The Living Legend
Some might believe that Frankie Valli, at his age, should have retired to a quiet life. However, he’s not ready to stop singing. He performs with consistent gusto, doing a whopping 75-80 concerts yearly.
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Hits like “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man,” or “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” make his live concerts absolutely memorable. His recent show at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California ended up as a major sing-along. This proves Valli’s charm persists and influences even today.
A Surprise Grammy Gala Appearance
Frankie Valli’s influence goes beyond his devout followers. He also made an unexpected appearance at Clive Davis’ yearly pre-Grammy party in Beverly Hills in February. Notably, Davis, a renowned record producer, invited Valli to sing. This included every digital influencer present, including Lizzo and Lil Wayne.
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Industry tastemakers first questioned Valli and his performance of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” but they were eventually impressed by the act.
The Last Encores
Frankie Valli has made an announcement saying he’s planning to cut his live stage shows by half in the year 2024. Valli says this doesn’t mean he’s leaving completely, he calls his next tour the ‘Last Encores.’
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This decision is not about losing passion, but rather because of the continual need for travel. Valli often thinks about how touring has evolved, stating that single-night shows in deteriorating venues can be quite taxing.
A Lasting Musical Legacy
Valli’s legacy isn’t just centered on his live performances. In fact, his timeless music, courtesy of the Four Seasons, lives on. Various factors contributed to the revival of their music catalog, things like cover songs, samples, and reworked tunes.
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Modern artists like Måneskin and Surf Mesa have rebooted The Four Seasons’ hits. Their influence makes these old classics speak to today’s youth in an entirely fresh way.
What Is Primary Wave?
Frankie Valli, alongside his long-term creative ally Bob Gaudio, made a clever move. They partnered up with Primary Wave, a well-known music publishing company. This ensured their music’s continued existence.
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Thanks to this action, The Four Seasons’ catalog has seen more activity. Its songs found their way into various media like movies, television shows, and advertising sectors. This proves that their music still retains its timeless charm.
Gaudio's Involvement
Bob Gaudio stopped performing many years ago. Yet, he still safeguards The Four Seasons’ honor.
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They only give permission to play their songs when they feel it won’t tarnish the band’s reputation. Gaudio’s participation shows his dedication to the quality of their music.
A Diverse Catalog
The Four Seasons band is known for their diverse music style. They’re hard to label with genres ranging from street corner doo-wop to versions of Bob Dylan’s songs to a concept LP.
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Their music library has survived longer than most of their time. This durability can be attributed, in part, to their talent for variety.
Valli's Open-Minded Approach
Frankie Valli’s success can be attributed to his willingness to explore different music genres, including disco.
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This kept him relevant with a variety of audiences. His upbringing in Newark’s diverse housing projects also contributed to his inclusive mentality.
A History With Vee-Jay Records
The Four Seasons’ relationship with Black-owned Vee-Jay Records contributed a lot to the control they had over their music.
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However, when the label defaulted on its payments, the band strategically moved to get back their recordings. This decision formed the basis of their dominance over their music in years to come.
A Unique Ownership Model
Through switching from one small label to the next, The Four Seasons’ method of running record labels made it possible for them to keep most of their earnings.
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In contrast to other artists who get a small fraction of the profits of their music, in this case, The Four Seasons were able to enjoy their success directly.
The Legacy Continues
Fans of all age groups continue to love Frankie Valli’s music as well as The Four Seasons’ catalog. Their songs are still honored and relevant. Therefore, their legacy lives on.
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Valli is looking forward to new adventures, with the “Last Encores” tour coming just around the corner, and maybe a more peaceful life off-stage.