From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Fri May 3, 2002  1:14 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Frankie Valli
 
FRANKIE VALLI

Born Francis Castellucio, 3 May 1937, Newark, New Jersey

As a teenager living in Newark, Valli sang with the Varietones, who
later changed their name to the Four Lovers and had a minor hit with
an Otis Blackwell number, "You're the Apple of My Eye," in 1956.
With the addition of Bob Gaudio (formerly of the Royal Teens), they
changed their name to the Four Seasons and began working with
Philadelphia producer Bob Crewe. In addition to Gaudio and Valli, the
Four Seasons' definitive lineup included singer/guitarist Tommy DeVito
and bass vocalist/vocal arranger Nick Massi (later replaced by Joe Long).
The Four Seasons were one of the most successful groups of the sixties,
with 41 chart entries 1962-1970, including four number ones.
Although he was lead singer with the group, Valli also had a solo recording
career, starting with "(You're Gonna) Hurt Yourself" in late 1965. He scored
a million-seller in 1967 with "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (# 2) and had his
first solo number 1 in 1975 with "My Eyes Adored You". In 1978 he sold two
million copies of the Barry Gibb -composed theme song from "Grease".
In 1980 Valli had a series of ear operations to cure his increasing deafness.
He subsequently rejoined the Four Seasons and enjoyed further success
when "Big Girls Don't Cry" was included in the movie Dirty Dancing.