Gaudio wrote or co-wrote the vast majority of the band's music, including hits like "Sherry" and "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)", as well as "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" for Frankie Valli..

Frankie Valli may be the most famous New Jersey-ite in Jersey Boys, but Bob Gaudio, the original keyboard player and tenor voice in The Four Seasons, wrote most of those hit songs and.

Most of the music for The Four Seasons was written by Bob Gaudio, who was a key member of the group. Gaudio, along with lead singer Frankie Valli and lyricist Bob Crewe,.

Understanding the Context

Bob Gaudio wrote most of The Four Seasons' hits, some of which are compiled in a new anthology. He tells Fresh Air about the band's history, including why its songs had some "anger" in.

In 1960, after a failed audition at a Union Township, Union County, New Jersey, bowling establishment, songwriter/keyboardist Gaudio shook hands with lead singer Valli and formed the Four Seasons.

Keyboard player Gaudio, along with producer Bob Crewe, became the groups chief songwriter as the Four Seasons cranked out rhythm-and-blues and rock-and-roll hits, first for Vee.

Written by Crewe and Kenny Nolan, the song was initially recorded by the Four Seasons but Motown didnt release it and the rights were sold to Valli for just $4,000.

Key Insights

Newark-area native Mike Petrillo, a friend of Frankie and the guys for several years, wrote a song with Angelo "Cubby" Cifelli, also from Newark and a former member of The Tradewinds (of fleeting "Furry.

The Four Seasons was formed out of members of several groups, primarily the Four Lovers; the Four Seasons original members were: Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi.

Bob Gaudio eventually wrote a song that, after some discussion between Crewe and Gaudio, was titled "Sherry". The song was recorded and Crewe, along with members of the group, went about soliciting.