FRANKIE VALLI ….
“YOU’RE JUST TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE”!
By: Robin Roth
Legendary Frankie Valli appeared to a sold out crowd at the Star of the Desert Arena at the Primm Valley Resorts, Saturday October 17, 2009. The audience was just aching to hear and see Valli live and in person. The out pouring of love they extended to this legend was stunning. He had the audience in the palm of his hands.
“OH WHAT A NIGHT”, it was indeed. I, along with thousands of other fans truly loved every second of this 2 hour concert. No one wanted it to end. Frankie was on fire. For those of you who wonder if Valli is still in perfect vocal form, I can only say YES and better than ever. His famous high falsetto, his lower register and that unique Frankie quality sound that makes him, “THE VOICE”, is still in vocal perfection. Everyone there was a huge Frankie Valli Fan, and those who weren’t before… left being one. The crowd expected a lot as, I interviewed many before the show, and they got it! Frankie sang his heart out and brought so much joy to the arena that night. Everyone was singing all of the lyrics along with him, they couldn’t help but to get up and dance to the beat of his amazing music, and happiness and harmony was the theme here.
Valli’s sense of timing is uncanny. He hits every note he sings with dead on timing, vocal accuracy, and perfection. He is truly a living legend. For him it was never about money, fame, or anything else. For Frankie Valli, it always was and still is simply just about the music. That is his driving force that keeps him traveling all around the world to this day. His passion for singing and performing has run strong all these years and will no doubt be there forever.
Many young people only know of Valli from the HIT musical “Jersey Boys”, which is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. So, now Valli and the music live on with a whole new fan base. No one can question that listening to his music leaves one happy and in a good mood. People forget how many songs were actually given to us by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Just listen to the songs in films and you will no doubt hear one of their songs. For what ever reason young fans were lucky enough to find this master, they along with Valli, will enjoy this new found music relationship for years to come.
Some of the songs performed at Primm were:
Can't Take My Eyes Off You, My Eyes Adored You, Swearin' to God, Grease, Our Day Will Come, To Give (The Reason I Live), (You're Gonna) Hurt Yourself, Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore), Soul [#], You're Ready Now, “Sherry", "Don't Think Twice", "Walk Like a Man, "Shame”, “Candy", "Dawn (Go Away)","Rag Doll, "Save It for Me", "Big Man in Town", "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)", "Ronnie", "Girl Come Running", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", "Who Loves You", "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "Working My Way Back to You", "Let's Hang On!", "Big Girls Don't Cry"…
Frankie Valli was born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio, May 3, 1934, First Ward, Newark, New Jersey. If that name is not 100% Italian, I don’t know what is!
Valli, along with Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, and Bob Gaudio, (the original members of The Four Seasons), were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. Well deserved and long overdue if I might add.
If you have the opportunity to see this Icon in person when he comes to your city, I am telling you it will be a music concert memory that you will cherish forever.
Frankie, you are and always be known as the voice. Thank you for your music and Rock On!
Oh and Frankie, for the record, “I Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of you!”