Charlie Gracie

A minor rockabilly star of the late '50s, Charlie Gracie's big hit was "Butterfly," a pop/rockabilly hybrid with Elvis-influenced vocals. It made number seven in the United States, but some of Gracie's thunder was stolen when Andy Williams' far milder, pop-oriented treatment of the same tune outdid Gracie's version on the charts, going all the way to number one. Gracie had most of his subsequent success in Britain; "Fabulous," "Wanderin' Eyes," and "I Love You So Much It Hurts" all went to the Top 20 there in 1957, and Gracie was one of the first American rockers to tour the U.K. His recording career cooled off by the late '50s, although he kept going in the early half of the '60s with singles on several labels. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide