Frankie Valli Tribute Page

Frankie Valli started his pro singing career in 1951 with the Variety Threesome.

Valli's need to sing in public was initially granted when, having heard Valli sing, the group offered him a guest spot when the group performed. In late 1952, the Variety Threesome disbanded and Valli, along with Tommy DeVito, became part of the house band at The Strand in New Brunswick, New Jersey. For his part, Valli played bass and sang. He cut his first single, "My Mother's Eyes", in 1953 as "Frankie Valley", a name he adopted from "Texas" Jean Valley, a top female vocalist. Around this time, Valli and Tommy DeVito left the house band at The Strand and formed The Variatones with Hank Majewski, Frank Cattone and Billy Thompson. In 1956, as a factor of an audition backing a female vocalist, the group itself impressed NY record man Peter Paul, who had them auditioning at RCA Victor a week later. Renamed The four Lovers, the group recorded many singles and one album's worth of tracks. They'd a minor hit with "Apple of My Eye" in 1956.

Nickie DeVito and Hank Majewski left in 1958 to get replaced by Nick Macioci ( now Nick Massi ) and Hank Garrity. Massi was out and in of the group, and, often Charles Calello joined on accordion. The group continued to perform until 1959, when Bob Gaudio turned into an affiliate. After some more changes, the group was renamed "The 4 Seasons" in 1960. As the lead vocalist of The 4 Seasons, he had plenty of hits beginning with the number one hit "Sherry" in 1962. As a footnote to this period of Frankie's career with The 4 Seasons, the group's bass player and vocal arranger Nick Massi got replaced in 1965 by Charlie Calello, the group's instrumental arranger, and, then straight after that, Charlie got replaced by Joseph LaBracio, who went by the aka Joe Long.