The Four Seasons Biography, Photos and Posters

The Four Seasons

Biography

Started: 1960
City and Country of Origin: New Jersey
Music Background:
Awards: 1990 inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Top Recordings: "Sherry" "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," "Candy Girl," "Dawn (Go Away)," "Ronnie," "Rag Doll," "Save It For Me," "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye)," "Let's Hang On (To What We've Got)," "My Eyes Adored You," "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)"
The Four Seasons Biography: Unlike many of the top recording acts, like the Beatles and Stones, of the 1960s, The Four Seasons did not have their roots in the Rock and Roll tradition of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry and Little Richard, but the distinctly Italian-American R&B music form known as Doo Wop. While this urban style of street corner harmony was hitting new lows with ever escalating wishy-washy heart wrenching tunes, the Seasons brought a breath of fresh air to this languishing art form with their professional intricate harmonies and structured music progressions. This was no accident as the group had performed professionally, in various incarnations, since the early 50s. Named after a bowling alley in Union, New Jersey the group, then known as The Variety Trio consisting of Tommy DeVito, twin brother Nick, and Hank Majewski added singer Frankie Valley in the mid 1950s and became the Variatones. They later changed their name to the The Four Lovers and Frankie Valley Italianized his name to Valli.

In 1960 the group was joined by Bob Gaudio, the former lead singer of the teen group the Royal Teens, who had co-written a major hit for the group in the 50s called "Short Shorts." The group now consisted of Valli, Bob Gaudio on keyboards, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar, and Nick Massi on bass. Under the guidance of producer/songwriter Bob Crewe the group finally boke the charts with the smash hit number 1 single "Sherry" in 1962. They followed "Sherry" up with several more hits like "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man" and "Candy Girl" making them one of the hottest recording groups of the era. During the British invasion while most American performers were left floundering the Seasons like the Beach Boys on the Weat Coast continued to pepper the charts with hit songs. In fact 1964, the year the Brits landed, the group had hits with "Dawn (Go Away)," "Ronnie," "Rag Doll," "Save It For Me" and "Big Man In Town." In 1965 Massi left the band and was replaced by Charles Calello and finally bassist Joe Long. However, the hits kept coming with "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye)," "Girl Come Running," "Let's Hang On (To What We've Got)," "Don't Think Twice (It's Allright)." The year 1966 would bring "Working My Way Back To You," "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)," the Cole Porter classic "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "Tell It To The Rain."

By 1967 the music world was becoming ever more oriented to hard edged rock and the groups popularity began to wane. Even though they continued to turn out hits with offerings like "Beggin'," the Frankie Valli solo Can't Take My Eyes Off You," and "C'mon Marianne." In 68 the group had one last gasp with a cover of the Shirelles hit "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" before they seemed to sink into obscurity. However, their demise was short lived as the group reemerged in the mid 70s with the 1974 number 1 hit "My Eyes Adored You," Frankie Valli's "Swearin' To God," "Who Loves You," the number 1 "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)," and another Valli solo "Grease" in 1978.

In 2006 the group has experienced revived interest with the Broadway production of Jersey Boys a musical play based on the music careers of The Four Seasons.

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