Oct 02, 2015 frankie valli faces trial over rights to own life story for four seasons musical jersey boys. I saw the jersey boys movie and play, i prefer the movie version. In both the show and the movie, tommy is the freespending gambler who ends up owing huge debts to the mob, around 160 large. How the four seasons clashed, dealt with the mob and made.
Tommy devito was a driving force behind the tremendous popularity and ultimate success of the four seasons in the 60s. In the 1980s, four seasons member tommy devito commissioned woodard to write his biography, but. The movie depicts the mob forcing tommy devito to go live in las vegas, in turn kicking him out of the band. Also, tommy devito is a character portrayed by joe pesci in goodfellas. Frankie valli faces trial for ripping off his own life. Jersey boys movie vs true story real frankie valli, tommy devito. Frankie valli faces trial over rights to own life story for four seasons musical jersey boys.
Who is frankie vallis of the four seasons daughter. Isaac brekken joseph leo bwarie channels frankie valli as he sings the four seasons breakout hit single sherry in jersey boys, the broadway musical that tells the story of four workingclass. Valli and his creative partner, writerkeyboardist bob gaudio, were very involved in the development of both the show and the movie. Also known as tommy d, desimone, who was a friend of henry hill, and a partner in the gang which was. He was best known as a founding member, baritone vocalist, and lead guitarist of the rock band the four seasons. Tommy devito born june 19, 1928 is an american musician and singer. 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. Devito and fellow group member frankie valli formed a group that eventually became the four seasons.
Oct 02, 2014 frankie valli sits down to talk about jersey boys, the four seasons. Tommy devito musician simple english wikipedia, the. Tommy devito was born on june 19, 1928 in belleville, new jersey, usa. With john lloyd young, erich bergen, michael lomenda, vincent piazza. 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 and bob gaudios uneasy relationship with jersey boys. But the broadway musical and film jersey boys changed that. Theatrical roots john lloyd young, left, and vincent piazza star as frankie valli and tommy devito of the four seasons.
On friday evening, september 9, 2016, original four seasons member tommy devito was spotted attending the smashhit musical jersey boys at paris las vegas. Singerguitarist tommy devito was a founding member of the four seasons, and he performed and recorded with the group from 1961 to 1971. 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. Devito got his musical start with his brother nick devito and hank read full biography. Jun 22, 2014 theatrical roots john lloyd young, left, and vincent piazza star as frankie valli and tommy devito of the four seasons. He is a musician best known for being one of the members of the band called the four seasons. Jersey boys movie vs true story real frankie valli. In jersey boys, the four seasons get busted in cleveland. Jersey boys 2014 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Did some of the four seasons members really have prison records.
Valli stands by bandmate tommy devito even as the latter nearly brings. 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. Frankie valli faces trial for ripping off his own life story. Devito was born in belleville, new jersey, the youngest of nine children in an italianamerican family. 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. Devito celebrated his 86th birthday thursday with a special las vegas screening of the clint eastwooddirected film in his honor. Whether some license was taken in depicting the male bond between frankie valli and tommy devito in jersey boys the musical and the clint eastwooddirected movie about the life and times of the. Valli, devito and massi had been performing together. Devito got his musical start with his brother nick devito and hank majewski in a new jersey group called the variety trio. This site is tommys personal page, but is managed by the upcoming documentary my. Et june 20, 2014 vincent piazza as tommy devito in a scene. Going into the movie i knew and liked the four seasons music, but was unsure if i would like the movie it would not have been my first or second pick to go see. Original band members frankie valli and bob gaudio who also composed the films music serve as executive producers. It sounds like tommy may have been a bullshier, but.
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. Bob gaudio, tommy devito, charlie calello and frankie valli of the four seasons pose for a photo in 1966. Jersey boys movie vs true story real frankie valli, tommy. 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. Tommy devito birthday bash and special screening of jersey. See more ideas about frankie valli, jersey boys and tommy devito. Despite joe pesci having been friends with the four seasons members, specifically tommy devito, the character named tommy devito that joe pesci plays in director martin scorseses 1990 film goodfellas is not based on the four seasons band member. Jun 19, 2014 the four seasons was a little before my time, however, i love their music.
Also known as tommy d, desimone, who was a friend of henry hill, and a partner in the gang which was under. Frankie valli faces trial for ripping off his own life story in jersey. 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. 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. Jersey boys the film is based on jersey boys the play, which tells the. Frankie valli faces trial over rights to own life story for. Tommy devito vincent piazza, bob gaudio erich bergen, frankie valli john lloyd young and nick massi michael lomenda make up the scrappy four seasons quartet in jersey boys. Was tommy devito really kicked out of the four seasons and forced to go live in las vegas. Singerguitarist tommy devito was a founding member of the four seasons, and he. He, nick massi and frankie valli real name francis castelluccio were tough street punks from new jerseys rougher neighborhoods in.
He is known for his work on the good shepherd 2006, casino 1995 and 8 heads in a duffel bag 1997. 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. Valli, devito and massi had been performing together for years before they met gaudio in. The four seasons tommy devito archivefranktortorici 06181999 guitaristsinger tommy devito was a key member of the phenomenally successful pop group the four seasons throughout their 60s heyday. Tommy devito was a character in martin scorseses academy awardwinning 1990 mafia epic goodfellas.
Jun 26, 2014 tommy devito was the founder of the group. He and bassist joe long were members of the rock group the four seasons. 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. Though the movie doesnt always glamorize their backstage life, it takes a benign, even noble view of the two principals. 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. If you didnt watch out, frankie says, you could wind up in the trunk of a car. Jun 19, 2014 tommy devito vincent piazza, bob gaudio erich bergen, frankie valli john lloyd young and nick massi michael lomenda make up the scrappy four seasons quartet in jersey boys. This site is tommy s personal page, but is managed by the upcoming documentary my jersey boy staff. Frankie valli sits down to talk about jersey boys, the four. The four seasons also were the first group to double the lead singer, which made their albums stand out. L to r actor joe pesci joins tommy devito, bob gaudio and frankie. 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. Frankie valli faces trial over rights to own life story.
Frankie valli sits down to talk about jersey boys, the. Tommy devito was born on 19 june 1928, in belleville, new jersey usa, of italian descent. Nov 24, 20 the four seasons also were the first group to double the lead singer, which made their albums stand out. Of course, what really sold the stage show were the songs. 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. The new jersey boys musical was showcased in the broadway theatre in 2005. Tommy devitos tough times now behind him jersey boys blog. Tommy talks about his tough early days of poverty and abuse, his wild life of fame and fortune as the founder of the.
See more ideas about tommy devito, frankie valli and jersey boys. Vincent piazza walked like a man as four seasons founder. Pesci won the academy award for best supporting actor for this depiction. The band expanded to a quartet and changed its name to.
This band was one of the most famous rock bands of the 1950s and 60s. 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. Desimone was portrayed by joe pesci in the 1990 movie goodfellas, renamed tommy devito. 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. The story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in new jersey who came together to form the iconic 1960s rock group the four seasons. He is known for his work on the good shepherd 2006. Brotherhood, mafia ties backbone of the four seasons story. 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. Brotherhood, mafia ties backbone of the four seasons. How the four seasons clashed, dealt with the mob and. 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. He, nick massi and frankie valli real name francis castelluccio were tough street punks from new jerseys rougher neighborhoods in newark and belleville. 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.
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. Frankie valli sits down to talk about jersey boys, the four seasons. The four seasons was a little before my time, however, i love their music. How joe pesci connects jersey boys and goodfellas time. Back to belleville with four seasons bad boy tommy. 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. The four seasons were inducted into the 2017 new jersey hall of fame in the performing arts category. 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. Frankie valli and bob gaudios uneasy relationship with. Jersey boys birthday screening for tommy devito video. Here, the jersey boys true story contradicts the movie, at least according to the real tommy devito. 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.
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