Frankie Valli believed singing was his vocation from an early age while growing up in Newark, New Jersey.
Let’s just say that the 89-year-old legend has made a lot of progress since moving out of his rough, working-class neighborhood, and it makes people happy to see him now.
With his distinct three-octave range and unparalleled falsetto voice, Frankie Valli came to represent the mid-1950s American bubble-gum era, which was characterized by drive-in theaters and soda shops. His songs are still relevant to audiences today, a sign of the caliber and passion of his work, even after all this time.
Frankie’s love for singing began when he was seven years old, when his mother took him to see a young Frank Sinatra perform at the Paramount Theater in Manhattan. This encounter had a profound effect on him and helped him realize his long-held goal of becoming a popular singer.
“Because I did this for his mother, he kind of adopted me as a friend. For a decade or so, we had a tight relationship. Valli remarked, “Every time I saw him, it was a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.”
Frankie started singing with the men on street corners, and it wasn’t an easy road to popularity. Before becoming successful in the music business, he had a variety of occupations while growing up in downtown Newark, including truck driving, golf caddying, and barbering (like his father).
Frankie Valli and his band, The Four Seasons, became one of the biggest performers in the world when they rose to prominence in the early 1960s. The Four Seasons became well-known when hits like “Walk Like a Man,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Sherry” topped the charts.
Fans loved Frankie because of his distinctive falsetto voice, which was instantly recognizable. More quickly than any record since Elvis Presley’s debut, “Sherry” shot to the top of the charts.
Frankie put out a number of albums under his own name when he was a member of The Four Seasons. With The Four Seasons, he was extremely successful, collecting 29 top 40 successes. He also had an amazing solo career, garnering nine more top 40 hits.
In 1990, Frankie received recognition by being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside Tommy DeVito, Nick Massi, and Bob Gaudio, his fellow members of Four Seasons.
Valli is regarded as a key figure in the history of rock and roll today. The legendary musician is still involved in the business and has been performing and touring for a long time. The 89-year-old artist, who is currently a resident of California, has not indicated that he intends to retire anytime soon.
Trace Adkins Reflects on Toby Keith’s Patriotic Legacy, Delivering an Emotional Rendition of ‘American Soldier’
Adkins said, quoting Keith, “Never apologize for being patriotic,” from the platform.
On July 29, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee, Trace Adkins takes the stage at Bridgestone Arena. Image courtesy of Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Universal Music Group
In the two-hour NBC program Toby Keith: American Icon, Trace Adkins paid a moving homage to Toby Keith, recalling their many years of traveling together and the significant influence Keith had via his patriotism.
Adkins was one of the few artists that really know Toby Keith and the man behind the scenes, having been friends with Keith for many years and going on tours with. Adkins paused to remember the poignant message that Keith conveyed at the conclusion of each of his live performances before giving an incredibly emotional and beautiful rendition of “American Solider” in honor of Keith and his dedication to the military.
“I’ve known Toby for a very long time, and we did a lot of gigs together while on multiple tours together. I seem to recall that at the end of each performance he gave, he would always say, “Never apologize for being patriotic.” Every night, he said that, Adkins noted. And since, my God, he really did believe that, I realized while he was saying it that it was both a challenge to the rest of us and a window into Toby Keith’s personality.
Keith lived what he preached, and Adkins praised him for it. Keith had undertaken 11 USO Tours, performing in front of 256,000 soldiers and military families in 18 nations at over 285 engagements.
“He had a deep-rooted love and respect for the men and women who have served this country.” It was real, authentic, and meaningful. With a rich, baritone voice, he remarked, “I always respected him so much for that.” “Toby is someone I could talk about all night, but for now I’ll just say that I’m glad I got to know him and call him a friend. We miss you, Toby. Thank you.
Trace Adkins performed “American Solider” in a terrifying manner a short while later. On the screen behind him, pictures of Toby Keith and his numerous USO Tours displayed during his performance. Toby Keith: American Icon gave a truly remarkable performance, and it was undoubtedly an emotional time.
Written by Keith and Chuck Cannon, “American Solider” was published in November 2003. It can be found on the album Hi Shock’n Y’all and has an RIAA Platinum certification.
Among the many famous country musicians that gave their all to pay tribute to the late Toby Keith was Trace Adkins. Priscilla Block, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Jordan Davis, Scotty Emerick, Brett Favre, Brantley Gilbert, Riley Green, HARDY, Tyler Hubbard, Jamey Johnson, Krystal Keith, Ella Langley, Mac McAnally, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Leanne Morgan, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Clay Walker, and Lainey Wilson were among the performers and special guests on the two-hour special.
The special featured a variety of musical performances that showcased Keith’s amazing songwriting and music, but it also emphasized his kindness and generosity by supporting The Toby Keith Foundation’s OK Kids Korral and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Families from both groups seemed to tell the stories of how they were helped and supported when things were really hard.
NBC broadcast Toby Keith: American Icon on Wednesday, August 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The next day, Peacock will offer the episode for streaming.
On February 5, 2024, the legendary country music performer Toby Keith departed from this life due to stomach cancer. He had an astounding 32 No. 1 hits over his career and sold an astounding 40 million albums.
Given that he has achieved a chart-topping hit for 20 years running, including “How Do You Like Me Now?!,” “Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American),” “I Love This Bar,” “Beer For My Horses,” and “As Good As I Once Was,” it should come as no surprise that he is considered one of country music’s biggest hitmakers.
In addition to being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (after being admitted into the all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015), he has been awarded the National Medal of Arts and the prestigious Merle Haggard Spirit Award by the Academy of Country Music.
The Oklahoma native won three BMI Country Songwriter of the Year awards over his career in addition to the BMI Icon Award. In 2006, his popular song “As Good As I Once Was” won BMI’s Country Song of the Year.
To date, Toby Keith’s music has received 100 million terrestrial radio spins and over 10 billion streaming.
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