Leon Russell was an American musician and songwriter who was involved with numerous bestselling records during his 60-year career which spanned multiple genres, including rock and roll, country, gospel, bluegrass, rhythm and blues, southern rock, blues rock, folk, surf and Tulsa Sound.
Gary Lewis & the Playboys were an American 1960s era pop and rock group, fronted by musician Gary Lewis, the son of comedian Jerry Lewis. They are best known for their 1965 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "This Diamond Ring", which was the first of a string of hit singles they had in 1965 and 1966. The band had an earnest, boy-next-door image similar to British invasion contemporaries such as Herman's Hermits and Gerry and the Pacemakers. The group folded in 1970, but a version of the band later resumed touring and continues to tour, often playing for veterans' benefits.
"This Diamond Ring" is a 1965 song written by Al Kooper, Bob Brass and Irwin Levine. It was first recorded by Sammy Ambrose on Musicor #1061, then by Gary Lewis & the Playboys on Liberty #55756. Lewis' version charted first, #101 on the January 2, 1965, Billboard "Bubbling Under" chart. Both versions charted on January 9, Lewis still at #101 and Ambrose at #117. Ambrose dropped off the charts at that point, but Lewis made #65 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the next week and his version continued to climb until it reached #1 on February 20, 1965.
Thomas Lesslie "Snuff" Garrett was an American record producer whose most famous work was during the 1960s and 1970s.
Gary Lewis is an American musician who was the leader of Gary Lewis & the Playboys.
Everybody Loves a Clown may refer to:
Washington D.C.'s Slickee Boys' fourth and final "proper" album, Fashionably Late was released in early 1988 by the French New Rose label. That summer, they toured Europe ; soon afterwards, founding member Kim Kane departed to focus on his newer band, Date Bait. After a few more years of live shows, the Slickee Boys called it quits.
"Mr. Blue" is a popular song written by DeWayne Blackwell that was a hit for The Fleetwoods, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1959, giving the group its second chart-topping hit of the year. Roy Lanham played guitar on the track, and Si Zentner played the trombone.
The Midnight String Quartet were an easy listening chamber music quartet, consisting of two violins, a viola, and a cello, made up of students or graduates from the University of Southern California. They played covers and standards over several albums from 1966 to the early seventies, supplemented by a professional rhythm section, often including bass, drums and guitar and sometimes piano and harpsichord.
Lost in Love is the fifth studio album by Australian soft rock band Air Supply, released in March 1980. Their previous four albums never received much attention outside Australia, but Lost in Love was a massive success on international charts. It peaked at #22 in the US with three Top 5 singles. It sold over 3 million copies, reaching multi-platinum status.
"Save Your Heart for Me" is a song written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell. The song was originally written for and recorded by singer Brian Hyland in 1963. Although not released as a single in its own right, it was included as the B-side to Hyland's song, "I'm Afraid to Go Home," and appeared on Hyland's 1994 greatest hits album.
"Everybody Loves a Clown" is a song written by Snuff Garrett, Gary Lewis, and Leon Russell and was recorded by Gary Lewis & the Playboys for their 1965 album, Everybody Loves a Clown. The song reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.
"She’s Just My Style" is a song written by Al Capps, Thomas Lesslie "Snuff" Garrett, Gary Lewis, and Leon Russell and was recorded by Gary Lewis & the Playboys. The song reached #3 on The Billboard Hot 100 in January 1966.
"Count Me In" is a song written by Glen Hardin and performed by Gary Lewis & the Playboys. The song was produced by Snuff Garrett and arranged by Leon Russell, and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, behind "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" by Herman's Hermits. Outside the US, "Count Me In" went to No. 6 in Canada, and No. 49 in Australia in 1965. It was featured on their 1965 album, A Session with Gary Lewis and the Playboys.
"My Heart's Symphony" is a 1966 song written by Glen Hardin and performed by Gary Lewis & the Playboys, and featured on their 1966 album, (You Don't Have To) Paint Me a Picture. The song was produced by Snuff Garrett and Leon Russell and arranged by Russell and Hardin.
"(You Don't Have To) Paint Me a Picture" is a song written by Roger Tillison, Leon Russell, and Snuff Garrett and performed by Gary Lewis & the Playboys. It reached #9 in Canada, #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #58 in Australia in 1966. It was featured on their 1966 album, (You Don't Have To) Paint Me a Picture.
This Diamond Ring is the debut studio album by American band Gary Lewis & the Playboys, and was released in 1965 on Liberty Records, LRP-3408. It is the first of three charting albums released by the band in 1965.
A Session with Gary Lewis and the Playboys is the second studio album by American band Gary Lewis & the Playboys, and was released in 1965 on Liberty Records, LRP-3419. It is the second of three charting albums released by the band in 1965, and it was the band's highest charting album reaching number 18 on the Billboard 200. Two singles from this album, "Count Me In" and the Brian Hyland cover "Save Your Heart for Me" both reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Lies" is a song written by Beau Charles and Buddy Randell, performed by The Knickerbockers; the single was produced by Jerry Fuller. It reached #20 on the U.S. pop chart in 1965. It was featured on their 1966 album Lies and is famous for often being mistaken for a Beatles track due to its similarities to their style and harmonies.
"Sha La La" is a song written by Robert Mosely and Robert Taylor. The Shirelles released the original version of the song as a single in 1964 which reached #15 on the U.S. R&B chart and #69 on the U.S. pop chart.
