Tommy devito was born on 19 june 1928, in belleville, new jersey usa, of italian descent. Tommy devito bob gaudio rue sainte catherine 20th century music frankie valli jersey boys motown throwback thursday kinds of music. He is a musician best known for being one of the members of the band called the four seasons. The movie depicts the mob forcing tommy devito to go live in las vegas, in turn kicking him out of the band. Tommy devito, portrayed by vincent piazza in the movie, was in. The lawsuit was brought by donna corbello, the widow of rex woodard, who assisted four seasons member tommy devito in an autobiography.
Jersey boys movie vs true story real frankie valli, tommy. In jersey boys, the four seasons get busted in cleveland. Buoyed by lead singer frankie vallis soaring falsetto, the band had a string of more than 25 hits over a fiveyear period, beginning with sherry in 1962. Clint eastwoods stagederived film about frankie valli and the four seasons tells the story of a throwback group, comes from a throwback director and offers the throwback appeal of actors. The four seasons, american rockandroll group that was among the bestselling recording artists of the early and mid1960s. Four seasons member tommy devito commissioned woodard to write his biography, but the writer died before the book was published. Jan 10, 2020 the new jersey boys musical was showcased in the broadway theatre in 2005.
The role, played by veteran character actor joe pesci, was based on the real life criminal figure tommy desimone, who was an associate of the lucchese crime family in new york city. Guitaristsinger tommy devito was a key member of the phenomenally successful pop group the four seasons throughout their 60s heyday. In both the show and the movie, tommy is the freespending gambler who ends up owing huge debts to the mob, around 160 large. Tommy devito was born in belleville, new jersey, and began his professional music career in. Devito is comfortable in his own skin, no matter how widely the story of the four seasons is told in jersey boys. Cool late 1960s of the four seasons joe long, tommy devito, frankie valli, and bob gaudio at the roostertail in detroit.
Who is frankie vallis of the four seasons daughter. Was joe pescis character from goodfellas, tommy devito, inspired by four seasons band member tommy devito. He and the remaining members of the four seasons reunited in 2005 for a performance commemorating the opening of the tonywinning. Find highquality tommy devito stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. Jersey boys movie vs true story real frankie valli, tommy devito. Gaetano tommy devito born june 19, 1928 is an american musician and singer, best known as a founding member, baritone vocalist, and lead guitarist of the rock band the four seasons. Valli and nick massi were both born and raised in newark and tommy devito grew up in adjacent belleville, all of them on the lower. The four seasons gaetano tommy devito born june 19, 1928 is an american musician and singer, best known as a founding member, baritone vocalist, and lead guitarist of the rock band the four seasons. When the rock and roll hall of fame inducted the four seasons in 1990, only four group members the original quartet of frankie valli, tommy devito, bob gaudio and nick massi were named as honorees. Like in the jersey boys movie, gaudio says that he came up with the song while watching the 1955 rhonda flemingronald reagan movie tennessees partner. But by the time the band enjoyed a short comeback in the mid. For both legs of this tour, the four seasons were played by luke streetjonathan vickers alternating the role of frankie valli, andrew bryant tommy devito, matt blaker bob gaudio, and nick martland nick massi.
Here, the jersey boys true story contradicts the movie, at least according to the real tommy devito. Jun 20, 2014 four season tommy devito faces the jersey boys. Devito got his musical start with his brother nick devito and hank majewski in a new jersey group called the variety trio. June 19, 1936 in montclair or belleville, new jersey. Brotherhood, mafia ties backbone of the four seasons story. Tommy devito, portrayed by vincent piazza in the movie, was in and out of prison. 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 bass guitar and bass vocals.
Massi left the four seasons in september 1965, and was replaced temporarily by charles calello who, in turn, was replaced by joe long. Gaudio, tommy devito, charlie calello and frankie valli of the four. Tommy devito is a american singer, guitarist, actor, who was born on in belleville, new jersey, united states. He and bassist joe long were members of the rock group the four seasons. This post originally misidentified the four seasons members in three photos, identifying a photo of the reallife tommy devito as bob gaudio, a photo of the reallife. Four season member musician tommy devito and wife edda. Devito got his musical start with his brother nick devito and hank read full biography. Dec 12, 20 in addition to the four seasons rise to fame, the musical also covers such largely unknown aspects of their lives as devito and massis time served in prison during the 1950s the groups ties to new jersey mafia boss gyp decarlo. But by the time the band enjoyed a short comeback in the. Was a member of the four lovers, who had a minor hit in 1956 with youre the apple of my eye rca records. He and the remaining members of the four seasons reunited in 2005 for a performance commemorating the opening of the tonywinning play jersey boys, based on the bands early days.
Tommy and the boys is a funny and entertaining look at four seasons founder tommy devito, and his group of. Tommy devito musician wikimili, the free encyclopedia wikimili, the free encyclopedia. Several of the four seasons members had been behind bars at one time or another, most notably tommy devito and nick massi. Im not looking for it, said devito, a member of the rock and roll hall of fame. Tommy devito of belleville, who formed and managed the four seasons, tours the old neighborhood during a visit from las vegas, where he has lived for decades. Bob gaudio, tommy devito, charlie calello and frankie valli of the four seasons pose for a photo in 1966. Valli performs alongside bandmates tommy devito, nick massi and bob gaudio. Frankie valli and bob gaudios uneasy relationship with. Tommy devito musician wikimili, the free encyclopedia.
Bob gaudio wrote most of the four seasons hits, some of which are. Nick massi, an original member of the popular 60s group four seasons, died sunday of cancerrelated causes at his home in west orange, new jersey, according to. After the group broke up, devito and fellow group member frankie valli formed a group that eventually became the four seasons. Sort by a z z a by date view 20 per page 40 per page 60 per page 80 per page. Tommy devito was a driving force behind the tremendous popularity and ultimate success of the four seasons in the 60s. Was tommy devito really kicked out of the four seasons and forced to go live in las vegas. Also known as tommy d, desimone, who was a friend of henry hill, and a partner in the gang which was under. In the movie, john lloyd young stars as frankie valli left, erich bergen as bob gaudio second from left, vincent piazza as tommy devito second from right, and michael lomenda as nick massi right. How joe pesci connects jersey boys and goodfellas time. Bandmates frankie valli and bob gaudio assumed the burd. Along with the broadway play, the new film jersey boys highlights bob gaudios role in the four seasons. Four season member musician tommy devito and wife edda arrive. He is known for his work on the good shepherd 2006, casino 1995 and 8 heads in a duffel bag 1997. Judge overturns jurys verdict that jersey boys is a.
Was it true that frankie valli repaid all the debts of the. Oh, what a night the night frankie valli and the four seasons got busted in cleveland. Tommy devito was born on june 19, 1928 in belleville, new jersey, usa. The veteran singer may not have secured the rights to a section of the original musical about group member tommy devitos mafia links. Tommy devito was born in belleville, new jersey, and began his. A lawsuit over the creation of that megasuccessful. Tommy is a friend and former boss of mine going way back to 1962. Thats not easy in the best of circumstances, and hanging out in newark was certainly not the best of circumstances. Frankie valli faces trial for ripping off his own life. Frankie valli and the four seasons perform their hit song big girls dont cry live on tv in 1962. Joe long will join four seasons bandmates in new jersey. He also borrows from the four seasons account the band sold. Trivia 4 first gained fame as a member of the rock group the four seasons.
From left, joe long, frankie valli, bob gaudio and tommy devito. Tommy talks about his tough early days of poverty and abuse, his wild life of fame and fortune as the founder of the four seasons, how he fell on hard times in las vegas, and how he rose again on the strength of family, friends and jersey boys. Gaetano tommy devito born june 19, 1928 is an american musician and singer, best. Friends for all four seasons what pushes the limits of mens friendships. Thats a line in the show by the character representing guitarist tommy devito, and its sentiment is reflected throughout the production. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Devito, founder of the four seasons, left the group in 1970 and moved to las vegas. Brotherhood, mafia ties backbone of the four seasons. Tommy devito pauses during a recording session with artist michelle v in his las vegas studio. This site is tommy s personal page, but is managed by the upcoming documentary my jersey boy staff. But did it really happen the way the hit broadway show jersey boys, which purports to tell the story of. Tommy devito did run up enormous gambling debts, in addition to a huge tax bill. L to r actor joe pesci joins tommy devito, bob gaudio and frankie valli of frankie valli and the four seasons onstage during the curtain call at the play opening night of jersey boys on november 6, 2005 in new york city.
Bob gaudio wrote most of the four seasons hits, some of which are compiled in a new anthology. Tommy devito, an original member of the four seasons, revisits his hometown haunts as jersey boys takes broadway by storm. Frankie valli faces trial over rights to own life story for four seasons. Tommy and the boys tommy devito from the four seasons.
Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Vegas man knows jersey boys las vegas sun newspaper. Also, tommy devito is a character portrayed by joe pesci in goodfellas. Jun 14, 2017 the story of the four seasons, the 1960s pop group with mob connections and a long string of hits, was incredible enough to power jersey boys. Jan 16, 2019 elizabeth native long, 83, was the first member of the four seasons to join after the original quartet frankie valli, bob gaudio, tommy devito and nick massi formed in newark in 1960. Caputo honors four seasons founding member tommy devito on. It was the four seasons of newark, who matched the fab four hitbyhit on the vee jay records 1964 release the beatles vs. Actor john lloyd young is greeted by frankie valli and tommy devito, members of the four seasons as they walk onstage during the curtain call at the play opening night of jersey boys at the august wilson theater november 6, 2005 in new york city. In both the show and the movie, tommy is the freespending gambler who ends up owinghuge debtsto the mob, around 160 large. Devito, along with fellow original four seasons valli, massi and gaudio, was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 1990 and the vocal. Dec 28, 2000 nick massi, an original member of the popular 60s group four seasons, died sunday of cancerrelated causes at his home in west orange, new jersey, according to the newark starledger. How the four seasons clashed, dealt with the mob and. It begins in the 1980s when a journalist named rex woodard became friendly with four seasons member tommy devito in the course of research for articles about the early days of the band.
Back to belleville with four seasons bad boy tommy. Jun 20, 2014 l to r actor joe pesci joins tommy devito, bob gaudio and frankie valli of frankie valli and the four seasons onstage during the curtain call at the play opening night of jersey boys on. L to r actor joe pesci joins tommy devito, bob gaudio and frankie valli of frankie valli and the four seasons onstage during the curtain. Several of frankies friends did stints in jail for smalltime robberies, including two buddies, tommy devito and nick massi, who would later become original members of the four seasons.
Valli and nick massi were both born and raised in newark and tommy devito grew up in. The three surviving original members of the four seasons, from left, tommy devito, bob gaudio and frankie valli, at the afterparty for the opening of jersey boys on broadway in 2005. Massi, tommy devito, frankie valli, and bob gaudiothe original members of the four seasonswere inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 1990 and the vocal group hall of fame in 1999. Tommy was a member as baritone vocal and lead guitarist of the doowop group of the four seasons. Tommy devito was a character in martin scorseses academy awardwinning 1990 mafia epic goodfellas. This band was one of the most famous rock bands of the 1950s and 60s. Singerguitarist tommy devito was a founding member of the four seasons, and he performed and recorded with the group from 1961 to 1971.
In addition to the four seasons rise to fame, the musical also covers such largely unknown aspects of their lives as devito and massis time served in prison during the 1950s the groups ties to new jersey mafia boss gyp decarlo. Four seasons singer a real jersey boy jersey retro. Sep 09, 2014 how the four seasons clashed, dealt with the mob and made lasting hits bob gaudio wrote most of the four seasons hits, some of which are compiled in a new anthology. The book was based on interviews, newspaper articles, freedom. Mar 29, 2019 the following is a 2005 profile of founding four seasons member tommy devito, a bellevilleborn tough guy who left the band or was forced out, as jersey boys has it and moved to las vegas in. Tommy devito was born in belleville on tuesday, june 19, 1928 silent generation. Tommy devitos tough times now behind him jersey boys blog. Bob gaudio, tommy devito, charlie calello and frankie valli of the four seasons. How the four seasons clashed, dealt with the mob and made.
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