Charlie Gracie at the London Hippodrome

By Charlie Gracie Junior

Above - Charlie Gracie at the London Hippodrome in 1957 - Courtesy Gerry Atkins

My father, Charlie Gracie, was the first solo American rock 'n' roll star, after Bill Haley's Comets, to bring the music to the U.K., in 1957, and he was the last star to headline at the London Hippodrome, in August 1957, before its conversion into a cabaret house in 1958.

Right - Charlie Gracie in 2008 - Courtesy Charlie Gracie Junior.

The "HIPP" is still widely known here in the States. We have always been proud of the fact that our father played a small part in the history of that great showplace.

Left - Charlie Gracie tops the Bill at the Hippodrome - 1957

Charlie, Snr. created quite a stir when the Grade agency booked him on an extensive tour in the late summer and fall of 1957.

Dorothy Squires, your "Bette Davis of song," refused to take second billing to my father at the Hippodrome. Claiming she "never heard of him" and the fact that he was an ambassador of this ''newfangled rock 'n' roll stuff" didn't improve her opinion of him. All this created a big publicity circus for my father and garnered him a wealth of press coverage.

Above - Charlie Gracie at the London Hippodrome.

He was a smash at the Hippodrome and in the provinces. He returned for another extensive tour in the spring of 1958. Ms. Squires later apologized when they met at some other venue. This is such fun stuff to look back on and its one of the million great stories surrounding the Hippodrome, I'm sure.

Right - Charlie Gracie in his dressing room at The Hippodrome posing for British photographers.

My father was riding high in the late 50s with hit recordings such as:- Butterfly, Fabulous, Ninety-Nine Ways, Wanderin' Eyes And I Love You So Much It Hurts.

Left - Charlie Gracie, his guitar and the "char-ladies" backstage at the Hippodrome: August 1957.

Decades later he was still an active performer, and continued to play in the U.K., where he had a loyal following, until he contracted Covid which affected his kidneys and sadly he passed away on December the 16th 2022 at the age of 86. His last show was in New York on April 24th 2022.

Right - Charlie Gracie with Sir Paul McCartney - 1999.

Paul McCartney, the late G. Harrision, Van Morrision, Cliff Richard and Graham Nash have all credited my father's singing/guitar-style as an influence on their own careers.

Sir Paul covered FABULOUS in 1999. Nash duets with my father on one of his CDs.

Very Sincerely, CHARLIE GRACIE, JNR.

Above - Charlie signing autographs at the Stage Door of the London Hippodrome - 1957

Press cuttings on Charlie Gracie at the London Hippodrome in August 1957

Above - Four Press cuttings about Charlie Gracie at the London Hippodrome in August 1957 - Courtesy Charlie Gracie Junior.

Charlie Gracie on stage in France 2007

Above - Charlie Gracie on stage in France 2007 - Courtesy Charlie Gracie Junior

Charlie Gracie and the Philadelphia Walk of Fame 2008

Above - Philly's first rock 'n' roll star; Charlie Gracie, along with Dee Dee Sharp, Billy Paul, Tammi Terrell and Clifford Brown were inducted onto the Philadelphia Walk of Fame, 'Avenue of the Arts,' on Oct. 23, 2008. - Photo and caption courtesy Charlie Gracie Junior.

Most Images on this page are Courtesy Charlie Gracie Jnr. Information about the London Hippodrome Theatre can be found on the site here, and an Index to all the many Special Features on the London Hippodrome on the site can be found here.