Jersey Boys Curtain Speech Honoring Bob Crewe by Rick Elice #BobCreweDay
September 12th, 2014Last night, JERSEY BOYS companies around the globe presented their audiences with a curtain speech in honor of Bob Crewe, written by the awesome co-author of JB, Rick Elice:
Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming to the show tonight. We had some news today, some sad news. Bob Crewe, the lyricist and producer of so many of the Four Seasons original hits, the man that Frankie, Bob Gaudio, Tommy and Nick referred to as The FIFTH Season, passed away this morning.Bob Crewe was a music industry icon in the 50s, 60s and 70s – three decades, and that’s no small accomplishment.
Ten years ago, he became part of the Jersey Boys family, when the show was originally created in Southern California and a year later on Broadway. He was never happier, Crewe said, then when he stood right here, on this stage, on opening night, and took a bow.
Jersey Boys brought Crewe great joy, and he brought great joy to us. He’ll always be part of the Jersey Boys family, and like the little man with the big heart always says: “Family is everything.”
Take another bow, Bob Crewe. And feel the love.
Beautiful words, Rick, for the guy with “the best ears in the business.”
All his songs were spectacular.
Comment by stubbleyou — September 12, 2014 @ 8:37 pm
A heartfelt tribute from the man who writes the words that is music to our ears about the man who wrote the words to the songs we still sing.
Comment by Lulu Thompson — September 12, 2014 @ 11:30 pm
A fitting tribute to a great man! Thank you Rick Elice and the Jersey Boys companies around the world for honoring this talented man. In addition to his work with the Four Seasons and Frankie Valli, I have also very much enjoyed his musical associations with Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels, Leslie Gore, Oliver, the Rays, Diane Renay (“Navy Blue,” “Kiss Me Sailor” and an album’s worth of ’60′s girl-group sounds), Billie and Lillie (“La Dee Dah,” and “Lucky Ladybug” both songs recorded and released on early Four Seasons albums on Vee Jay Records), and the late, great Bobby Darin’s final studio-produced release on Motown Records in the early ’70′s. I also believe Bob Crewe was involved with another hit single from the sixties I have really come to enjoy, “Walking My Cat Named Dog,” by Norma Tanega. He truly was the “Fifth” Season.
Comment by Len Gersten — September 13, 2014 @ 11:05 am
Beautifully said, Rick. Many people don’t realize what a mover and shaper of the music business Crewe was. As well as his role in the success of the Four Seasons, in the 60′s, he also wrote and/or produced for Bobby Darin, Lesley Gore, Freddy Cannon, The Rays, and more. He was known as “the boy genius”. He also produced the original cast album of Leader of the Pack – The Ellie Greenwich Musical. Oh, and did I mention, he threw parties that were legendary, with guest lists that would be the envy of any celebrity gawker!
Comment by Merle Garbe — September 13, 2014 @ 8:45 pm