Jersey Boys Blog

Pamela and Frankie, somewhere between 16 and now

By Pamela Singer, Jersey Boys Blog Special Correspondent

Once upon a time, there was a young girl growing up in suburban New Jersey. Like most Jersey teens of a certain era, she loved big hair, the Jersey shore, the local mall and most of all, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Ok, so she’d missed out on seeing the original Four Seasons, but that didn’t make her any less of a fan. Forget about those long haired British bad boys or blond California surfer dudes. This girl’s heart and soul were decidedly with her Jersey brethren. Yes, she loved all of the Seasons, but it was Frankie who held a special place in her heart. Those smoldering dark good looks, piercing eyes and amazing falsetto… Who else in pop history could lay claim to all that?!

By her mid-teens, she knew the music and lyrics to all of the Seasons’ songs, and spent hours in her room dreamily listening to their records (yes, records!). Many of her friends shared this passion, but no one more strongly than her sister. Although they disagreed on many things, these siblings bonded securely over their Jersey boys. Separately and together, they attended many Frankie Valli/Four Seasons concerts, comparing songlists and ovations the way some sisters compared makeup and clothes.

On her 16th birthday, our Jersey girl’s fairy Godmother advised her that only one wish would be granted for this special day. What else could she possibly want but to see Frankie and the Four Seasons with her friends and family?! The stars were truly in alignment, as her faves were performing at the nearby Capital Theatre right on her birthday! A bus was rented, tickets secured and off they went: our girl, said sister, and a posse of friends and family. The concert started out as many others had, a fantastic playlist of hit after hit. Halfway through the show, Frankie addressed the audience: “We have someone here with a special birthday today. Pamela, Happy Birthday, and this one’s for you!” Before she could really grasp that he meant HER, Frankie started singing “Happy, Happy Birthday, Baby.” OMG, was this really happening? If so, how?!! Was Gyp DeCarlo involved?? Well, friends, it could happen, it DID happen, and our girl lived to tell the tale. And no, she didn’t end up with a lifelong IOU to Mr. DeCarlo. Turns out her fairy Godmother, a born and bred Jersey girl herself, had a lot of moxie and powers of persuasion!

Eventually, the birthday girl came back down to earth from Cloud 9. After a week or so, she was no longer the coolest girl at school, and life pretty much returned to normal. Frankie, however, remained on a pedestal, almost, but not quite elevated to Sainthood.

And if you think the story ends there, well, you aren’t from Jersey!

Many years have passed, and as you’ve likely figured out, that girl was me. No longer living in the Garden State, my sister Jana and I both remain Jersey girls at heart. Like the saying goes, “You can take the girls out of Jersey, but you can’t take Jersey out of the girls.” So natch, we have both stayed loyal to Frankie Valli and his Seasons over the years. Birthdays have come and gone, but this past one was special for me, celebrating the end of a difficult and challenging year health wise. So you can imagine how thrilled I was when Jana surprised me with tickets for all of us to see Frankie on my birthday, this time in Baltimore.

Originally built in 1914, Baltimore’s Hippodrome has a long, storied history. Although torn down and renovated in the 1990′s, it has retained all of its old world charm and character. At around 2,200 seats, it’s a perfect venue for a performer whose connection to the audience is paramount, i.e., Frankie Valli. So on a balmy birthday night in April, my sister, brother- in-law, two oldest nephews and I waited with much anticipation for the show to begin. It is no small tribute to Frankie’s broad appeal that, although our ages ranged from 20′s to 60′s, we were all excited about the show. And of course, it goes without saying that we’ve all seen Jersey Boys, some of us a few more times than others!

The familiar prelude to “Dawn” wafted through the auditorium like a fine fragrance. Four “Seasons” stood in place, backlit by dusky lighting. Then, from stage right, the Man himself emerged all in black, looking suave, elegant, and half his age. Jana squeezed my arm, and suddenly we were giddy teenagers again, back at the Capital Theatre, cheering on our favorite Jersey boy. My oldest nephew leaned over to ask if “we were going to embarrass him by singing along to every song.” Of course we were (apologies to Michael)!!

The concert played like a greatest hits album, song after fabulous song, with Frankie in fine form, backed by a quartet of talented, young Seasons. Could he still hit every high note and crescendo? Truth be told, no, not every one, but honestly, it didn’t matter. The man was on fire, in exquisite control of a definitive voice. Bob Gaudio had it right when he first heard Frankie sing, exclaiming he’d “never heard a voice like that before,” and knew he “had to write for him.” Frankie sang many of the songs from the Jersey Boys soundtrack, as well as some other FV/Four Seasons gems such as “Tell It To The Rain” and “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” In addition, there were some great covers off his new CD “Frankie Valli Romancing The 60′s.” The songs went over like honey-sweet, smooth, and lingering long after they were done. Favorite moment of the show? Hands down “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” which Frankie prefaced with a heartfelt “This special song was the first hit I had as a solo singer.” Bravo, Frankie.

After the concert, people reluctantly left the auditorium. For one lucky Jersey girl though, the night wasn’t over yet. Seems the stars were still in alignment all these years later, only this time it was a fairy Godfather helping me out. Although he wasn’t born a Jersey boy, my good friend Charles Alexander is a true insider to all things Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Thanks to Charles’s stellar reputation and dazzling Southern charm, I found myself being led backstage by Frankie’s affable musical director, Robby Robinson. Robby walked me through a maze of instruments, scenery, and concert staff. It felt a bit like Alice going through the looking glass!

Robby guided me towards a group of people milling around a dressing room door aptly labeled “Star.” Before I could ask “Who Loves You,” Frankie’s manager, Dean Egnater, graciously shook my hand, explaining that Frankie would be out shortly, and hoped I wouldn’t mind waiting while he spoke to a few people first. Would I mind waiting for Frankie?? Does Jersey Boys rock?? Rendered temporarily speechless, I nodded in agreement. Minutes later, a casually clad Frankie stepped out of his dressing room and was ushered by Dean into an adjoining conference area where more people waited for him. Ahhh, the perils of fame. As he passed by, Frankie gave me a smile, and I’d like to think we “had a moment!”

The few minutes I waited passed like hours. Then suddenly, Frankie was in front of me, and it was just he and I standing there. So what did we talk about? Well, friends, if you think I’m going to spill those secrets, you aren’t from Jersey! Let’s just say it was wonderful, and that I got my part of a Jersey birthday contract, i.e., a hug and kiss. Frankie, you’re the best! Thank you for making so many of my birthdays so special. I know you recently had a birthday, so right back atcha, my friend. This one’s for you: XOXO!