Festa Italiana books Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons for encore appearance
Tickets for July 24 show at Marcus Amphitheater now available
By Bob Ruggieri
Festa Italiana has announced that Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, who drew thousands to the Marcus Amphitheater in 2010, will return for another performance this year. They will be performing in the amphitheater on Sunday, July 24, at 6:30 p.m.
The presenting sponsors will be Oldies 95.7 WRIT Radio and Pick ‘n Save.
Tickets for Valli’s show - priced at $65, $45 and $25 - are on sale NOW at the Italian Community Center (631 E. Chicago St., Milwaukee), the Marcus Amphitheater Box Office (southwest end of Summerfest grounds), Ticketmaster.com, or by charge at 1-800-745-3000.
Valli’s legendary career began in the 1950s in his native Newark, N.J., when he was still known as Francis Castelluccio. He came to fame in 1962 as the lead singer (with his new name) of the Four Seasons. The other members of the group were boyhood friends Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi and songwriter Bob Gaudio. who had previously been part of a group called the Royal Teens.
The story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons’ beginnings is the basis for the award-winning hit musical, “Jersey Boys.” The show has been seen by more than 12 million people. Coincidentally, a touring company of the show will be playing Milwaukee for the first time. It will open on Wednesday, July 20.
Dave Spano, president of the Italian Community Center, took note of that fact when he announced the Valli booking at the general membership meeting on Thursday, Mar. 24. “At the same time as some people will be watching an actor playing Frankie Valli at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Festa Italiana will be presenting the genuine article at the Marcus Amphitheater!”
Valli is identified with such classic songs as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Rag Doll,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night).” Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons had 71 hits on the music charts – 40 in the Top 40, 19 in the Top 10 and eight in the #1 spot. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” has become one of the top ten most-played songs in the history of BMI, which is one of the two major companies that collect royalties for songwriters.
From 1962 to 1978, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons sold more than 100 million records. In 1990, Valli and the original Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Valli also demonstrated his acting ability when he appeared in seasons 5 and 6 of the hit cable television series, “The Sopranos.”
