The Four Seasons (group)

The Four Seasons
Valli and the Four Seasons at London's Royal Albert Hall in June 2012
Background information
Also known as	The Four Lovers (1956-1960), The Wonder Who? (1965-1967)
Origin	Newark, New Jersey, United States
Genres	Rock, pop, disco
Years active	1960–present
Labels	Gone, Vee-Jay, Philips, Mowest, Warner Bros., MCA, Curb
Associated acts	The Variatones, The Royal Teens
Members	Frankie Valli Todd Fournier Brian Brigham Brandon Brigham Landon Beard Gary Melvin Keith Hubacher Robbie Robinson
Past members	Tommy DeVito Bob Gaudio Nick Massi (né Macioci) Charles Calello Joe Long (né LaBracio) Bob Grimm Demetri Callas Bill DeLoach Clay Jordan Ronnie Carangelo Gerry Polci Don Ciccone Lee Shapiro John Paiva Jerry Corbetta Larry Lingle Lynn Hammann Chuck Wilson Rex Robinson Robby Robinson Warren Hamm Robin Swensen Howard Larrabee Tim Stone Tom Alvarado Fino Roverato Rich Callaci Daniel Donelly

The Four Seasons is an American rock and pop band that became internationally successful in the 1960s and 1970s. The Vocal Group Hall of Fame has stated that the group was the most popular rock band before the Beatles. Since 1970, they have also been known at times as Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. In 1960, the group known as the Four Lovers evolved into the Four Seasons, with Frankie Valli as the lead singer, Bob Gaudio (formerly of the Royal Teens) on keyboards and tenor vocals, Tommy DeVito on lead guitar and baritone vocals, and Nick Massi on electric bass and bass vocals.

The legal name of the organization is the Four Seasons Partnership, formed by Gaudio and Valli taken after a failed audition in 1960. While singers, producers, and musicians have come and gone, Gaudio and Valli remain the group's constant (with each owning fifty percent of the act and its assets, including virtually all of its recording catalog). Gaudio no longer plays live, leaving Valli the only member of the group from its inception who is touring as of 2017^[update].

The Four Seasons (group members 1960–1966) were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and joined the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. They are one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, having sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide.

Frankie Valli's first commercial release was "My Mother's Eyes" (as Frankie Valley) in 1953. The following year, he and guitarist Tommy DeVito formed The Variatones (with Hank Majewski, rhythm guitar, Frank Cattone, accordion, and Billy Thompson, drums), which between 1954 and 1956 performed and recorded under a variety of names before settling on the name The Four Lovers. The same year, the quartet released their first record, "You're the Apple of My Eye", which appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, peaking at #62. Five additional Four Lovers singles (on RCA Victor) were released over the next year, with virtually no sales, airplay, or jukebox play. In 1957, the group's seventh single (this time on Epic) had a similar lack of success.