The next song to go all the way to the top of the record charts in 1965 was “This Diamond Ring” by Gary Lewis and the Playboys. The song was written by Al Kooper, Bob Brass, and Irwin Levine. It was first recorded by Sammy Ambrose but his version was not a hit.

Gary Lewis, the son of comedian Jerry Lewis, started the band with four friends when he was 18. The group auditioned for a job at Disneyland, without telling them about Lewis’ celebrity father. They were hired on the spot, audiences at Disneyland quickly accepted them, and the Playboys were soon playing to a full house every night. Record producer Snuff Garrett set the group up with a recording session and brought along the song “This Diamond Ring.” None of the Playboys are playing on the song. Instead, the music was performed by a session group called  The Wrecking Crew.

The group had a string of hit songs through 1968 but “this Diamond Ring” was the group’s only number one. In January 1967 Gary Lewis was drafted into the U. S. Army. After being discharged Gary tried but was unable to regain his group’s earlier success. He still tours. mostly on cruise ships. The tour schedule can be found on the group’s website. Note: That website starts playing music on opening.

“This Diamond Ring” was the top song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the weeks of Feb. 14 – 27. It was on the top of the Cash Box record chart for only the week of Feb. 21 – 27.