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Frankie Valli

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Frankie Valli

Frankie Valli (born May 3, 1934). There is a controversy surrounding his birth date. Many sources say he was born on May 3, 1937, a date derived[citation needed] from information included in early-1960s publicity releases for The Four Seasons. However, other sources, including the Bear Family Records release entitled 'The Four Lovers' (BCD 15424) as well as a 1965 "police mug shot" available through The Smoking Gun (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/mugshots/fvallimug1.html), identify his year of birth as 1934. Some[who?] claim that his date of birth was deliberately reported incorrectly by the record company when the single "Sherry" was released. Valli has never made a public statement regarding his age.</ref>) is best known as the falsetto-voiced lead singer of The Four Seasons, a music act of the 1960s, which continues to perform. Valli and the other original members of The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990[2] and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.[1]

Valli scored over 25 Top-40 hits with The Four Seasons, a handful of Top-40 hits dubbed as a solo act in the late 1960s, one dubbed as "The Wonder Who?" in 1965 and again in the mid to late 1970s. Together, they made the hit single "December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)" that can still be heard on the radio today. His best known "solo" single is Can't Take My Eyes Off You which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. 'Are you ready now' became a surprise hit in the UK as part of the Northern Soul scene and hit number 11 on the UK pop charts in 1971.

Music career

1950s-1960s

Valli started his singing career in 1952. He cut his first single in 1953 as "Frankie Valley," a name he adopted from Jean Valley, his favorite female singer. In the mid-1950s he split up with the Travellers and joined The Variety Trio, which consisted of Tommy DeVito, twin brother Nick, and Hank Majewski. They redubbed themselves the Variatones, and later, "The Four Lovers" and had a top 40 hit with "Apple of My Eye" in 1956. After a few more name changes, the group was renamed "The Four Seasons" in 1960. About the same time, Valli "re-Italianized" his name to its current form. Nick DeVito and Majewski left the group in 1960/1 and were replaced by Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi.

As the lead singer of the Four Seasons, he had a string of hits beginning with #1 hit "Sherry" in 1962. Nick Massi was replaced in 1965 by Charlie Calello, the group's arranger, and then shortly after Charlie was replaced by Joe Long.

1970s

In 1975, Valli's song My Eyes Adored You hit number 1 on Billboard's Hot 100.

In 1976, Valli covered the Beatles song "A Day in the Life" for the ephemeral musical documentary All This and World War II.

Valli sang the theme song from the 1978 film version of Grease, which was a #1 hit.

Discography

Singles:

Main article: List of U.S. singles by Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons

Albums:

For albums recorded as part of The Four Seasons, see Discography of The Four Seasons

Albums recorded before 1975 were recorded with the assistance of The Four Seasons and were produced by Bob Crewe.

  • 1967: Frankie Valli Solo - Philips Records (a.k.a. "The Four Seasons Present Frankie Valli Solo")
  • 1968: Timeless - Philips
  • 1970: Half and Half - Philips (half Four Seasons, half Valli "solo")
  • 1975: Close Up - Private Stock
  • 1975: Valli Gold - Private Stock
  • 1976: Valli - Private Stock
  • 1977: Lady Put the Light Out - Private Stock
  • 1978: Frankie Valli Hits - Private Stock
  • 1978: Frankie Valli... Is the Word - Warner Bros. Records
  • 1979: Heaven Above Me - MCA
  • 1980: Very Best of Frankie Valli - MCA
  • 2007: Romancing the 60's - Motown

Television appearances

Valli made several appearances on the HBO series The Sopranos portraying New York mob captain Rusty Millio.

Valli played himself in an episode of Full House.

Personal life

Valli was born Francis Stephen Castelluccio in the First Ward of Newark, New Jersey.

Valli is father of three daughters, Antonia, Francine, and Celia, a son, Francesco, and twins, Emilio and Brando.

Trivia

John Lloyd Young won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Valli in the musical Jersey Boys.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Vocal Group Hall of Fame entry for "The Four Seasons"
  2. ^ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry for "The Four Seasons"
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