Philly Rock Icon Charlie Gracie Passes

Philly Rock Icon Charlie Gracie Passes

Rockabilly pioneer Charlie Gracie passed away on Friday, December 16th at the age of 95.

On December 17th rumors started to circulate about his health after fans started to write remembrance posts.

While his Facebook page didn’t officially comment on it yet, they did put a message online that stated;

“We will have an official public announcement regarding our beloved one—the Fabulous  MR. CHARLIE GRACIE on MONDAY! Until then we kindly ask that you respect the privacy and wishes of the family and allow for some breathing room. Any information posted is speculative until it comes to you from right here. The family will fully inform you then.”

His son confirmed the news on Monday, December 19th that his dad passes on the 16th surrounded by family.

Gracie was a pioneer of the rockabilly genre and had a successful career that spanned over six decades.

Born in Philadelphia in 1927, Gracie began his music career in the 1950s as a member of the band The Hytones. In 1957, he released his first single, “Butterfly,” which became a hit on the Billboard charts and launched his solo career.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Gracie released a string of successful singles, including “Fabulous,” “Ninety-Nine Ways,” and “Cool Baby.” In addition to his solo work, Gracie also worked with other notable rock and roll artists of the time, such as Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Gracie’s music was a blend of rockabilly, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues, and he was known for his energetic stage presence and distinctive guitar style. He was also one of the first rock and roll artists to tour internationally, performing in countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Gracie took a break from the music industry to focus on his family, but he returned to performing in the 1990s and continued to tour and record new music until his death.

Gracie was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1997, and his contributions to the genre were recognized by his peers and fans around the world. He leaves behind a legacy as a pioneer of rockabilly music and a beloved performer who touched the lives of countless fans throughout his career.

Gracie was a big fan of the Wildwoods. It was during his time that the Wildwoods were the place to be as a musical act.

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He loved the Wildwoods so much that he wrote the song Wildwood Boogie, which you can listen to at the bottom of this article.

Rock & Roll music was invented in the Wildwoods.  The biggest players in the way would perform here. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Bobby Rydell, Bill Haley, and the Comets, Diana Ross and the Supremes all performed here. Chubby Checker even invented the twist right on Pacific Ave.

Gracie called the Wildwoods his playground after playing in most clubs on the island. In his later years, when Moore’s Inlet was still standing, Gracie would play this bar/club frequently.

We (Joey) at the Wildwood Video Archive, had the privilege to hang out with Gracie back in 2004 during the “Wildwoods Music Award.” He was extremely nice and loved talk music.

In addition to his successful music career, Gracie was also known for his charitable work and support of various causes, including animal welfare and children’s hospitals. He will be remembered not only for his talent and contributions to the music industry but also for his generosity and kind heart.

Gracie’s death is a loss to the music community and he will be greatly missed by his friends, family, and fans.

We want to send love and prayer to Gracie’s family during these difficult times.