Bob Gaudio

Growing Up

Born on November 17th 1942 in Bronx, New York

Talented in music, said to be a musical prodigy

Moved to Bergenfield, New Jersey Attended high school at Bergen field

New Jersey Formed a band called the Royal

Teens

Musical Career Beginning

He co-wrote and released “Short Shorts” in 1957 Short Shorts

Dropped out of high school at the age of 16 Toured with the Royal teens Quit the Royal Teens when he was 17

Four Seasons

Gaudio was introduced to the Four Lovers (Tommy Devito, Frankie Valli, Nick Massi)

Name was changed to the Four Seasons Gaudio co-wrote, played keyboard, vocals

for the group Back up singing until a hit was written

Sherry

Song was needed to show Valli’s voice

Number one hit on billboard Took less time to write this song then

to produce it Name before Sherry was Terry, then

Jackie (Jackie Kennedy) Released in 1962

Sherry: Guide to Listening

0:00 listen for the instruments 0:18 listen for the solo voice of

Frankie Valli 0:48 the start of the first verse of the

song. Listen for the baritone voice. 2:33 the tenor voice does a solo

again as the others mimic Sherry

Big Girls Don’t Cry

Released after Sherry in October 1962

Reason behind the song was a John Payne Movie

Can be heard in movies such as: Dirty Dancing The Main Event

Big Girls Don’t Cry: Listening Guide

0:00- Drums start the beat. Clapping starts through out the song. Tempo is fast

0:02- Chorus begins with the singers in unison

0:10 Key board plays starting the melody

0:20 Tenor is in the same octave as bass

2:04- Chorus begins vocals and only the clapping

Big Girls Don't Cry

Walk Like A Man

Released in March 1963 Song written for Frankie Valli’s Voice Written for break ups The third single to hit number one

Listening Guide for: Walk Like a Man

0:00- Drums start the beat. Tempo is moderato with a quadruple meter.

1:01 Chorus: Tenor breaks off and sings higher part of the song

1:33- Coda: The chorus is repeated as the previous choruses

Walk Like A Man

December 1963 (Oh What A night)

Written by Bob Gaudio and wife Judy Parker

Was supposed to be December 5th 1933: Prohibition Law

Made as a love song Miss-leading information in

Broadway show “Jersey Boys”

Listening Guide: December 1963 (OH! What A Night)

0:00 – Drums set the meter, tempo is allegretto

0:50- Chorus begins 1:47- instrumental part one, trumpet

like sound 3:00- Repetition of “Oh What A

Night” December 1963 (Oh What A Night)

Rag Doll

Song written after a little girl Wrote song in a basement in

Manhattan Used on the tour that started that

next week

Listening Guide: Rag Doll

0:00- Drums start, moderate tempo, quadruple meter

0:06- Vocalists sing “Ooh”, the tambourine is introduced

0:44-Verse one begins, chords emphasize words

2:28- Tenor sings a high note, clapping begins

More Writing

Co-wrote all songs for “Rag Doll LP” album

Released in July of 1964 Next single, “Save it For Me” “Big Man In Town” October 1964 “Big Man In Town” top 20 billboard

Solo Act For Frankie Valli

Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe wrote the song

“I Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” Number two on billboard charts April

1967 Continued to write for the Four

Seasons

Signing and Writing

1968 notice only singles were being sold

Songwriting partnership with Jake Holmes

Nick Massi quit the Four Seasons Wrote songs for Frankie’s album

Timeless Signed deal with Columbia Records

Gazette Records

Focus On Writing

1970 Four seasons left Phillip Records

Motown Records 1972 Tommy Devito left the group Gaudio decided to focus on writing Produced for Broadway

Pippin

Producing

Less involvement in Four Seasons Wrote “Fallen Angel” for Valli 1976 Produced for Neil Diamond

Platinum album “I Am Glad You Are Here with Me Tonight”

“Jazz Singer” Sound Track Worked with Barry Manilow

Hall of Fame

Inducted into the Hall of Fame Released Four Seasons Album Hope

+ Glory Inducted to the Songwriters Hall of

Fame 1995 Gaudio and Valli wrote Grammy

Award winning Broadway show “Jersey Boys”

Pictures:

Pictures used from: http://

lisabirle.blogspot.com/2010/01/valli-girl.html

http://jerseyboysblog.com/bob-gaudios-first-group-the-royal-teens/1273

Pictures Continued

http://www.last.fm/music/Bob+Gaudio

http://broadwayworld.com/printcolumn.php?id=9707

http://eventmonsters.com/MyEvents.php?EventID=206368&city=Columbus

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20364394_20190539,00.html

Bibliography

Ruhlmann, William. All Music. 2004. 2 October 2011 <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-gaudio-p79232/biography>.

Wiser, Carl. Song Facts. 1997. 29 September 2011 <http://www.songfacts.com>.

Wordpress. Jersey Boys Blog. 2 March 2011. 3 October 2011 <2011>.