An evening of 1960’s pop classics awaits everyone going to see Gary Lewis & The Playboys this Saturday, Aug.1, at the Villages Amphitheater. Although most concertgoers will be familiar with all of the tunes, many people will be surprised to learn of his celebrity lineage. As the son of famous comedian Jerry Lewis, Gary rose to fame while still in his teens. It was the summer of 1964 when Gary Lewis & The Playboys were first discovered at an audition in Disneyland. Before long, they took their first single, “This Diamond Ring” straight to number one. After their second hit titled “Count Me In” went to number two, Lewis and the band proved that they weren’t just a flash in the pan. They followed with more Top 10 songs such as “Save Your Heart For Me,” “Everybody Loves A Clown,” “She’s Just My Style,” “Sure Gonna Miss Her,” and many more.

In 1965 Lewis himself was Cash Box magazine’s “Male Vocalist of the Year,” winning the honor over other nominees Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra. He was the first and only artist during the 1960’s to have his first seven releases reach Billboard magazine’s Top 10 on the Hot 100 chart. Along with his appearances on various popular television shows including American Bandstand, Hullabaloo, and The Tonight Show, Lewis accumulated an impressive five appearances within two years on the Ed Sullivan Show.

Opening for Gary Lewis & The Playboys that evening will be the ever-popular Sock Hops.

“Out of all our previous opening acts, these guys are probably the most requested group to have back to the Villages,” said Main Street Director Brian Wismer. “Everybody seems to be really excited about the pairing of these two acts.”

With eight Gold Singles, 17 Top 40 Hits, four Gold Albums and 45 million records sold worldwide, Gary Lewis & The Playboys are still one of the hottest acts around. For tickets, call 770-719-4173 or visit www.villagesamphitheater.com

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