I arrived early Friday evening, March 21, at the Fantasy Springs Resort Hotel & Casino Events Center in Indio, Calif. for the Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons concert. I wanted to set up my camera and talk to a few people in the crowd hoping to get a picture of them to accompany my story.
Twenty minutes to show time, I run across Erinn, Debra and Kelly Mitchell. Kelly was here for a retirement party and before they drove back home to Hollister this weekend, they decided to take in a show. All of the Mitchell’s are big fans of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.
On the other side of the auditorium, two friendly faces with big smiles greeted me. They were Pete and Lisa Moyer. They have been in the Coachella Valley for about seven months now, as Pete was transferred from Orange County to here for work and Lisa is establishing her new business. I asked them if they were looking forward to the summer, and they said they were ready for it but were looking forward more to the evening's entertainment.
So was I.
The room filled up and the crowd was distinctive. It wasn’t a Kid Rock crowd, no, not even a Kenny G type. It was my kind of crowd! Like those of us who went to junior high and high school during the '60s, and who went to school dances in the boy’s gym where you could try out your new moves like the Mashed Potato, or the Swim, or the Watusi and of course, the Twist. If you were at one of those dances, you were sure to have heard Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.
Born Francis Stephen Castelluccio on May 3, 1934, in Newark, New Jersey, Valli has enjoyed almost six decades of musical success.As the lead singer of the Four Seasons, Valli has had a string of hits beginning with the number one hit “Sherry” in 1962.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[1] and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
As the lights dimmed, a voice called from the stage, “Are you ready for some rock and roll?” The packed house explodes with roaring applause as they screamed back a resounding YEA! Up go the lights and there was Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons opening the act with their hit song, "Dawn." Next, they performed "Save It For Me," "Spanish Harlem," "Swearin' to God" and "Grease."
After the opening set, Valli thanked the audience for their warm welcome. “We might be getting a bonus,” he said and then remarked, “Why not? Every one else is.”
It was obvious that Valli was pleased to see the sold out auditorium and suggested in jest that maybe the large turnout was due to the economic stimulus.
Backed by his musical director Robby Robinson, Valli and the Four Seasons continued with other favorites such as, "Let’s Hang On," "Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You," "My Eyes Adored You," "Rag Doll" and "Tell It to the Rain."
Valli has lost nothing during the years. In fact, his falsetto voice rings as true today has it did in 1962. The name of this tour is “Romancing the '60s,” and that is exactly what happened all night.
At one break, Valli wondered what was in the songs of today that made them so popular with the kids. Between the lyrics and the rapping beat, “You just can’t make love to that” he said. Well, with that the show continued with other greats including, "Working My Way Back to You," "Walk Like a Man," "Sherry," "Big Girls Don’t Cry," "Who Loves You," "Harmony," "Bye, Bye, Baby" and "I’ve Got You Under My Skin." By the end of the show people, danced in the aisles and sang along.
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons received a well-deserved standing ovation.
Thanks to Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino for bringing the wonderful and romantic '60s back to life for us, even if it were only in song and for one night.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Twenty minutes to show time, I run across Erinn, Debra and Kelly Mitchell. Kelly was here for a retirement party and before they drove back home to Hollister this weekend, they decided to take in a show. All of the Mitchell’s are big fans of Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons.
On the other side of the auditorium, two friendly faces with big smiles greeted me. They were Pete and Lisa Moyer. They have been in the Coachella Valley for about seven months now, as Pete was transferred from Orange County to here for work and Lisa is establishing her new business. I asked them if they were looking forward to the summer, and they said they were ready for it but were looking forward more to the evening's entertainment.
As the lights dimmed, a voice called from the stage, “Are you ready for some rock and roll?” The packed house explodes with roaring applause as they screamed back a resounding YEA! Up go the lights and there was Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons opening the act with their hit song, "Dawn." Next, they performed "Save It For Me," "Spanish Harlem," "Swearin' to God" and "Grease."
At one break, Valli wondered what was in the songs of today that made them so popular with the kids. Between the lyrics and the rapping beat, “You just can’t make love to that” he said. Well, with that the show continued with other greats including, "Working My Way Back to You," "Walk Like a Man," "Sherry," "Big Girls Don’t Cry," "Who Loves You," "Harmony," "Bye, Bye, Baby" and "I’ve Got You Under My Skin." By the end of the show people, danced in the aisles and sang along.