He’s All Right Q&A with Charlie Gracie

Here’s the Charlie Gracie story.  He was the first Philadelphia musician to break out nationally and internationally at the start of the Rock 'N' Roll era.  He was the first solo American Rock 'N' Roller to bring his music to Britain in the late 1950’s.  Paul McCartney, Van Morrison, Graham Nash, Ray Davies, and Tommy Conwell are among his biggest musical admirers.  Fifty-five years later, he continues to be a great ambassador for Philadelphia , performing his Rock 'N' Roll all over the world. 

“It’s easy to root for Charlie.  I don’t know how old he is, but he isn’t a little kid and he is still doing as good as ever.  He is kind of HEROIC in that way.  You can look up to him and say I’d like to be like that!”  Tommy Conwell in Fabulous

Q:  How young are you?

I was born May 14th, 1936...so I guess that makes me 70 years old! Sometimes I find it hard to believe so many years have passed...but I've had a good, full life and I'm still doing what I love to do--perform! I was raised rasied at 731- 735 Pierce Street in South Philadelphia . There was always music in my home for as long as I can remember. My dad was into swing, jazz and blues and my mom loved country music. That combination from mom and pop had a great influence on me as a kid.  

Q:  What was your reaction hearing Butterfly on the radio for the first time?

Well, it was certainly a dream come true when it began to shoot up the national charts to Number One in the spring of 1957!  I was the very first hit artist on the Cameo-Parkway label out of Philly, but I had recorded for other labels as a teenager, dating back to 1951...for labels like Cadillac and 20th Century/ Gotham . It took almost six years of plugging away to get some hit records. We followed with "Fabulous," " Ninety-Nine Ways ," "Wandering Eyes" and "Cool Baby" which became hits in England too. It was quite a thrill, not just for me, but for my family.  We were only first and second generation Italian-Americans. We were poor people, for the most part...so this was like hitting the lottery. My dad and manager accompanied me when I did the Ed Sullivan Show...and they cried like babies backstage when I appeared on the show. It was like a fairytale. Again, I just thank God for the opportunity to do what I do and to have made a career out of it.

Q:  Did ever think that you would be touring Europe for four decades?

No, certainly not!  They tell me I was the first solo American rocker to bring the music to the British Isles . I was just so happy to be going to far away places I read about in my history classes. I don't think any of us: myself, Eddie Cochran, Chuck Berry, the Everly Brother or Bo Diddley ever thought we'd be doing this well into our 60s and 70s. I think we felt it would all end in a year or two and we'd have to go out and get real jobs!!!  I went overseas for the first time in 1957 and I've been back almost every year since then--over six decades actually!  The roots of rock 'n' roll are still alive and well in the U.K. and Europe . I just completed a four week tour of England , Wales , Holland and Germany this past fall. The fans and audiences there are just wonderful. Once they love you...they love you for good!

Q:  Tell me a story

 What I do remember is swapping guitars backstage at the Alan Freed shows...Eddie Cochran would play my Guild...I would take Eddie's Gretsch, or Chuck Berry's Gibson, and we'd just sit around, play, talk, have some laughs. Most of us were just kids really. I was 20 or 21. Eddie had to be maybe...17 or 18! I met Van Morrison in the 1990s and found out he was a fan. He came to a few of my shows in South Wales in the early and mid 90s. He asked me to open for him in the early 2000s in Los Angeles (the Wiltern), Vegas (Hard Rock and House of Blues) and in Reno (the Hilton). He's a great guy and just loves picking my brain about the 50s and what it was like for all of us back then. Van is a musical genius--as far as I am concerned!  Graham Nash and Paul McCartney were great too. Graham did me the honor of dueting on an cd cut entitled: "A Little Too Soon To Tell" in 2001. Paul did a cover of my second biggest hit, "Fabulous" in 2000. That was an honor too!

Q:  Tell me about the Philadelphia music scene in the Fab 50’s

Well, I believe I was the first local native rocker to break out nationally and internationally from Philly when the rock 'n' roll age began. American Bandstand helped to make Philly a music mecca for a long period. This was always a testing ground for artists and new releases. There were some great djs here then: Joe Niagara, Hi Lit, Grady and Hurst, Jocko Henderson, Georgie Woods and Lioyd 'Fatman," all legendary radio people who were important to know for promoting your new discs.  We went from jock to jock to jock to get out records played..sat and talked on the air with them for hours. Those days are long gone now.

Q:  I love the song, I’m All Right.  What was your inspiration?

 The song was written for me by a former Philadelphian and a fine musician in his own right: Mr. Jamie Rounds. He lives and performs in Los Angeles now. Jamie knew the story of my close friendship with the late Eddie Cochran and wrote that song as tribute to our that friendship. I was stunned by Ed's passing in a taxi accident over in England in 1960. He was a great kid and a fine talent. He visited my parents home in South Philly when we were both riding high in the charts in the late 50s. My mom cooked Italian meals for him when he visited!  I perfom it as a tribute to Eddie in almost everyone of my shows now.

Charlie Gracie arrives at the Eddie Cochran Memorial Dedication--Sept. 17, 2006 at  Chippenham , England

Q:  Any message for Tommy Conwell

Tommy is a great person with a great heart...AND I feel he's an extraordinary guitarist!  Anyone who has followed his career and knows music is well aware of that. I was honored to have him on that made for PBS documentary which came out last summer. Tommy also played some guitar on a country cut I did for a cd back in 2001 called: "Still  Nineteen!"  The cd was "I'm All Right!" on Lanark Records out of Lancaster . I surely hope we have a chance to collaborate on something again before long. Tommy is a superstar in my book--a brother musician. Its always fun to see him and a treat to watch him play.  Thanks Tommy!

 Cheers to Chas for his efforts with this interview!!!

I selected the Guild because its full bodied--and has a rich, full sound. I like the finger action on the neck. I find it superior for heavy rhythm backing. Its just my personal choice. I know other guys who swear by their guitars too. I've been playing Guilds for 50 years!