CHARLIE GRACIE The Entertainer

by Bob Jackson

In Memoriam

Charlie Gracie

May 14, 1936 – December 16, 2022

On December 16th, South Philadelphia said goodbye to Charlie Gracie, Philadelphia’s first Rock & Roll Star. Charlie’s late 1950’s Cameo-Parkway recordings inspired a legion of young musicians both in the U.S. and in England. Among his many devotees were Paul McCartney, Graham Nash, Van Morrison, Al Kooper and Peter Noone.

As a young guitarist growing up in South Philly, I heard the name Charlie Gracie very often. He was a guy from the neighborhood who had “made it.” His two biggest hit songs included “Butterfly” and “Fabulous,” both released in 1957.

Back in the late 80’s, my good friends Danny Vanore, Wayne DeCastro and I formed a group called “The Business” with Tom Nataloni, Greg & Drew Carrozza, and Manny Capizzi.

By 1993, The Business was making some noise in the local music industry. Our recordings were getting airplay; we were making TV appearances; and our live shows were selling out. That’s when I met Charlie Gracie for the first time. We played our first show together and began a decades-long friendship.

Back in the day, I used to hang out with Charlie at Moore’s Inlet in Wildwood during his summer shows there, each year. I was at so many gigs, he put me in his band when I retired from The Business in 2003 due to nerve damage in my hands. For the next 20 years, I played hundreds of shows with him when my hands and/or schedule permitted.

One highlight for me was an outdoor concert we performed for 35,000 fans. I was scared to death! He laughed. “What are you nervous for? We go out and entertain ‘em. Thirty-five or 35,000 people, it’s no different. You give them a show. Now get out there and have some fun.”

That one phrase sums up Charlie Gracie. He was an entertainer. He wanted people to have a good time and forget about life’s problems for a couple of hours.

Charlie Gracie’s story has been told in Philadelphia RowHome Magazine (PRH) over the years. In 2011, PRH presented him with its Blue Sapphire Award for Lifetime Music Achievement. Many entertainers may have remained bitter with the challenges and obstacles that Gracie faced during his early climb up the music entertainment ladder. But Charlie considered himself the luckiest guy in the world. He used to joke, ‘Elvis went to Las Vegas, I went to Wildwood. All in all, I got the better deal.’ He was happily married for 61 years to Joan, raised two wonderful children (Angela and Charlie, Jr.), and loved his daughterin-law Kim as his own.

I last spoke to Charlie Gracie about two weeks before his death. He was tired but seemed to be holding his own. He said, “No matter what happens, God owes me nothing … I owe it all to him.”

Rest in Peace, my friend. I loved you and will miss you. Thank you for the free guitar lessons, the laughs, the life advice, and most of all, your friendship. PRH