Bob Gaudio
| Bob Gaudio | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 17, 1942 The Bronx, New York, US |
| Origin | Italian-American |
| Genres | Rock, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, songwriter. musician |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Associated acts |
The Four Seasons Royal Teens |
Robert John "Bob" Gaudio (born November 17, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer, and the keyboardist/backing vocalist for The Four Seasons.
Born in the Bronx, New York, he was raised in Bergenfield, New Jersey, where he attended Bergenfield High School. His mother worked for the publishing house Prentice Hall and his father in a paper factory. He showed an interest in music and studied piano with Sal Mosca.
Gaudio grew up in more comfortable middle class surroundings than the other members of the Four Seasons, which caused some tension and differences early on. He was a cerebral person, interested in reading and learning. He stayed out of trouble and kept a mild manner about him, which proved useful during negotiations throughout his career.
He rose to musical fame at the age of 15 as a member of the Royal Teens when he co-wrote the hit "Short Shorts". In 1958, while he and the group were promoting the single, they met Frankie Valli and his group the Four Lovers as they prepared to perform on a local television program. Shortly afterwards, he left the Royal Teens as he was getting tired of touring; the group dissolved shortly afterwards.
One year after he ceased touring, Gaudio joined the Four Lovers. While commercial success was elusive, the group was kept busy with steady session work (with Bob Crewe as the producer) and a string of performances at night clubs and lounges.
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 Partnership, and Gaudio, Valli, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi became The Four Seasons.
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