Suez’s Club Avalon,” he told Wildwood 365 in an interview in 2013. “Eddie Suez was a promoter from Philly, an ex boxer. It was a good experience. I remember thinking Wildwood was like a wonderland. It was the first time I had every been there. My grandmother had a place in Atlantic City, so that’s where we always went [on vacation].”
Already acknowledged as Philly’s rock pioneer, Gracie would become one of the first American performers to bring this new art to the British concert stage. Extensive tours over the next two years culminated in headlining performances at London’s famed Palladium and the Hippodrome.
Among those in attendance at these shows were Graham Nash, Joe Cocker and members of the Beatles and Rolling Stones, all of whom sat in awe of Gracie’s guitar riffs and showmanship.
Gracie’s career took a major hit after he sued Cameo Records for unpaid royalties. The consequence of standing up for himself and his rights (something most artists dared not attempt in those days) saw Gracie blacklisted from radio and American Bandstand.
The situation was covered in the 2008 documentary, “The Wages of Spin.”
Though his national success slowed, Gracie continued to perform in clubs, theaters and resorts from the 1960’s through the 1990’s, while bouncing around to several different record labels.
“Every performer has to make decisions at important points in their careers,” he explained. “My touring never took me away from my family for long stretches of time. And I never fell to the vices that many in the music business have, so for that I’m very thankful.”
Gracie remained popular in the Wildwoods, which became something of a second home to him. He enjoyed a 25-year run as a featured attraction at Moore’s Inlet (1980-2005) and would also headline the Bolero (outside of which a street is named in his honor), Club Avalon (later under Cozy Morley’s ownership), Hurricane, Beach Comber, Diamond Beach, Elmer’s, Clover Inn, Westy’s and Joey M’s La Piazza.
“I’ve made a great living doing what I love to do,” he said. “I was famous for 15 minutes, and I’ve been doing this ever since. I’m a rock ‘n roll survivor. This is what I do, what I’ve always done.”
Charlie Gracie Rock Hall
