Tommy devito did run up enormous gambling debts, in addition to a huge tax bill. Devito shared stories of frankie valli and the four. Devito, founder of the four seasons, left the group in 1970 and moved to las vegas. Vegas man knows jersey boys las vegas sun newspaper. The real story of tommy desimone all thats interesting. 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. One low day, he was scrubbing the country club house of a big shots wife, when it leaked out in conversation tommy had been the guitar player in the four seasons. He and bassist joe long were members of the rock group the four seasons. Tender and soulful ballads folkflavored the 4 seasons tommy devito frankie valli bob gaudio nick massi bob crewe 1964 1960s 60s. In the movie, john lloyd young stars as frankie valli. Brotherhood, mafia ties backbone of the four seasons story. Cool late 1960s of the four seasons joe long, tommy devito, frankie valli, and bob gaudio at the roostertail in detroit. How the four seasons clashed, dealt with the mob and. The four seasons were inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 1990.
Did actor and fellow new jersey native joe pesci really introduce frankie valli and tommy devito to future four seasons. Tommy and the boys tommy devito from the four seasons. Was tommy devito really kicked out of the four seasons and forced to go live in las vegas. In 1988, tommy devito, a founding member of the four seasons, approached mr. Tommy devito, frankie valli, bob gaudio and nick massi. Joe long, frankie valli, bob gaudio, producer bob crewe, conductor artie shroeck and tommy devito photo credit. The band expanded to a quartet and changed its name to. How joe pesci connects jersey boys and goodfellas time. The forerunner of the four seasons, the lovers included frankie valli, nick and tommy devito, and hank majewski. 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.
Frankie grew up in a very tough public housing development in newark where, according to tommy devito, there was only three ways out. Jun 20, 2014 the jersey boys screening, in honor of original founding member of the four seasons tommy devito on his 86th birthday, was a lovely gesture from warner bros. The actor went through a rock n roll boot camp in order to play tommy devito, lead guitarist of the four seasons, for the film opening friday. 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. The movie depicts the mob forcing tommy devito to go live in las vegas, in turn kicking him out of the band. Thomas anthony tommy desimone may 24, 1950 disappeared january 14, 1979 was an american mobster belonging to new york citys lucchese crime family who is alleged to have participated in both the air france robbery and the lufthansa heist. Bob gaudio wrote most of the four seasons hits, some of which are compiled in a new anthology. Tommy devitos tough times now behind him jersey boys blog. Jan 10, 2020 jersey boys and real life in frankies songs the new jersey boys musical was showcased in the broadway theatre in 2005.
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. This post originally misidentified the four seasons members in three photos, identifying a photo of the real life tommy devito as bob gaudio, a photo of the real life. Tommy devito is one of the main characters in jersey boys and gets the show off with a bang right after the opening musical number ces soireesla, but he isnt just a character in jersey boys, hes a real live person that lived the rock star life portrayed on stage by tony award winner, christian hoff. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. The four seasons are corey greenan, playing tommy devito, eric chambliss playing bob gaudio and jonathan cable playing nick massi. From left, john lloyd young as frankie valli, erich bergen as. Devito had only an eighth grade education and did not feel that he could tell the story on his own. Gaetano tommy devito born june 19, 1928 is an american musician and singer, best. In jersey boys, tommy devito, second from right, is played by boardwalk empire star vincent piazza.
Tommy devito bob gaudio rue sainte catherine 20th century music frankie valli jersey boys motown throwback thursday kinds of music. Singerguitarist tommy devito was a founding member of the four seasons, and he. Jun 20, 2014 four season tommy devito faces the jersey boys. Tommy devito, portrayed by vincent piazza in the movie, was in and out of prison. Frankie valli faces trial for ripping off his own life story in jersey boys. It was the four seasons of newark, who matched the fab four hitbyhit on the vee jay records 1964 release the beatles vs.
Back to belleville with four seasons bad boy tommy. Devito was born in belleville, new jersey, the youngest of nine children in an italianamerican family. 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. Thats not easy in the best of circumstances, and hanging out in newark was certainly not the best of circumstances. May 08, 2015 real jersey boy tommy devito from the group the four seasons dined at andiamo italian steakhouse inside the d las vegas on thursday night. Along with henry hill, jimmy burke, and paul vario, desimone was known for the famed lufthansa heist.
Brotherhood, mafia ties backbone of 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. Jersey boys movie vs true story real frankie valli. He took his most famous stage name after country singer texas jean valley. Tommy and the boys is a funny and entertaining look at four seasons founder tommy devito, and his group of friends, real jersey boys. Tommy devito was a character in martin scorseses academy awardwinning 1990 mafia epic goodfellas. Jersey boys returns and its just too good to be true. 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. L to r actor joe pesci joins tommy devito, bob gaudio and frankie valli of frankie valli and the four seasons onstage during the. Jersey boys birthday screening for tommy devito video. The story of the four seasons was bought to the stage in the long running tony awardwinning broadway musical j ersey boys in 2006. Nov 24, 20 brotherhood, mafia ties backbone of the four seasons story.
Frankie valli faces trial for ripping off his own life story in jersey. After the group broke up, devito and fellow group member frankie valli formed a group that eventually became the four seasons. Frankie valli took me at 16, and used me in decadeslong. 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. Devito got his musical start with his brother nick devito and hank read full biography.
For those who dont know the story behind frankie valli and the four seasons, the show is heartwrenching, triumphant and euphoric, showcasing the highs and lows of each members life. 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. He also borrows from the four seasons account the band sold. Tommy devito musician born 1928, american musician and singer, member of the four seasons tommy devito, character in the film goodfellas portrayed by joe pesci, based on real life gangster thomas desimone. Who is frankie vallis of the four seasons daughter. Jersey boys 2014 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. As she remembers it, she loved the four seasons more than anything, even at. A film of the same name hit the big screen in 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.
In the movie, john lloyd young stars as frankie valli left, erich bergen as bob gaudio second from left, vincent piazza as tommy devito. Friends for all four seasons what pushes the limits of mens friendships. 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. Several of the four seasons members had been behind bars at one time or another, most notably tommy devito and nick massi. Frankie valli tells all for jersey boys grammys youtube. 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 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. Devito got his musical start with his brother nick devito and hank majewski in a new jersey group called the variety trio. 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. Singerguitarist tommy devito was a founding member of the four seasons, and he performed and recorded with the group from 1961 to 1971. Frankie valli faces trial for ripping off his own life story. 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.
Jun 15, 2014 the actor went through a rock n roll boot camp in order to play tommy devito, lead guitarist of the four seasons, for the film opening friday. Bandmates frankie valli and bob gaudio assumed the burd. Tommy devito is also the name of pescis old acquaintance from belleville, new jersey, and a member of the four seasons, but contrary to popular belief, the naming is coincidental. He committed numerous murders, including of made man william bentvena in 1970, and in 1979 went missing, presumably murdered himself. Jun 19, 2014 frankie valli, frontman of the iconic grammynominated quartet the four seasons, recently visited the grammy museum to discuss his childhood in new jersey, forming the four seasons and being. 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. Frankie valli faces trial for ripping off his own life. Apr 29, 2018 tommy desimone was so unhinged in real life that it helped joe pesci win an oscar for the 1990 film goodfellas, in which the actor played tommy devito, a character based on the violent gangster. One of the most longlived and successful white vocal groups of the 60s, the four seasons scored a series of smash hit singles between 1962 and 1967 featuring the shrill piercing falsetto three octave voice of frankie valli. Tommy and the boys tommy devito from the four seasons youtube. Sort by a z z a by date view 20 per page 40 per page 60 per page 80 per page. 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. In both the show and the movie, tommy is the freespending gambler who ends up owinghuge debtsto the mob, around 160 large. Tommy devito pauses during a recording session with artist michelle v in his las vegas studio.
Tommy devito of the four seasons dines at andiamo eater. Find highquality tommy devito stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. 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. Valli and nick massi were both born and raised in newark and tommy devito grew up in. Guitaristsinger tommy devito was a key member of the phenomenally successful pop group the four seasons throughout their 60s heyday. Real jersey boy tommy devito from the group the four seasons dined at andiamo italian steakhouse inside the d las vegas on thursday night. April kirkwoods decadeslong love affair with frankie valli began when she was just 6 years old. 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. It begins in the 1980s when a journalist named rex woodard became friendly with four seasons member tommy devito. Along with the broadway play, the new film jersey boys highlights bob gaudios role in the four seasons. Tommy devito of the four seasons dines at andiamo eater vegas. Tell it to the rain by frankie valli and the four seasons lyrics. Four seasons singer a real jersey boy jersey retro.
The germination of the group, its spring, is told by may as tommy devito, the new jersey hustler who put together the string of groups that eventually became the four seasons between heists and. It begins in the 1980s when a journalist named rex woodard became friendly with four seasons member tommy devito in the course of. May 01, 2019 from 19621978, frankie valli and the four seasons sold over 100 million records. But by the time the band enjoyed a short comeback in the mid. Jersey boys movie vs true story real frankie valli, tommy. Tommy devito was born in belleville on tuesday, june 19, 1928 silent generation. Jersey boys movie vs true story real frankie valli, tommy devito. Was a member of the four lovers, who had a minor hit in 1956 with youre the apple of my eye rca records. Yeah, i went to jail seven or eight times, says devito. Review nostalgia carries jersey boys for a while, but.
Artist biography by william ruhlmann singerguitarist tommy devito was a founding member of the four seasons, and he performed and recorded with the group from 1961 to 1971. 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. 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 the four seasons clashed, dealt with the mob and made. How the creators of the jersey boys got a call from the mafia. Was it true that frankie valli repaid all the debts of the.
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. Oh, what a night the night frankie valli and the four seasons got busted in cleveland. Following the performance, devito and his family went backstage to meet with the cast, discussed the productions success over the past eight years and to take photos. Tommy devito, an original member of the four seasons, revisits his hometown haunts as jersey boys takes broadway by storm. Frankie valli, frontman of the iconic grammynominated quartet the four seasons, recently visited the grammy museum to discuss his childhood in new jersey, forming the four seasons.
Woodward to write his biography detailing the groups unknown past including time spent in prison. In jersey boys, the four seasons get busted in cleveland. On friday evening, september 9, 2016, original four seasons member tommy devito was spotted attending the smashhit musical jersey boys at paris las vegas. Tommy devito, charlie calello and frankie valli of the four seasons pose for a photo in 1966. The four seasons tommy devito, bob gaudio, frankie valli, and nick massi on the steve allen show peanuts by frankie valli and the four seasons. Vincent piazza walked like a man as four seasons founder. Tommy devito musician born 1928, american musician and singer, member of the four seasons tommy devito, character in the film goodfellas portrayed by joe pesci, based on reallife gangster thomas desimone disambiguation page providing links to topics that could be referred to by the same search term. He and the remaining members of the four seasons reunited in 2005 for a performance commemorating the opening of the tonywinning.