Bob Gaudio Reflects on the Hits
August 31st, 2007Bruce Dancis of the Sacramento Bee has a very interesting interview with Bob Gaudio about the music of The Four Seasons. Below is a preview of the interview:
Q: It seems to me that there were two keys to the Four Seasons’ success: Frankie Valli’s totally distinctive voice and your instantly catchy songs that were perfect for AM radio of the early and mid-’60s. What do you think?
A: That’s very accurate. It’s pretty much the combination. It was a good marriage, and as it turns out now, maybe even a great marriage (laughs). … We were just in tune.
Q: It’s striking to me that not only were “Sherry” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry” both No. 1 on the pop charts in 1962, but also No. 1 on the R&B charts. Why do you think you guys clicked with an African-American audience?
A: A couple of reasons. Frankie and I and Joe Pesci, our little Newark clique, hung out with guys like (R&B singer) Little Jimmy Scott. He was an amazing, soulful singer. We were always in that world. We had a certain savvy and love for it. It was very influential in my writing and Frankie’s singing.
