Born Francis Castelluccio in 1937, Fankie Valli was one of three brothers who grew up in a tough, working-class neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. As a teenager in the 1950s, Valli sang with several Jersey groups at school events and in local clubs.
He formed The Varietones with guitarist brothers Nick and Tommy DeVito and bassist Hank Majewski around 1954. Changing their name to The Four Lovers in 1956.they signed with RCA Victor Records that same year and had a minor hit with “You Are the Apple of My Eye”. After that the group played in lounges for several years.
By 1960, Bob Guadio and Nick Massi had replaced Nick DeVito and Hank Majewski. In 1961 the group changed their named to The Four Seasons after a bowling alley in Union, New Jersey where they were turned down for a cocktail-lounge job. The group recorded the unsuccessful “Bermuda” for Gone Records before signing with Vee-Jee Records, help of writer-producer Bob Crewe. With Guadio and Crewe acting as principal songwriters, the group a #1 hit with Gaudio’s “Sherry” in the late summer of 1962. Crewe/Guadio’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Walk Like a Man” became top pop and R&B hits followed by pop hits “Candy Girl,” “Stay,” and “Alone.”
In 1964, following contractual disputes with Vee Jay, the Four Seasons signed with Philips Records and enjoyed a golden year, placing six songs in the Top Twenty: “Stay,” “Dawn (Go Away),” “Ronnie,” “Rag Doll”–a Number One hit–“Save It for Me,” and “Big Man in Town.”
In 1965 Massi left, but Valli and the Four Seasons continued on a roll, releasing numerous songs each year through 1968. Their 1966 arrangement of Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” was also an early hit for Frank Sinatra, who became a friend of Valli’s. One memorable Four Seasons tune, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” made it to the Number Two slot in 1967.
The group sold more than 100 million records, and in 1990 was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Visit Wikipedia’s Four Seasons page for much more about the band.