The legendary Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons are back for an encore at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Friday, January 30 at 8 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 3 at 10 a.m. Fans will have access to presale tickets beginning Thursday, October 2 at 10 a.m. through Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood’s Facebook, Twitter and Google+ pages.
Frankie Valli, who rose to fame in 1962 as the lead singer of the Four Seasons, is hotter than ever in the 21st century. Thanks to the volcanic success of the Tony-winning musical Jersey Boys, which chronicles the life and times of Frankie and his legendary group, such classic songs as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Rag Doll” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” are all the rage all over again. As the play enters its ninth blockbuster year on Broadway, and five other casts perform Jersey Boys around the world, the real Frankie Valli is packing concert halls around the world.
From 1962 to 1978, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons sold more than 100 million records (including 40 in the Top 40, 19 in the Top 10 and eight No. 1 songs).
Valli was born Francis Castelluccio in Newark, New Jersey. In 1953, he caught the eye of music publisher Paul Kapp, who helped Frankie make his first record, “My Mother’s Eyes.” Rechristening himself Frankie Valley (later Italianized to Valli), borrowing the name from friend and fellow performer Texas Jean Valley, he joined the Four Lovers in 1956 who had a minor hit with “You’re the Apple of My Eye,” an album called Joyride and an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show under their belts. It wasn’t until 1959, though, that Valli started catching some big breaks. First, a friend named Joe Pesci(the same Joe Pesci who would go on to become an Oscar-winning actor) introduced the band to Bob Gaudio. The course of history was changed along with their name to the Four Seasons.
In 1962, Gaudio penned “Sherry.” On American Bandstand, they suddenly became the hottest band in the land, and after nine years as a recording artist, Frankie Valli became an “overnight” sensation with a No. 1 record. Two more No. 1 hits followed, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man.” In 1964, the group released one smash after another: “Dawn (Go Away),” “Ronnie,” “Rag Doll,” “Save It For Me,” “Big Man in Town” and, in early 1965, “Bye Bye Baby (Baby, Goodbye).”
From late 1965 to 1967, “Let’s Hang On,” “Working My Way Back to You” and “Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ’Bout Me)” dominated the charts alongside a remake of the old Cole Porter standard “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” In late 1967, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” went to No. 2 in Billboard and has since become one of the top ten most-played songs in the history of BMI. As many as 200 artists have covered Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” from Nancy Wilson’s jazz treatment to Lauryn Hill’s hip-hop makeover.
In 1975, Valli roared back with “My Eyes Adored You,” which reached No. 1, “Swearin’ to God” and a cover of “Our Day Will Come.” “Who Loves You” and “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” followed and later became two of the biggest hits in the Seasons’ history. The hot streak culminated in 1978, when Frankie’s solo performance of “Grease,” featured not once but twice in the movie soundtrack, reached the inevitable No. 1 ranking in Billboard.
In 1990, Frankie Valli and the other original Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Valli recently released Romancing The ’60s, produced by Bob Gaudio, an original member of the Four Seasons and Valli’s long-time musical partner. The studio set includes new versions of gems such as “Spanish Harlem,” “Call Me” and “Take Good Care of My Baby.” It also features a guest appearance by the four young stars of Jersey Boys, providing background vocals for “On Broadway.” Frankie and the Seasons have influenced many other great recording artists.
Tickets cost $74, $59, $49 and $39* all seats are reserved and available at all Ticketmaster outlets online at www.myhrl.com, www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone: 1-800-745-3000. Doors open one-hour prior to show start time. *Additional fees may apply.