Gary Lewis hid his family secret for as long as he could.
The 19-year-old son of legendary comedian Jerry Lewis was the frontman of Gary Lewis & the Playboys when “This Diamond Ring” became the group’s breakthrough hit.
Gary formed the band at age 18—but initially kept it a secret from his famous father. His mother quietly helped the group purchase amplifiers, drums and microphones without Jerry finding out.
When “This Diamond Ring” began climbing the charts, Gary finally told his dad. Jerry offered his support—and one memorable piece of advice:
“I don’t care what you do in life as far as a career, just as long as you love it with all your heart and give it a hundred percent. I only ask one thing: Don’t grow your hair like those Beatles!”
Although the Playboys initially avoided emphasizing Gary’s Hollywood connection, Jerry later helped the band secure an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. The national exposure proved invaluable.
In February 1965, “This Diamond Ring” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, replacing the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” at the top of the chart.
💎 Listen to “This Diamond Ring”
But the band’s manager warned them not to become one-hit wonders. His advice was simple: forget about celebrating and concentrate on the next hit.
They listened.
Gary Lewis & the Playboys ultimately scored seven consecutive Top 10 singles, including “Count Me In,” “Save Your Heart for Me,” “Everybody Loves a Clown,” “She’s Just My Style” and “Sure Gonna Miss Her.”
🎸 A Couple More Things You May Not Know…
Before the records and television appearances, Gary and the Playboys auditioned for a summer job at Disneyland without using the famous Lewis name. Gary wanted to find out whether the band could get hired on its own merits—and it did.
And there was another future legend in the studio: Leon Russell arranged “This Diamond Ring” and contributed instrumental overdubs years before becoming a star in his own right. Lewis later recalled that Russell could seemingly play just about anything.
From a band rehearsing behind Dad’s back to seven straight Top 10 hits—not bad for a family secret.
Did you know that? 👇
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