by Robert Wilkinson
Today we wish the amazing Bob Gaudio a very happy birthday. If you don't know him, he was the musical genius behind the Four Seasons. While Taurus Frankie Valli held the spotlight with his 3 1/2 octave voice belting out hits like "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry, "Dawn (Go Away)," "Rag Doll," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You," (to name but a few of their many hits) it was Bob Gaudio who wrote these and more. Today I've found some video clips of the group at their finest.
Bob Gaudio was a child musical prodigy who performed a Carnegie Hall recital at 7 years old and originally made his mark as founder, songwriter, and star of the Royal Teens ("Short Shorts"). Reintroduced to Frankie Valli by Joe Pesci (yes, THAT Joe Pesci of "My Cousin Vinnie" fame!) he became the musical director and organist singing harmony in many years of hitmaking with the 4 Seasons.
The music of the Four Seasons affected literally tens of millions of people for about a decade. His collaborator in the remarkable string of multi-million selling singles and albums throughout the 60s was fellow Scorpio Bob Crewe, who co-wrote most of the hits and co-produced and arranged the "sound" of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.
These two Scorpios created songs that rivaled the best ever written. Their collaborations succeeded in topping the charts every few months in an era when most of the top spots were owned by the Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, Supremes, Kinks, Animals, Four Tops, Temptations, Ray Charles, Mamas and the Papas, Stevie Wonder, Simon and Garfunkel, Young Rascals, Lovin' Spoonful, all the way to the Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi, Janis, the Who, and other major competition. Remember - this was an awesome era in music.
So for your enjoyment, here are a few video clips of the band at their best. And yes, Frankie really IS hitting those unbelievable high notes!
Here's Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons on the Popendipity tv program in 1967 performing a medley of their hits Sherry, Big Girls Don't Cry, I've Got You Under My Skin and Bye Bye Baby.
A 1965 Four Seasons medley on Hullabaloo of Dawn, Rag Doll, Toy Soldier, and Bye Bye Baby Goodbye The medley may have had other instruments hidden from the cameras and whatever primitive tricks and backing tracks they used in teevee music shows back then, but his phrasing clearly shows he wasn't lip synching!
A 1966 medley by the Four Seasons, including You're Going to Hurt Yourself and Working My Way Back to You
Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Big Girls Don't Cry (sound's a bit distorted)
Walk Like A Man - Not great footage or sound, but I couldn't find any other version of this hit.
Frankie's first big one! Here's Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You in 1967.
Dawn (Go Away) - from the early 80s.
A strange staged "music video" of the Four Seasons not exactly performing Rag Doll lip synched all the way.
An interesting video remix of Beggin
The Four Seasons - December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night) - Written by Gaudio, performed with a different lineup than the original Four Seasons, and the first time anyone but Frankie sang at least part of the lead.
A great mini-documentary from VOA news, Singer Frankie Valli Going Strong at 74
(On a final note, lest you think Bob Gaudio was a mere 30 hit wonder, he also went on to work with Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, Eric Carmen, Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, and of course, with Frankie Valli wrote the Tony and Grammy award winning Broadway musical, "Jersey Boys," based on their life story with the Four Seasons.)
© Copyright 2009 Robert Wilkinson
Had me dancin' Robert.
Today's music seems so lacking compared to those years. There were so many fantastic groups. It truly was an awesome era.
Posted by: Jay | November 17, 2009 at 10:38 AM
"Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" is one of my favorites. Happy Birthday, Gaudio!
Posted by: WarriorLady | November 18, 2009 at 09:22 PM