Bob Gaudio’s Piece of Sinatra History
May 1st, 2008
Photo credit: John Gurzinski.
In the Las Vegas Review-Journal today,Vegas Confidential columnist Norm Clarke talks to Bob Gaudio, who has brought a special chunk of history to town for the opening of JERSEY BOYS at The Palazzo.
According to Clarke, out of all the autographs signed by Frank Sinatra, Gaudio may have the grand-daddy of ‘em all. He got ‘ol Blue Eyes’ signature in 1969, when Gaudio was producing Sinatra’s “Watertown” album. One day while they were chatting in the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City, Gaudio invited Sinatra to a pool party at Gaudio’s home.
When Sinatra accepted the invitation, Gaudio had a major crisis on his hands. “I didn’t have a pool,” he said.
With a week to make it happen, Gaudio organized a group of friends and frantically started the pool project.
When Sinatra showed up, there was a pool, but there was also a torrential downpour that caused the sod to seep into the pool, creating a muddy mess. But Sinatra was a good sport about it and signed his name in the cement, adding a smiley face.
This piece of cement, signed by the Chairman of the Board, is on display at Frankie’s, the JERSEY BOYS store, along with other memorabilia from The Four Seasons’ heyday.
AAHHH!! ‘OL BLUE EYES’
Comment by Jody Cardillo — May 1, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
Got to love those guys from Hoboken!
For those who may not have ever heard the Watertown album “you need” to get this album and allocate about a half an hour of quiet time to sit back and listen to it: the orchestrations, the words, the story…a story of love in a small town, Watertown that is, separation – the wife leaving the husband with two small children(“Michael and Peter” – one of the songs)in 1969. A possible reconciliation. Way ahead of its time. This is not an album to listen to as background music. You’ve got to LISTEN to it. Sinatra tells the story beautifully. It is a remarkable album.
Comment by David Cace — May 1, 2008 @ 6:21 pm
I’m glad to hear the details behind this entertaining story that has been ‘floating’ around for years. The outcome is a testament to Mr. Gaudio’s ability to make things happen.
Okay…so if once in while, things don’t go as smoothly as he’d like, I’m grateful it’s with something like a pool- because when it comes to musical projects, Bob Gaudio’s batting 1,000!
All the best to everyone involved with this weekend’s big Jersey Boys Opening in Las Vegas.
Comment by Audrey — May 1, 2008 @ 9:38 pm
The Frank Sinatra album Watertown album produced by the genius of Bob Gaudio on Reprise in 1969 was reissued on CD a number of years ago but I believe it is out of print. Frankie Valli is on one cut.
Comment by Marty — May 2, 2008 @ 6:09 pm
For those of you who don’t know, Watertown is a city in upstate New York near Lake Ontario. The story I read is that they were looking for a name for the album, looked at a map and saw Watertown as a place that was still in New York state, but far from the Big City. So close, so close, but yet so far…
Comment by Ted Hammond — May 2, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
Maybe this belongs in the “Jersey Boys Experiences” thread of the forum more than it does here, but what the heck…
I read this interesting article last night. Then at work today (I’m in California), someone mentioned she wanted to visit her elderly father for Fathers Day, and someone else asked her where he lived. “Watertown, New York,” she answered. I chimed in, “Didn’t Sinatra do an album named for that town? I was just reading an article about it last night.” I didn’t go into the Gaudio/JB connection, for fear they’d think I’m even more of a freak than they already do.
Strange coincidence, huh?
Comment by stubbleyou — May 3, 2008 @ 1:07 am