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." |
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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...!
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