Jersey Boys Blog

Photos courtesy of Linda Lenzi at BroadwayWorld.com.

For many of us at the Jersey Boys Fans Unite to Support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS event on Sunday evening, seeing the legendary Four Seasons together was our version of Rock and Roll Heaven! Below is David Cace’s wonderful presentation saluting our Original Jersey Boys!

When I went to my managing partner here at Eisner LLP, Charly Weinstein, and told him about my idea to sponsor this event he said “Why not, it’s a great show and it’s for charity.” As I was leaving his office he asked me what charitable organization was involved and I told him BC/EFA and he said “Need I remind you that BC/EFA is a client of ours – what are you doing standing around here get this done immediately.”

Irene has asked me to introduce the original 4 Seasons and promised me that if I “didn’t screw it up there would be a C-note in it for me,” so here it goes.

Let me introduce these gentlemen in the order they used to be introduced on stage.

On stage Frankie would introduce this man simply as “our organist and the fellow who has written just about every one of our hits.”

This man is a member not only of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the 4 Seasons, but was also inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 1995. He has written and produced for other legendary artist like Neil Diamond, Diana Ross, and that other Italian singer from Hoboken, New Jersey, Frank Sinatra. He was the visionary of the group and it was his vision to bring the story of the 4 Seasons to Broadway. What more can I add to this man’s resume or what you don’t already know about him from seeing Jersey Boys. Ladies and gentlemen: Bob Gaudio

Frankie would then say anecdotally that Bob was “the richest one in the group” Must have been the “mechanical and ancillary rights” I suppose.

The rich man reference fit nicely into the next introduction as Frankie would say something like “Now it’s time to meet the poorest member of the group – he is our bass player and bass singer – JOEY LONG.”

Mr. Long’s retort to that would usually be something like “I may be poor but I’m cool” and he was really and still is I might add.

Joe Long only gets passing reference in Jersey Boys – “So we hold auditions and find a couple of guys, Joe Long and Charlie Callello, both Jersey Boys.” Joe Long [real name Joe LaBracio] is a Jersey boy, Elizabeth to be exact, a town directly south of Newark, but there is a lot more to his 4 Seasons’ story. When Nick Massi left the group in September 1965, Charlie Callello, the long time musical arranger for the 4 Seasons and one time Roman filled in until Frankie, Bob and Tommy could find a permanent replacement in Joe Long who was with the 4 Seasons for 10 years, from 1966 to 1975.

4 Seasons fans remember him as the glue to the 4 Seasons live performances. He was the MC for each show setting up each song and comedy skit and was the straight man to the comedic Tommy DeVito. Joe Long had this uncanny ability to be able to speak to a capacity crowd of five thousand people or more and make each member of the audience feel as if he were talking directly to them.

Joe Long was on every 4 Seasons’ record from “Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ‘Bout Me)” to “Who Loves You” both songs as you know are included in Jersey Boys as are “Beggin’” and “C’mon Marianne. Other 4 Seasons hits with Joe include their remakes of “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.” Joe Long recorded 4 albums as a member of the 4 Seasons: “New Gold Hits,” “Half & Half,” “Chameleon” on Motown’s Mowest label, and the cult classic “Genuine Imitation Life Gazette.” GILG didn’t sell all that well and about 90% of the people who brought that album are in this room tonight including myself, Charles Alexander, Frank Rovello, and the 4 Seasons. Joe Long told me a story of a review of GILG that he read in the progressive “Berkeley Barb” the college newspaper of the University of Berkeley at California “GILG is the best album of 1969 and it would have been a hit if Moby Grape had recorded it.” Bob Gaudio has also said that John Lennon told him that one of his favorite albums was GILG.

A bunch of 4 Seasons fans held a fan appreciation night for Joe Long not too long ago and the testimonials from people who had worked with Joe Long were just incredible and speak to the character of the man and his many talents. There are simply too many to read but allow me to read parts of just two of them:

“You are an optimist with an outgoing spirit this is wonderfully contagious and you are one of the most reliable-big time musician/vocalists I have ever met.” – BOB CREWE

“I could tell right away that Joe would be a great addition to the Seasons not only because he is a great musician and singer, but also because he was a naturally gifted entertainer. He stepped up to the plate immediately upon joining the Seasons and added another dimension to the group by becoming our onstage spokesperson and my comedy sidekick for five very exciting years of playing before capacity crowds throughout the country. While I have the world of respect for Joe’s many talents, I respect Joe even more as a gentlemen and a person of integrity and compassion. All young people should aspire to grow up to be just like Joe Long. I love you, Joe.” – TOMMY DEVITO

Similar testimonials were also presented by Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli, among others.

Ladies and gentlemen it is my distinct honor and privilege to introduce a friend to every 4 Seasons fan, the very cool and rich is so many ways, Mr. Joe Long.

The next gentlemen I have the honor to introduce to you is the founding member of the 4 Seasons. From having seen Jersey Boys you know his Variety Trio morphed into the Variatones and into the Four Lovers etc. and finally into the 4 Seasons. The first sound one hears on the 4 Seasons first recording “Sherry” is a strutting guitar that captures the listener’s attention right away. His magical fingers then went on to give us what some have identified as the first real guitar riff in R&R history in Walk Like a Man. His rockin’ guitar has also given us “Tell It To The Rain” and the classic guitar introductions to “Let’s Hang On!” and “C’mon Marianne.” And he can still play that guitar as his new CD of his guitar favorites will attest to.

He was a master showman and a complete entertainer who always made you laugh. My band of merry Men From Hoboken saw the 4 Seasons perform so often that people would ask us why do you go to their concerts all the time-don’t they sing mostly the same songs and do the same comedy skits every night – and my answer was yes but every show was different because you never knew what this guitar playing crazy man was going to do on stage to make you laugh. On a personal note, I have known this man and his beautiful wife Edda for 30 years and I can tell you that this man still puts a smile on my face whenever I see him to this day. Yes he is a tough guy, but like my Dad who was a professional boxer who fought two heavyweight champions in his day, Max Baer and Max Schmeling, he too is kind and generous.

As a CPA, one of the main services we provide is to attest to the statements, representations, and assertions of others. Christian Hoff asserted in his Tony Award winning acceptance speech that the man he plays every night in JB has the “Heart and Soul of a King.” I will attest to that! Ladies and gentlemen: Mr. Tommy DeVito.

The last gentlemen I have the pleasure to introduce to you really needs no introduction. What can I say about this man that hasn’t already been said? When Tommy DeVito would introduce him on stage he would simply say “This is our Leader.” The ever witty Joe Long would refer to him on stage as “The Chief Cheech.” For the non Italians in the crowd, see Joe later and he will explain that to you. To us he is the most recognizable voice in R&R and popular music history and his new CD confirms that fact leaving no doubt. There is certainly no more that I can say other than Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr. Frankie Valli.