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Who Is Frankie Valli?
Frankie Valli is an iconic American singer best known for his remarkable falsetto as the lead vocalist of The Four Seasons. The group gained immense popularity in the 1960s with a series of hit songs, including “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man,” and “Working My Way Back to You,” and later enjoyed a successful resurgence in the 1970s. In addition to his work with The Four Seasons, Valli achieved significant solo success with classics such as “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “My Eyes Adored You,” and the title song from the musical Grease. The Broadway production Jersey Boys, which premiered in 2005, chronicles the story of Valli and The Four Seasons and was adapted into a film directed by Clint Eastwood nearly a decade later.
Background and Early Career
Born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio on May 3, 1934, in Newark, New Jersey, Valli grew up in a working-class Italian family. His mother fostered his early passion for music, introducing him to various genres, including jazz, doo-wop, and soul, as well as influential artists like The Drifters, Rose Murphy, and Frank Sinatra. Valli honed his vocal skills by listening to records at home and practicing extensively. In search of a stage name, he adopted “Valley,” which eventually evolved into “Valli,” inspired by a friend, country singer Texas Jean Valli.
Major Success with The Four Seasons
Valli’s career began in the mid-1950s, where he collaborated with various acts and pursued a solo career with modest success. However, in 1961, he joined a group that would soon be known as The Four Seasons, alongside talented musicians Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi. The group experienced a breakthrough in 1962 with their hit “Sherry,” which soared to No. 1 on the Billboard pop and R&B charts, largely due to Valli’s celebrated falsetto. Following this success, their subsequent singles, including “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man,” also topped the charts.
The Four Seasons quickly emerged as one of the foremost pop acts of the 1960s, adeptly navigating various musical styles despite the British invasion. They achieved over two dozen Top 40 hits during the decade, including memorable tracks such as “Candy Girl,” “Dawn (Go Away),” “Rag Doll,” “Working My Way Back to You,” and “Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry About Me).”
Going Solo
In 1967, Valli released “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” a romantic ballad that became a major hit, reaching No. 2 on the pop charts. As the membership of The Four Seasons evolved and the group transitioned through different record labels, Valli also released several solo albums in the 1970s, including Closeup (1975), Our Day Will Come (1975), and Lady Put the Light Out (1977). His solo career flourished once again with the Top 10 hit “Swearin’ to God” and the heartfelt ballad “My Eyes Adored You,” which reached No. 1. The Four Seasons made a notable comeback with the 1975 album Who Loves You, featuring the hit title track and the chart-topping single “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night).”
In the summer of 1978, Valli’s voice graced the title track from the movie adaptation of Grease, solidifying his status in popular music. The song, written by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, once again topped the charts.
Personal Life and Jersey Boys
Valli’s personal life has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. He married his first wife, Mary Mandel, in 1954, who had a daughter from a previous marriage that Valli adopted. They had two daughters together, Antonia and Francine, before their divorce in 1971. Valli married Mary Ann Hannigan in 1974, a union that lasted until 1982. His third marriage to Randy Clohessy produced three sons: Francesco and twins Emilio and Brando; this marriage ended in divorce in 2004.
Throughout his life, Valli has faced several personal difficulties, including a hearing loss condition known as otosclerosis, diagnosed in 1967, which was largely alleviated by surgery in 1980. Tragically, he lost his daughter Celia in an accident in 1980, followed six months later by the death of his youngest daughter, Francine, due to a drug overdose. Despite these hardships, Valli has remained active in music, touring with various iterations of The Four Seasons and even making appearances in television, including a role in The Sopranos.
In 2005, the narrative of Valli and The Four Seasons was immortalized on Broadway with the musical Jersey Boys, which features music by Bob Gaudio. The production received critical acclaim, winning four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has since enjoyed various touring productions worldwide. The musical’s success led to a film adaptation in 2014, directed by Clint Eastwood.