![]() ![]() On Gracie’s 75th birthday in 2011, Rogers and Lefkowith set up a mobile studio at Gracie’s home and recorded the vocals of their original song, “Baby Doll.” They built and finished the track in Manhattan at Le Sonic Recording Studio and enlisted Richie Scarlet to cut lead guitar. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton cite him as a major influence after his groundbreaking tour of England in 1957. Gracie’s success in England and Europe was much greater than in the U.S. Gracie had several successful follow-ups, including “Fabulous,” which Paul McCartney covered years later. His success financed Cameo/Parway Records and was the stepping stone for Checker and all the other Philadelphia artists that followed. 1 Billboard slot in April 1957 and went on to sell 3 million copies. Gracie is known as Philadelphia’s first rock star and had the first million-selling rock record, “Butterfly,” which knocked Elvis out of the No. ![]() “And Chubby said, ‘Even when they think you’re Bob Dylan, more people come up to me.'”Ĭhecker introduced Lefkowith to Philadelphia rock ’n’ roll trailblazer Charlie Gracie at WFIL’s Bandstand Reunion, which commemorated the show’s 60-year history. “Back when I was with Chubby, everybody used to come up to me as if I was Bob Dylan,” Lefkowith said. In 2008, Lefkowith played guitar with Checker at the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 to a worldwide TV audience estimated at 50 million.Ī follow-up single called “Changes” was played heavily on adult contemporary and gospel radio and led to a performance on “The Today Show,” with Lefkowith, who bears more than a passing resemblance to Bob Dylan, backing Checker with his band at the time, HiFi. 1 dance single for Checker in 2007 called “Knock Down the Walls.” It was a dream come true to meet and eventually work with him in a multifaceted way: record producer, promoter and eventually running a label for Checker at Sony/Red. Years later, Lefkowith met Checker through a program director from a Midwest Top 40 station. His father, Otto, a dreamer who knew better, took him to his first concert to see Checker play at Steel Pier in Atlantic City, N.J. In reminiscing, Lefkowith said his mother, Sara, bought him his first record, “Pony Time” by Chubby Checker, and cautioned him that this music thing would be just a passing phase. In 1976, “Kansas City Woman,” a country-pop song he wrote for his wife, Lyn, and coproduced with the band JNB, received its initial play in Reading and was in rotation on the three major local radio stations: WEEU, WRAW and WHUM. ![]() Lefkowith has promoted records for Chubby Checker, Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger and Prince. My professor said, ‘What do you want to be, a rock star or a real guitar player?’ I didn’t answer, but in my mind, I thought, ‘Rock star.'” “They said I should be holding it higher. “When I went to Berklee (College of Music, in Boston), they told me I was holding my guitar wrong,” he said. His work has spanned the genres, with songs like “Oh” (watch the video here) teetering on punk rock. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and sold 6 million copies worldwide. His first hit record was Deee-Lite’s 1990 hit “Groove Is in the Heart,” which he engineered and co-produced. Rogers has made a career of producing, engineering and writing for legendary artists in popular music. The two veteran producers, songwriters and recording artists work with a team of top artists to bring their creative vision to life. Le Sonic is his collaboration with Mike Rogers. ![]() Reading High grad Gary Lefkowith, right, with his partner in Le Sonic, Mike Rogers. “This is kind of a special thing for me, at this point in my career, to still be going stronger than ever,” Lefkowith said. 1 songs on the Billboard Smooth Jazz Chart.Īnd 2023 is starting out promising, as well, with Le Sonic’s new single, “Riverside Drive,” climbing to No. Lefkowith, who resides in Ridgefield, Conn., has been in the music business for over 45 years, working alongside some of the biggest names out there, but 2022 was probably his pinnacle, with his band, Le Sonic, landing two No. Reading High School’s Class of 1968 held its 55th class reunion last weekend, and while many in attendance are enjoying their retirements, one classmate, Gary Lefkowith, finds his career kicking into high gear. ![]()
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