Frankie Valli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Frankie Valli |
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Valli performing in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Francesco Stephen Castelluccio |
| Born | May 3, 1934 Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1951–present |
| Associated acts |
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Francesco Stephen Castelluccio (born May 3, 1934), known as Frankie Valli, is an American singer. He is famous as the lead singer of the Four Seasons. People know him for his strong and high singing voice, called a falsetto.
Frankie Valli had many hit songs with the Four Seasons. Some of their number-one hits include "Sherry" (1962), "Big Girls Don't Cry" (1962), and "Walk Like a Man" (1963). They also had "Rag Doll" (1964) and "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" (1975).
As a solo artist, Valli also had big hits. "My Eyes Adored You" (1974) and "Grease" (1978) both reached number one.
Frankie Valli and the original members of the Four Seasons were honored. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. They also joined the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2024, Valli received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In February 2025, he was given a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Early Life and Musical Start
Frankie Valli was born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio on May 3, 1934. He grew up in Newark, New Jersey. His father was a barber and his mother worked at home.
When he was seven, his mother took him to see Frank Sinatra sing. This show inspired him to become a singer. He took his stage name "Valli" from an early favorite singer, "Texas" Jean Valli. Before becoming a full-time musician, he worked as a barber.
Valli began his singing career in 1951. He joined a group called the Variety Trio. He learned a lot from Nick Macioci, who later joined him in the Four Seasons. He also learned from "Texas" Jean Valli.
In 1953, Valli recorded his first song, "My Mother's Eyes." He used the name "Frankie Valley" for this song. Later, he changed the spelling to "Valli."
Forming The Four Seasons
In 1956, Valli's group changed its name to the Four Lovers. They had a small hit song called "You're the Apple of My Eye." This led to their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.
After some changes, the group added Bob Gaudio in 1959. By 1960, the group included Valli, Tommy DeVito, Gaudio, and Nick Massi. They decided to call themselves "The 4 Seasons." They got the name from a bowling alley.
As the lead singer of the Four Seasons, Valli had many successful songs. Their first number-one hit was "Sherry" in 1962. They continued to have hits throughout the 1960s.
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Frankie Valli also started recording songs as a solo artist. This was unusual because he was still singing with his group. He showed off his natural tenor voice in these solo songs.
Some of his early solo recordings became popular in the UK. "You're Ready Now" reached number eleven in 1970. "The Night" became a big hit in 1975, reaching number seven.
In 1975, his song "My Eyes Adored You" became a number one hit in the U.S. This was a big moment for his solo career. He also had another hit that year, "Swearin' to God."
In 1978, Valli sang the theme song for the movie Grease. This song, written by Barry Gibb, became a number one hit.
Health and Broadway Success
Frankie Valli had a hearing problem called otosclerosis starting in 1967. This made it hard for him to hear his own singing. He had surgery in 1980, which helped him regain most of his hearing.
In 2005, a musical called Jersey Boys opened on Broadway. It tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The show features many of their hit songs. It also shares parts of Valli's life story.
Jersey Boys was very successful. It won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The musical has toured all over the world. It was also made into a movie in 2014.
In 2007, Valli released an album called Romancing the '60s. It featured his favorite songs from the 1960s. In 2012, he performed a week-long concert on Broadway.
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons continued to tour. In 2016, he released a Christmas album called 'Tis the Seasons. They performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra in London.
The group kept touring in 2018 and 2019. All touring plans were canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Touring started again in 2021. Valli has said that the 2025 tour might be his last. He enjoys performing but finds touring tiring.
In June 2021, Valli released his album A Touch of Jazz. This album features his versions of jazz songs.
Acting Roles
Besides singing, Frankie Valli has also acted. He appeared in TV shows like Miami Vice and Full House. He was also in the movie And So It Goes in 2014.
In 2014, he played a lawyer on the TV show Hawaii Five-0. He was also interviewed for the TV series The Making of the Mob: New York in 2015.
Personal Life
Frankie Valli has been married four times. He married his first wife, Mary, when he was in his early twenties. They had two daughters, Antonia and Francine. He later married MaryAnn Hannagan and then Randy Clohessy. With Randy, he had three sons: Emilio, Francesco Jr., and Brando.
In 2023, Frankie Valli married Jackie Jacobs in Las Vegas. They live in Encino, California.
See also
In Spanish: Frankie Valli para niños
