Happy Birthday Frankie Valli
May 3rd, 2006Happy 72nd Birthday to Frankie Valli!
Valli was born Francis Stephen Castelluccio in the Italian First Ward of Newark, New Jersey on May 3, 1934. As seen in Jersey Boys, Valli started his singing career in the early 1950s and worked under a variety of group names including the Variety Trio, and later the Four Lovers, who had a minor hit with “Apple of My Eye” in 1956.
After group member changes (including the addition of Bob Gaudio), and a name change to the Four Seasons, the “sound of Frankie Valli” exploded with the Number One hit “Sherry” in 1962. From 1962-1967, the Four Seasons’ chart topping rise to fame was phenomenal, with four songs making it to Number One, as well as a string of Top 10 smash hits. In addition to the chart toppers with the group, Valli hit #2 in 1967 with the Grammy-nominated “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” After some years off the charts, Valli released “My Eyes Adored You,” which hit #1 in 1975. Also in 1975, the Four Seasons released “Who Loves You,” co-written by Gaudio, which hit #3 on the Billboard charts. The following year, they went all the way to Number One–for the first time in over a decade with “December 1963 (Oh What a Night),” also co-penned by Gaudio. In 1978, Valli hit Number One again with “Grease.” In 1990, the Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame.
The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette website provides information on Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons’ current tour schedule, as well as photos, stories, news updates, and lots more about Valli and the smash hit musical Jersey Boys.
