Born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio, better known as Frankie, a certain Italian-American was told early on that should he make it as a singer, his surname was 'a little long for marquees.' Opting for Valley, then the Italianised Valli, his new name would gain worldwide acclaim over the next five decades and counting.

He may have started out barbering, but sweet soul-pop harmonies was where he cut it best, to such extent that Frankie Valli is now rated as one of the longest serving and most successful singers in the business. From 1962 to 1978 alone, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons sold more than 100 million records.

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Source: http://www.italymagazine.com