Robby Robinson joined forces with singer Frankie Valli in 1978, when “Grease (is the Word)” – the title song of the blockbuster movie – hit No. 1 and sold more than 1 million copies.
He’s been in charge of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ musical arrangements, the touring backing band and each set of four “Seasons” vocalists that have performed with Valli since then. “The seasons change, as you might say,” he said of the rotating personnel over the course of 41 years. “The whole band, with a couple exceptions, has been here a couple of years.”
For those that have come to appreciate the group’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career from the “Jersey Boys” movie and Tony-winning musical, it will come as a surprise that “the original Seasons never danced like (the actors and the current Four Seasons) did.”
“‘Jersey Boys’ took its vibe from our stage show,” said Robinson. You can see for yourself Aug. 1 at the Wind Creek Event Center (formerly the Sands Bethlehem Event Center) in Bethlehem.
But don’t get the idea that Robinson’s knocking “Jersey Boys.” “It gave this music to a whole new audience. It’s amazing. (At concerts) we see teenagers, (and adults in their) 20s, 30s, on up to as old as you wanna get,” he said.
The concert will be approximately two hours with no intermission. At 85 years old, Valli “is gonna come out on stage and blow people away with his showmanship and singing,” Robinson said. “He’s a freak of nature. He’s rocking out, singing like a bird, engaging audiences in ways only he can go.”
Although the 1960s era hits with high falsetto singing – such as “Sherry” and “Walk Like a Man” – have had to have their original key lowered for the purposes of being performed on a concert tour schedule, Valli’s solo hits – like “My Eyes Adored You,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and “Swearin’ to God” – remain unaltered.
He didn’t anticipate performing songs like “Big Girls Don’t Cry” more than 55 years in the future, however, Robinson said, “Frankie is totally engaged in this … because he has an amazing passion for the music.
He was born for the stage, and lives for the stage, and he loves his audience.”
