Gary Stites (July 23, 1940 – March 6, 2026) was an American pop singer who enjoyed brief success in the late 1950s.
Life and career Stites was born in Colorado on July 23, 1940. He is best remembered for his top 40 hit, "Lonely for You", which bore a significant sonic resemblance to the Conway Twitty song "It's Only Make Believe".[ Review of Lonely for You], Allmusic The tune peaked at No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959, and a follow-up single, "Starry Eyed", peaked at No. 77 later that same year.[ Billboard Singles], Allmusic It would hit the No. 1 spot in the UK for Michael Holliday. Stites released a full-length album on Carlton Records in 1960, but it was his only LP.
Stites died in Wilmington, Delaware on March 6, 2026, at the age of 85.
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