Charlie Gracie - Fabulous! An Intimate Portrait of a Rock Pioneer DVD

Comments about PBS Charlie Gracie - Fabulous! An Intimate Portrait of a Rock Pioneer DVD:

Charlie Gracie was there at the beginning--and was in the studio experimenting with country-swing, boogie-woogie and something that would soon be called rock & roll and rockabilly--long before many of the acknowledged greats had even gotten started! I knew some of his story before watching this documentary, but I learned a heck of a lot more after viewing it. I loved the stories of Charlie's origins in South Philadelphia and the walking tour of his old neighborhood-- and those great b/w pics of his first tours of Great Britain. The story if his being "blacklisted" by his record label, CAMEO (later Cameo-Parkway) when he stood up for back royalty payments is gut wrenching! The bosses at Cameo and the Philly 'music maffia' attempted to silence a talented artist who put them on the musical map--as it pertained to r&r--and allowed them to prosper for many years. This is corroborated by the likes of Chubby Checker, Len Barry, Freddie Cannon and so many more. How Charlie did not implode after all of this is a story in itself. His musicianship (guitarist) influenced many of the greats who came later-- from George Harrision and Paul McCartney to Jeff Beck and Van Morrison. If I hadn't seen Charlie perform on several occasions myself, it would be hard to believe he is still out there trotting the globe playing concerts and shows. This is a story about music and r&r in particular, but it is also a story about a decent and talented performer who survived and prospered in a business that can eat a man alive--especially if he has integrity! I didn't want the dvd to end. Yes, I certainly recommend it!