On this date in New Jersey history, singing superstar Frankie Valli was born in Newark, New Jersey. Born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio in 1934, Frankie began his professional singing career in 1951 as a guest singer in the Variety Trio with fellow New Jerseyans Nickie DeVito, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Macioci.
In 1956, Valli and Tommy DeVito formed a new band, The Variatones, with Hank Majewski, Frank Cattone and Billy Thompson. The Variatones were renamed The Four Lovers and, eventually (and after some changes in members of the group), The Four Seasons. Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons had their first number one hit in 1962 with “Sherry”. Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons went on to record 34 more Top 40 hits over the next 32 years.
A whole new generation has now come to appreciate the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Season through the Tony award-winning smash Broadway musical, Jersey Boys.
Happy Birthday Frankie!
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