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From New Jersey,the group known as the Four Lovers evolved into the Four Seasons
... with Frankie Valli on lead, Bob Gaudio (formerly of the Royal Teens) on keyboards and tenor vocals,
Tommy DeVito on lead guitar and baritone vocals and Nick Massi on bass and bass vocals.
And then the hits started coming .. and coming ... and coming ... "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like A Man" (all #1) and "Candy Girl," "Dawn," "Ronnie," "Rag Doll" (#1) and many others. In 1965 Massi was replaced by Charles Calello, who in turn was replaced by Joe Long on bass guitar and bass vocals. And the hits kept on coming ... "Let's Hang On," "Working My Way Back To You," "Tell It To The Rain" and even a version of Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice" which they did under the name of the Wonder Who! (Nobody really wondered who they were!) In the late 60s and early 70s the group underwent many changes in membership. Frankie Valli was the only original Season on their two major hits from 1975 and 1976, "Who Loves You" and the #1 smash "December, 1963 (Oh What A Night)." In 1999 the Four Seasons group members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sadly on December 24, 2000, Nick Massi passed away. The Four Seasons have sold over 175 million records worldwide. Their story, the Jersey Boys musical, opened on Broadway in 2005. It won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Theaters throughout the US and all over the world are or will be presenting it. Jersey Boys is well on its way to becoming one of the most popular musicals of all time. Up next? The screen version of "Jersey Boys"! The town of Union, NJ recently honored the Four Seasons by naming a street after them called Four Seasons Lane, where the Four Seasons Bowling Alley -- which inspired their name -- once stood. And in Belleville, NJ, Belmont Avenue -- where Tommy DeVito was born -- now has a brand new name: Tommy DeVito Drive. The Four Seasons. Recording stars. Entertainers. Pop culture icons. And the story continues ..... |
