FRANKIE VALLI’s ‘ROMANCING THE ‘60s’ NEW CD IS IN-STORES NOW
(New York, NY) In his amazing sixth decade of stardom, FRANKIE VALLI remains as visible and authoritative within American pop culture as ever, playing dozens of live concerts yearly, and drawing rave notices for his role in the landmark television drama The Sopranos.
Now, with applause thundering nightly all around the country for the quadruple-Tony winning Broadway phenomenon Jersey Boys – currently in a twelve-city national tour, and setting up new companies in Las Vegas and London – Valli, the singular original lead voice of the iconic Four Seasons song score, has returned to the studio to create the perfect companion piece to the stage show.
On the new Universal Motown album, Romancing The ‘60s, the legendary Valli has chosen 14 immortal love songs from the songbook of the 1960s, leading the cream of New York’s musicians and background singers, with album production by Bob Gaudio, fellow Four Seasons founder and co-writer of the group’s many hits. No one will be surprised to find that in this album, the songs of pop-rock’s greatest generation are honored with all the insight, joy, musicianship and magic one would expect from the man who was originally co-credited on Four Seasons records as “The ‘Sound’ of Frankie Valli.” “I’ve always been a romantic in my art,” says Valli. “The secret here was to try to make the songs mine.”
Frankie Valli released his first solo hit, “(You’re Gonna) Hurt Yourself,” in 1966, and the following year originated the Gaudio/Crewe classic “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” one of the most successfully-covered songs in history, with its most recent worldwide smash versions by Pet Shop Boys and Lauryn Hill.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Frankie Valli began his recording career in 1952, joining the group the Varitones in 1954. His trailblazing journey with The Four Seasons has resulted in estimated sales of 100 million records throughout his group and solo career, with two U.S. No. 1 solo hits, 1975’s “My Eyes Adored You,” and the two-million-selling title song from the movie Grease in 1978. Now enjoying an incredible sixth decade as a seminal force in popular music, he continues to be one of the most in-demand live performers on the road today. Frankie also drew accolades for his recurring role as wily mobster Rusty Millio on the much-lauded HBO series The Sopranos. Jersey Boy star John Lloyd Young won the Tony in 2006 for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of the young Frankie Valli.
Romancing The ‘60s is a rare and exhilarating meeting of geniuses: a joyous, heart-driven, vital and fascinating redefinition of the already-definitive, and a musically timeless treasure for every fan -- whether old or new, who sock-hopped to “Sherry,” or gave the standing ovation at tonight’s sold-out performance of Jersey Boys.
