Frankie Valli | |
|---|---|
 Valli performing in 2012 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Francesco Stephen Castelluccio |
| Also known as | Frankie Valley |
| Born | May 3, 1934 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1951–present |
| Member of | The Four Seasons |
| Formerly of | The Four Lovers |
| Spouses | Mary Mandel
(m. 1957; div. 1971)MaryAnn Hannigan
(m. 1974; div. 1982)Randy Clohessy
(m. 1984; div. 2004)Jackie Jacobs (m. 2023) |
| Website | Official website  |
Francesco Stephen Castelluccio (born May 3, 1934), better known by his stage name Frankie Valli, is an American singer, best known as the frontman of the Four Seasons beginning in 1960. He is known for his unusually powerful lead falsetto voice.[3][4]
Valli scored 29 top 40 hits with the Four Seasons, one top 40 hit under the Four Seasons alias the Wonder Who?, and nine top 40 hits as a solo artist. As a member of the Four Seasons, Valli's number-one hits include "Sherry" (1962), "Big Girls Don't Cry" (1962), "Walk Like a Man" (1963), "Rag Doll" (1964) and "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" (1975). Valli's recording of the song "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" reached number two in 1967. As a solo artist, Valli scored number-one hits with the songs "My Eyes Adored You" (1974) and "Grease" (1978).
Valli, Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi and Bob Gaudio—the original members of the Four Seasons—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990[5] and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.[6] Valli is also a 2010 inductee of the New Jersey Hall of Fame,[7] with the Four Seasons (Gaudio, Massi, DeVito and Joe Long) inducted separately in 2017 and Valli speaking on Massi's behalf.[8] Valli was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in May 2024, a joint star for both himself and the Four Seasons, with Valli appearing in person to accept the honor with his wife and two of his sons, and Gaudio sending a prerecorded acceptance speech.[9]
- ^ Breihan, Tom (2019). "The Number Ones: Frankie Valli's "Grease"". StereoGum.
- ^ Blues & Soul. Napfield Limited. 1985.
- ^ Cohen, Howard (May 23, 2017). "Head Jersey Boy Frankie Valli is 83 and somehow still sings like a teen". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
- ^ Sullivan, Caroline (June 27, 2012). "Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons – review". The Guardian. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
- ^ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry for "The Four Seasons".
- ^ Vocal Group Hall of Fame entry Archived October 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine for "The Four Seasons".
- ^ "New Jersey Hall of Fame - 2010 Inductees". New Jersey Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ "New Jersey Hall of Fame - 2017 Inductees". New Jersey Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ "FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS TO BE HONORED WITH STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved September 3, 2024.