Last spring I was thrilled to get tickets to see Jersey Boys, the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, playing at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, or TPAC, in Nashville. I’ve seen many musicals, plays, and operas but this one stands out as one of the best. I was surprised to learn that keyboardist and vocalist for the Four Seasons, Bob Gaudio, is a resident of middle Tennessee.
Born in New York and raised in New Jersey, Bob Gaudio’s first brush with celebrity occurred when he was only 15 years old and a member of the band the Royal Teens. He co-wrote the hit “Short Shorts.” And in 1958 while promoting the single, met Frankie Valli and his group The Four Lovers, as it was known then. Two years later in 1960 Gaudio joined Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons Partnership and the group, along with Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi, became known as The Four Seasons.
Gaudio wrote all their big hits… Sherry, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk like a Man, Dawn, Rag Doll, Can’t take my Eyes off of you, and my favorite December 1963 (O What a Night).
Besides his work with Frankie Vallie, Gaudio has written songs for Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Barry Manilow, Roberta Flack, Neil Diamond and many others too numerous to name.
The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Gaudio was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in February 2009, he received his high school diploma, 50 years after dropping out to pursue his music career.
Live Version from 1975...
And the contempory French version 2005 ...
