Jersey Boys Blog

Jersey Boys Blog is excited to present Part Two of this week’s JBB Fantastic Fan Interview with Howard Tucker ([email protected]). In Part Two, Howard shares his thoughts on his love of the Four Seasons music and his passion for Broadway theatre!

The Four Seasons

JBB: You’ve been a Four Seasons fan since “Sherry” hit the charts. How did you get into their music?

HT: I was born in 1951, growing up in Clifton, NJ. In Fall, 1962, I was 11 years old, and in the hospital with appendicitis. My roommate played ABC radio all day. My first exposure to pop music was “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Limbo Rock,” “Bobby’s Girl”, and “Pepino the Italian Mouse.” My very first album was “Sherry and 11 Others,” which my parents bought for me at Sam Goody’s in Paramus, NJ.

“Candy Girl” in 1963 was a real favorite. At 12 years old, my 2 year-old cousin had the hook perfectly, “And finally I found my ‘tandy gawl’.”

“Rag Doll” in 1964 gives me a great memory. One day, as I was rehearsing for my Bar Mitzvah on my Dad’s reel-to-reel Wollensak tape recorder, I didn’t realize the recorder was still on, and went into “Rag Doll”. We laughed over that one for years, and if I search my attic, I probably still have the tape somewhere.

“Let’s Hang On” was my own personal serenity prayer through high school, and just thinking of the lyrics made me feel better.

But, as “Frankie” (John Lloyd) observes, the good times end too. With my mother ill in 1967 and 1968, I recall those rides with my father to the hospital as Frankie, and later the Lettermen, sang the moving “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” Mom died in January, 1969.

While I missed my parents deeply, happier times did return. As I was riding home on the first day of my career in September, 1975, I was serenaded on the radio by “Who Loves You?” When I heard the great “Oh, What a Night” played on February 8, 1976 for the first time, I knew something good was right around the corner. A few minutes later, I got a call that I had passed three parts of the CPA exam.

JBB: Howard, your “Rag Doll” story is hilarious. Did you associate any other lighter moments with the Seasons?

HT: As a matter of fact, yes, although the ending isn’t good. (Laughs.) When some college friends married in late 1977, they chose Frankie’s “Our Day Will Come” for their first dance. Their Rabbi insisted it was inappropriate, since their “day”—their wedding day–HAD already come. They overrode the Rabbi, and played Frankie. Alas, the marriage barely lasted a year. But as part of the wedding party, I was thrilled not to be subjected to “You Light Up My Life” for the umpteenth time!

JBB: Howard, what is you’re all-time favorite 4 Seasons/Frankie Valli song?

HT: Not even a close one here, it’s “Fallen Angel.” It didn’t get a lot of airplay, but came at the right time for me—about a year and a half after “My Eyes Adored You” and my father’s passing. It gave me a great deal of comfort to imagine my mother reuniting with my father when I heard the line “you’re home again, glad you kept the key….been waiting here, seemed a million years to me.” I almost felt that “Fallen Angel” was written specifically for me, and after I’d heard it just a few times, it faded from the charts so that it wouldn’t belong to anyone else…

I was happy the theatre was dark when John Lloyd sang “Angel”, so I could reflect and shed a tear privately.

JBB: Were there any Seasons songs you feel should have performed better on the charts?

HT: Yes, three. “Fallen Angel.” certainly. Second, “Watch the Flowers Grow,” which coincidentally is a favorite of both my friend Jessica Calderon (see slide show) and myself, although we didn’t know each other when the song came out—we always sing along when we listen to the Seasons Anthology CD. (Beautiful job with “Flowers” at Joe’s Pub, Daniel Reichard—thanks.) Finally, I thought “Silver Star” had a catchy tune, and would have been a lock following “Who Loves You” and “December, 1963.” (But then again, I thought that after “You Light Up My Life”, Debby Boone would have a string of hits longer than her father Pat!)

JBB: Any wish list for 2007 for Frankie and the 4 Seasons?

HT: Yes, one more Hot 100 Billboard hit for Frankie from his upcoming album. My wonderful doctor, Dr. Urbanek, an even bigger Frankie/Boys fan than I (he’s seen JB six times) tells me it would make Frankie the very first artist to have a hit in six decades!! C’mon, Bob Gaudio, just one more big one!!

Other Broadway Shows

JBB: Your favorite Broadway shows that you mentioned earlier are all older ones. Do you like any of the new musicals?

HT: Yes. I adored Wicked. Defying Gravity is a classic, and I won’t give away the story, but I loved the ending. I also like Avenue Q (particularly John Tartaglia) because of its wonderful messages of diversity and tolerance, but I couldn’t see it beating Wicked for best musical. I also thought Hugh Jackman was sensational in The Boy from Oz.

JBB: Have you been disappointed by any musicals?

HT: Perhaps Mamma Mia! I’m a big 1970′s music fan, and knew all of ABBA’s hits, and I thought several were forced into the “story line.” But maybe my biggest disappointment was that “Fernando” was never sung and “Waterloo” was not part of the play itself, but sung only in the closing. It seemed as if every song in Jersey Boys was a home run, even the lesser-known ones like “Beggin” and “Fallen Angel.”

JBB: Any recent disappointments on Broadway?

HT: Not really, although I thought Drowsy had a too common story line. And when I saw Georgia Engel as Mrs. Tottendale, I kept waiting for Mary Tyler Moore to come out and set “Georgette” straight about Ted Baxter. But I am happy in a way that the chaperone was so drowsy that she finally fell asleep on Tony night so that the Best Musical could go to Jersey Boys.

JBB: Have you seen any other shows multiple times?

HT: As far as musicals, I’ve seen Grease and Gypsy in two incarnations and Tony and Tina’s Wedding four times. (Is that still running?) Come to think of it, wouldn’t Christian Hoff make a wonderful Tony? And Jennifer Naimo, a wonderful Tina?

JBB: Any nonmusicals?

HT: I’ve seen each of Jackie Mason’s shows many times, and have had the privilege of going backstage to meet him several times. But each time I presented him with an idea, I’d hear, “C’mon. You’ve been watching too much Jay Leno!” As far as serious plays, I still remember Whose Life is it Anyway? and Deathtrap (with the timeless Marian Seldes), although I saw them both decades ago. I do plan to see The History Boys shortly.

JBB: If you had the opportunity to see any star, past or present, on Broadway, who would it be?

HT: No contest. I hear Ethel Merman’s Mama Rose singing “Rose’s Turn” in Gypsy was the absolute best. As soon as technology gives us a time machine, (to quote Christian:) I’ll be seeing Ethel at the theatre!

Jersey Boys Blog would like to thank Howard once again for this amazing two-part interview about Jersey Boys, the Four Seasons, and Broadway! If you would like to contact Howard directly, he’d be glad to hear from you at [email protected].

If you would like to be featured in an upcoming JBB Fantastic Fan Interview, we’d love to hear from you! Please click on the Contact Page and send us your contact information.