Gary Lewis: A Special Tribute

There have been many tributes to Elvis Presley since his untimely death thirty years ago. Most of these tributes presented by fans, family members and friends, and the
media, have come in the form of DVD's, CD's, Books, web-sites, films, and photos. The tributes are ongoing and with each passing year seem to expand, with the onset of new generations of fans who are simply taken in by the magic, and mystery, of Elvis Presley

There have been occasional tributes in song to Elvis, some made by fellow performers, friends. Others written and recorded by performers Elvis did not know personally. Once in a lifetime special people come along who leave their mark on our social psyche. They may come as entertainers, polititians, students, teachers, or the little old lady living next door to us. No matter. When someone special is about, we know it and are never to forget it. Such was the way it was with Elvis, and so it is this way, too, with a singer whose career may have been helped along by the fact that he was the son of a very famous entertainer. But it is more the fact that the eldest son of comedian, Jerry Lewis, strived to achieve his goals--of his own accord--at first without his dad's knowledge.

Gary Lewis became a sixties icon in an era when the Beatles came upon the scene and changed rock and roll forever. While Elvis is responsible for rock and roll becoming a peak condition, groups such as Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Monkees, The Beatles,Herman's Hermits, The Dave Clark Five, and even the Rolling Stones, changed the style of Rock and Roll from the fifties mode to the sixties pop culture. With such great songs as "Everybody Loves A Clown," "Count Me In," and "This Diamond Ring," Gary Lewis and the Playboys became a household word.

It was Gary Lewis who soared to the top of the charts as Cash Box Magazine's top male vocalist of the year 1965, surpassing even Elvis!

Gary's dad, Jerry, had become the King of Comedy by the 1960's while Gary was waiting for his first hit record to reach the airwaves. Coming from a show business family which included his paternal grandparents, vaudevillians, and his mother, the former Patti Palmer Lewis who had been a singer when she met and married Gary's dad, show business already ran through Gary's veins. When he decided to try his hand in a male vocal group, performing was second-hand nature to him. Gary, as lead vocal, also played the drums and in later years switched over to playing guitar.

Unlike Elvis, Gary Lewis had an established show business family to help promote his ability in that profession. However, Gary chose to raise himself up on his own, without the help of dad, who remained unaware of his son's singing career until shortly around the time when Gary Lewis and the Playboys hit the charts. Jerry had always instilled in his kids that no matter what goal they were to choose in life, they had to give 100 percent. Gary Lewis gave 100 percent--and more.

In 1965, having already secured a couple of hit records and the position of top vocalist of the year, Gary was beckoned by Uncle Sam. He was drafted with his career about to take off to new heights and Gary, like Elvis, was uncertain if going off to join the army might mean the end of a promising career. Gary's decision remained unclear whether or not to go until such time as his final decision was influenced with the help of what he called a "role model," someone he had looked up to. Someone who had once made the same decision--Elvis Presley.

Gary believed that if Elvis could do it; take a chance on losing his career in order to fulfill an obligation to God and country, he could do it, too. And he did. Gary served in the United States Army for two years, some of that time being spent overseas--in Vietnam--in Saigon. As a usual practice, the children of very important people are given secure status in the military and it was thought that Gary would be sent to entertain the troops. Instead, Gary, like Elvis, preferred no special treatment. Though Gary was kept away from the immediate frey and in an administrative position, he still remained vulnerable and exposed in areas where danger was eminent such as during the time of the Pueblo incident. Gary recalls the time when the US naval ship was captured in unassumed North Korean waters.

Gary was in Korea at the time the Pueblo was captured by the North Koreans and remembers a very "tense situation" existed there.

A Vietnam veteran reading this article wrote and told me that "no matter where you were, there was some kind of chance you could be killed. A buddy of mine kidded us because we were all staying behind in Vietnam while he was going on to Korea. He said he would be safe there. Shortly after he arrived in Korea, he was shot dead. There is no safe zone in war."

Gary Lewis of
Gary Lewis and the Playboys

Yes; Gary Lewis is a Vietnam veteran, and very proud of it. He served his country and put his own career on hold to uphold the defense of our nation in time of war.

The Kin of Rock and Roll founder, Barbara Lee, admires Gary Lewis and his decision to serve in the U.S. military:"In a time when this country was involved in an unfavorable conflict, shades of what is going on today with Iraq, Gary set aside his own dreams, just as Elvis did, and put his country and countrymen first, the noblest thing an American can do. I have great respect for the brave men and women who served during the Vietnam conflict, and Gary Lewis served honorably and we are grateful to him just as he is proud to have served."

Gary Lewis is one of those very special people we meet once in a lifetime. Like Elvis, and like his dad, Jerry, Gary has given, and still gives, selflessly of himself to make others happy and secure.

The most touching addition to this story is knowing what Gary Lewis thought about Elvis. He chose him as a role model soldier, but in Gary's own words, in an email to Barbara Lee, Gary told of why he wrote a song, a tribute to Elvis Presley, one of the very few tribute songs ever written to Elvis while he was still alive. Gary's was the first.

The song called,"I Saw Elvis Presley Last Night," was written and recorded by Gary Lewis in the early seventies. In his own words Gary says: "Everyone who knows, has told me that my song for Elvis was the only tribute song to him while he was still alive. I saw him in Las Vegas in 1971 or 1972, at the Hilton and loved it so much that I wrote the song. I couldn't figure out a title, so I just called it,'I Saw Elvis Presley Last Night'." In addition Gary says: "After I saw Elvis in 1971 or 1972 at the Hilton in Las Vegas, he sent someone out to bring me and my wife back to meet him. He was so gracious. He was pouring Champaign for everyone and giving all the wives his scarves. He even said to me, 'Hey man, nice suit'. I had a cool purple suit on. I thought he was great."

Gary continues to perform today. All the hits he made famous from the days gone by continue to attract new audiences.

Gary Lewis has been kind enough to allow us to present his song, "I Saw Elvis Presley Last Night," music and lyrics. As soon as we are able to locate and download the song, this rare recording will appear here for all Elvis' and Gary Lewis' fans to enjoy.


The Kin of Rock and Roll wishes Gary well, and we thank him for his service to our nation. We understand that the Vietnam Conflict is as unpopular as is the Iraq War today. Still, we must remember that our soldiers are there risking their lives and defending our nation's soil while helping others to defend theirs. We should never take for granted those who have served regardless of the popularity of the fight. What is most important is that these soldiers are brave and true to us all. They should be held in the highest regard, with deep gratitude from our nation and it's citizens.

There are two famous people who continue to stand out for unselfless service to their country. Both musicians, both drafted at a time when their careers were about to take off. Both were young with stars in their eyes, dreams to fulfill, and a world of teenagers waiting with baited breath for their returns. Both knew that others came before them and that obligations to their country and fellow Americans meant more in taking that risk of losing all, self-sacrifice, then the dream itself. Elvis Presley and Gary Lewis. American veterans. American patriots.

We also would like to take this time to thank Gary Lewis for re-membering Elvis, in a very special way, with a very special tribute.

Until we can download "I Saw Elvis Presley Last Night," please enjoy the following memory of Gary and dad, Jerry Lewis, from the DVD set, "Hullabaloo-A 1960's Music Flashback- Vols. 1-4. Hosts, Gary and Jerry Lewis, is from Vol. 3 of the series and was filmed in Sept. of 1965. They sing the Beatles hit, "Help," and though it's not an Elvis tune, it's by still another cousin, Sir Paul McCartney! But that's another story...!