Gerry Granahan
Encyclopedia
Gerry Granahan is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer
, best known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s.
Granahan worked at WPTS in Pittston as a radio announcer and disc jockey
in his youth. His Elvis Presley
-like voice got him a job recording demos of songs submitted to Presley. Granahan was offered a contract with Atlantic Records
in 1957 as a rockabilly
artist under the name Jerry Grant, but his release sank without a trace, and another release shortly after on Mark Records was also a flop.
In 1958 Granahan teamed with publisher Tommy Volando on Sunbeam Records, and recorded the single "No Chemise Please". The song became a nationwide hit in the U.S., peaking at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100
. None of his next four singles for Sunbeam were sales successes; however, during this time Granahan also co-wrote the song "Click Clack" with Dave Alldred of The Rhythm Orchids. A demo of the tune reached Dick Clark, as well as Tony Mammarella
, who had just founded Swan Records
. Because of contractual obligations, Granahan released the song under the alias Dickie Doo & the Don'ts on Swan, and Clark guaranteed it airplay on American Bandstand
. The single's success resulted in Granahan recruiting a backing band to tour and record as Dickie Doo & the Don'ts, who went on to chart several more singles. Granahan also managed a regional hit in the U.S. Northeast with the single "Let the Rumors Fly", released on Gone Records
.
Granahan also produced extensively. He recorded the doo wop group The Fireflies
and the girl group
The Angels
, and later in the 1960s, Patty Duke
and Jay & the Americans. Granahan produced The Wild Ones
' version of the song "Wild Thing", which was dwarfed by the success of the version by The Troggs
.
Later in his career, Granahan worked in the industry, serving as vice president of Dot Records
and Paramount Records
. He continued performing occasionally into the 1990s.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, best known for his work in the 1950s and 1960s.
Granahan worked at WPTS in Pittston as a radio announcer and disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
in his youth. His Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
-like voice got him a job recording demos of songs submitted to Presley. Granahan was offered a contract with Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1957 as a rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
artist under the name Jerry Grant, but his release sank without a trace, and another release shortly after on Mark Records was also a flop.
In 1958 Granahan teamed with publisher Tommy Volando on Sunbeam Records, and recorded the single "No Chemise Please". The song became a nationwide hit in the U.S., peaking at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. None of his next four singles for Sunbeam were sales successes; however, during this time Granahan also co-wrote the song "Click Clack" with Dave Alldred of The Rhythm Orchids. A demo of the tune reached Dick Clark, as well as Tony Mammarella
Tony Mammarella
Anthony Mammarella was the first producer and second host of American Bandstand.Mammarella, a World War II veteran, started with Philadelphia television station WFIL-TV in 1947 as a switchboard operator and moved his way up to various positions in production.In 1958, as a way of increasing his...
, who had just founded Swan Records
Swan Records
Swan Records was a mid-20th century United States based record label, founded in 1957, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It had a subsidiary label called Lawn Records....
. Because of contractual obligations, Granahan released the song under the alias Dickie Doo & the Don'ts on Swan, and Clark guaranteed it airplay on American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
. The single's success resulted in Granahan recruiting a backing band to tour and record as Dickie Doo & the Don'ts, who went on to chart several more singles. Granahan also managed a regional hit in the U.S. Northeast with the single "Let the Rumors Fly", released on Gone Records
Gone Records
Gone Records was a record label founded by George Goldner that was active in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was founded in 1957. Among the artists that recorded for the label were Bill Haley & His Comets, Ral Donner, Jo-Ann Campbell, and Johnny Rivers. It was acquired by Morris Levy and...
.
Granahan also produced extensively. He recorded the doo wop group The Fireflies
The Fireflies
The Fireflies were an American doo wop group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.The group formed in Philadelphia in 1957, and underwent several lineup changes over the course of their existence; its most prominent member was Ritchie Adams. The group was produced by Gerry Granahan...
and the girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
The Angels
The Angels (band)
The Angels are an American girl group, best known for their 1963 million selling #1 hit single, "My Boyfriend's Back".-History:The group originated in New Jersey as The Starlets which consisted of sisters, Barbara "Bibbs" and Phyllis "Jiggs" Allbut, Bernadette Carroll, and Linda Malzone. They had...
, and later in the 1960s, Patty Duke
Patty Duke
Anna Marie "Patty" Duke is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years, she progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely...
and Jay & the Americans. Granahan produced The Wild Ones
The Wild Ones (band)
The Wild Ones were an American rock band from New York City. They are perhaps best known for recording the first version of Chip Taylor's song "Wild Thing", which would later be a smash hit for The Troggs. Their version of "Wild Thing" was produced by Gerry Granahan. Their 1965 album The Arthur...
' version of the song "Wild Thing", which was dwarfed by the success of the version by The Troggs
The Troggs
The Troggs are an English rock band from the 1960s that had a number of hits in UK and the US. Their most famous songs include, "Wild Thing", "With a Girl Like You", and "Love Is All Around"...
.
Later in his career, Granahan worked in the industry, serving as vice president of Dot Records
Dot Records
Dot Records was an American record label and company that was active between 1950 and 1977. It was founded by Randy Wood. In Gallatin, Tennessee, Wood had earlier started a mail order record shop, known for its radio ads on WLAC in Nashville and its R&B air personality Bill "Hoss" Allen...
and Paramount Records
Paramount Records (1969)
Paramount Records was a record label started in 1969 by Paramount Pictures after acquiring the rights to the name from George H. Buck. The previous label with the same name had been unconnected to Paramount Pictures. The new Paramount label reissued pop releases by sister label Dot Records, which...
. He continued performing occasionally into the 1990s.