5 Things You May Not Know About Frankie Valli

Lauren Novak January 28, 7:25 pm

LOS ANGELES - 1979: Singer Frankie Valli poses for a portrait in 1979 in Los Angeles, California. — Harry Langdon/Getty Images

Frankie Valli is a name that’s practically synonymous with timeless hits like “Walk Like a Man,” “Rag Doll,” and “Grease,” thanks to his signature falsetto and decades-spanning career. Soon, his music will be recognized with the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 Grammys. You may know that Jersey Boys was based on his life and that he’s still out there performing at 90 years old, but there’s a lot you might not know about the man behind the Four Seasons. Here are five fascinating facts about Frankie Valli that might surprise you:

1 Tragic loss that shaped him

Singer Frankie Valli performs onstage during the Venice Family Clinic Silver Circle Gala 2016 honoring Brett Ratner and Bill Flumenbaum at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on March 7, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Venice Family Clinic

Valli had six children, three sons and three daughters, but suffered an unimaginable loss when two of his daughters passed away less than a year apart. In 1980, his stepdaughter Celia died in a car accident. Just six months later, his daughter Francine tragically passed away from a drug overdose.

2 His real age was a music industry secret for years

Italian-American vocal group The Four Seasons with their album 'The 4 Seasons' Gold Vault Of Hits', which has gone gold after a million dollars in sales, circa 1966. Left to right: Joe Long (1932 - 2021), Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

When the Four Seasons finally hit it big, there was one problem … record labels thought they were too old. Compared to The Beach Boys, they were a full decade older, which made marketing them to teenagers tricky. Valli was actually 28 when “Sherry” became a hit, but his record company insisted he was 25. However, when Valli was arrested for skipping out on hotel fees, his mugshot confirmed the truth by showcasing his actual birthday.

3 The Four Seasons released music under a different name

Italian-American vocal group The Four Seasons, circa 1963. Left to right: Frankie Valli, Tommy DeVito, Bob Gaudio and Nick Massi (1935 - 2000)

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

In 1965, Valli and the Four Seasons pulled off a musical experiment that most fans never even realized. Due to contract restrictions, they released two singles under a completely different name: The Wonder Who. Their cover of Bob Dylan‘s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” actually charted at #12 on the U.S. pop charts, proving that Valli’s voice was unmistakable, no matter what name he used.

4 He performed for Vietnam veterans in a historic TV special

On July 4, 1987, Valli and the Four Seasons took part in a significant moment in American television history. As part of an all-day HBO special honoring Vietnam veterans called Welcome Home, the group performed some of their biggest hits, including “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” The performance was more than just a concert and showed Valli’s deep respect for the men and women in uniform.

5 He once made a guest appearance on Full House with his son

Did you know he also made a guest appearance on Full House? In 1995, he and his son Francesco Valli appeared in an episode called “D.J.’s Choice.” In the episode, two boys are fighting over D.J.’s attention, and one of them hires Valli himself to serenade her. Do you remember the episode?

Frankie Valli Shares Statement After Fans Become Concerned of His Health

He's currently on tour until April 2025.

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