The True Tale of the Four Seasons
One can recount many instances where the truth is stretched for film, theater, or television to make a better story, but it appears that the smash Broadway hit Jersey Boys is pretty accurate. Bob Gaudio, one of the original members of The Four Seasons, was instrumental in the creation of Jersey Boys, which won the 2006 Tony Award for Best Musical and is seemingly entrenched at the August Wilson Theatre for a long run in addition to numerous touring productions.
During their most successful years from 1962-67, The Four Seasons were billed as a white doo-wop group. Along with the Beach Boys, The Four Seasons were one of the few performing groups to survive and prosper after the British Invasion of 1964 changed the face of American pop music forever.
In 1954 in New Jersey, singer Frankie Valli formed The Varietones with Nick and Tommy Devito and Hank Majewski. They became The Four Lovers in 1956. Two years later, Nick Devito and Majewski were replaced by Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi, and the name of the band was changed to The Four Seasons. Gaudio was the group's songwriter and together with producer Bob Crewe, the group released its first single - "Sherry" - in 1962. They were the first white act to record for VeeJee Records and "Sherry" is believed to be one of the fastest rising songs ever produced. Other hits followed, including "Walk Like a Man" and "Big Girls Don't Cry."
In 1964, the group signed with Phillips Records and despite the popularity of British groups like the Beatles, The Four Seasons quickly put six songs in the Top 20: "Stay," "Dawn," "Ronnie," "Rag Doll," "Save It For Me," and "Big Man in Town."
The group sang in the tradition of all-boy quartets like The Mills Brothers, The Four Lads, and The Four Freshmen, but with a rhythm-and-blues and jazz fueled pop sound. The distinguishing characteristics of that sound were Valli's soaring falsetto and the harmonic blend of their four voices.
In 1965, Massi left the group and the billing became
During their most successful years from 1962-67, The Four Seasons were billed as a white doo-wop group. Along with the Beach Boys, The Four Seasons were one of the few performing groups to survive and prosper after the British Invasion of 1964 changed the face of American pop music forever.
In 1954 in New Jersey, singer Frankie Valli formed The Varietones with Nick and Tommy Devito and Hank Majewski. They became The Four Lovers in 1956. Two years later, Nick Devito and Majewski were replaced by Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi, and the name of the band was changed to The Four Seasons. Gaudio was the group's songwriter and together with producer Bob Crewe, the group released its first single - "Sherry" - in 1962. They were the first white act to record for VeeJee Records and "Sherry" is believed to be one of the fastest rising songs ever produced. Other hits followed, including "Walk Like a Man" and "Big Girls Don't Cry."
In 1964, the group signed with Phillips Records and despite the popularity of British groups like the Beatles, The Four Seasons quickly put six songs in the Top 20: "Stay," "Dawn," "Ronnie," "Rag Doll," "Save It For Me," and "Big Man in Town."
The group sang in the tradition of all-boy quartets like The Mills Brothers, The Four Lads, and The Four Freshmen, but with a rhythm-and-blues and jazz fueled pop sound. The distinguishing characteristics of that sound were Valli's soaring falsetto and the harmonic blend of their four voices.
In 1965, Massi left the group and the billing became