I've recently developed an interest in Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, which resulted in my attending "The Jersey Boys" road show in San Francisco. A surprisingly funny and moving jukebox musical, which tells the story of the band. There have been no books written about the group, or even many significant articles, so the story is very interesting and fresh. I have to admit I think I've underrated these guys. Bob Gaudio is a musical genius, and Frankie has one of the all-time great rock voices, even besides his falsetto.
One thing I did not know is about the partnership arrangement between Gaudio and Valli. Based purely on a handshake in 1962, and never drawn up as a legal agreement. They split every bit of money they make 50/50, even things not at all related to the Four Seasons. Every penny Frankie make on "Grease" went 50 percent to Gaudio, every bit of money Gaudio has made on solo projects such as Neil Diamond's "The Jazz Singer" has been split with Frankie Valli. They've made over $50 million between them working together and on solo projects, and have shared it all, plus have bailed out at least one of their Four Seasons compadres (Tommy DeVito), who was on the hook to the Mafia and the IRS to almost $1 million. Every article I managed to find on these two mentions that obvious affection and regard they have for each other even now. In a music business where lawsuits and acrimony rule the day, it's very refreshing. Here's a couple of links to articles about the Valli/Gaudio partnership, if anyone wishes to read more about it:
SF Chronicle article, 2006:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/03/PKGRCMKU9V1.DTL&feed=rss.entertainmentTime article, 1987:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,964284,00.html
Author
