montevon profile picture

montevon

Music is the universal language of mankind.~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

About Me

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I am a former agent/manager/promoter of several major label recording artists, while I'm no longer in the biz , my love for music still soars. Looking to reconnect with old friends from the past and well as, new friends that love the oldies but goodies!...Need buddies to hang out with and soak up the NW music scene.
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Myspace Layouts at Pimp-My-Profile.com / Guitarz


One of the most long-lived and successful white vocal groups of the '60s, The Four Seasons scored a series of smash hit singles between 1962 and 1967 featuring the shrill piercing falsetto (three octave) voice of Frankie Valli. During their  nearly 40 year career Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons sold over a 100 million records making them the most long lived and successful white doo wop group.
BEGGIN'
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Following the group's initial wave of success in 1956, the quartet performed three times on the Ed Sullivan Show and found themselves rubbing elbows with another rising star, Elvis Presley.
By 1960, Bob Guadio and Nick Massi had replaced Nick DeVito and Hank Majewski. In 1961 the group changed their named to The Four Seasons after a bowling alley in Union, New Jersey where they were turned down for a cocktail-lounge job. The group recorded the unsuccessful "Bermuda" for Gone Records. before signing with Vee-Jee Records, help of writer-producer Bob Crewe. With Guadio and Crewe acting as principal songwriters, the group a #1 hit with Gaudio's "Sherry" in the late summer of 1962.Crewe/Guadio's "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Walk Like a Man" became top pop and R&B hits followed by pop hits "Candy Girl," "Stay," and "Alone."
CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF OF YOU
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RAG DOLL
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At the beginning of their career, the Four Seasons viewed the Beach Boys as their only American rivals. In 1962, with the help of writer-producer Bob Crewe,  the group signed a recording contract with  Vee Jay Records--becoming the label's first white act--their star rose so high that they became virtually untouchable by the competition. A year later, the Beatles were signed to the same label, but the Four Seasons would manage to survive the British Invasion
  


In 1962, the group recorded its first megahit, "Sherry," written by Four Season keyboardist and tenor Bob Gaudio. The song was reportedly a peace offering from producer Bob Crew, who had infuriated Valli by allowing Elvis Presley to record what would become the smash single "Don't Be Cruel." "Sherry" received limited airplay until an appearance on Dick Clark's television show American Bandstand catapulted the song to the top of the pop charts, earning the group its first gold record. Indeed, "Sherry" was one of the fastest-rising songs ever released.
SHERRY
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LETS HANG ON

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The song was quickly followed by a second hit, "Big Girls Don't Cry," also written by Gaudio. Both tunes were certified platinum after remaining Number One hits for five weeks each. The Four Seasons had found their sound and continued to score in 1963 with "Walk Like a Man," "Ain't That a Shame," "Candy Girl," and "Marlena."
WALK LIKE A MAN
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CANDY GIRL
..DAWN
.. In 1964, following contractual disputes with Vee Jay, the Four Seasons signed with Philips Records and enjoyed a golden year, placing six songs in the Top Twenty: "Stay," "Dawn (Go Away)," "Ronnie," "Rag Doll"--a Number One hit--"Save It for Me," and "Big Man in Town."
BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY
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WORKIN MY WAY BACK TO YOU
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LITTLE DARIN'
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In 1965 Massi left, but Valli and the Four Seasons continued on a roll, releasing numerous songs each year through 1968. Their 1966 arrangement of Cole Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin" was also an early hit for Frank Sinatra, who became a friend of Valli's. In fact, the Four Seasons performed at the Paramount Theater for a crowd of screaming female fans 20 years after Valli had so admired Sinatra's performance there. One memorable Four Seasons tune, "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," made it to the Number Two slot in 1967. And though the Four Seasons sold nearly 80 million records during their peak years, Valli continued to drive an old car and live in a housing project until the mid-1960s, when success finally seemed real.
MY EYES ADORED YOU
Life in the fast lane came to an abrupt halt for the Four Seasons in 1968 with the release of Genuine Imitation Life Gazette. Having strayed from their heretofore surefire formula to produce what has been called the group's attempt at a "relevant" or progressive album, the Four Seasons were faced with their first monumental failure. It was around this time that Bob Crew ended his association with Valli and company, Gaudio assuming the role of producer. Further difficulties loomed when the strain of constant touring, compounded by litigation with Philips Records, pitted the Seasons against one another. In 1970, Philips released Half and Half, featuring the single "Patch of Blue," which rose only as high as Number 94.
WHO LOVES YOU
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For several years the group languished without a label, until they joined Mo-West, Motown's subsidiary on the West Coast. And with the exception of the 1972 Mo-West album Chameleon, the Four Seasons did not record together again until 1975. Valli, however, made a solo comeback in 1974 with the mellow number "My Eyes Adored You," a Number One hit that was eventually certified double platinum. Two more singles, 1975's "Swearin' to God" and "Our Day Will Come," solidified his return to the limelight. 

In 1975 the Four Seasons united to record the Warner Bros. release "Who Loves You," co-written by Gaudio, which pushed them back into the Top Ten. The following year, they went all the way to Number One--for the first time in over a decade--with the infectious coming-of-age ditty "December 1963 (Oh What a Night)," also co-penned by Gaudio.
STAY
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Valli continued to record with the Four Seasons until their breakup in 1977. He also concentrated on his solo act but did not score another significant success until 1978. With the release of Grease, the soundtrack of the phenomenally popular movie for which Valli sang the title track, some of his lost audience was reclaimed and a whole new crowd of swooning teenagers won over. The film, which was set in the 1950s and starred Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta, also provided Valli with a bit of acting experience--in a cameo role playing himself. Many of the album's songs were written by Bee Gee Barry Gibb, which undoubtedly helped the disc soar to its Number One position during the height of the disco era, created in part by the Bee Gee's record-selling soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. Valli was at the zenith of his career with a triple-platinum hit.
DECEMEBER 1963
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The following decade saw Valli and Guadio re-formed The Four Seasons in 1980 and formed FBI Records in 1984. They also recorded and occasionally toured with a new Four Seasons, by this time comprised of six members. Many of the original group's best-known songs became standard fare for club and concert performances
YOU'VE GOT ME UNDER YOUR SKIN
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1992 found Valli working on a new solo album as well as promoting the Four Seasons disc Hope and Glory. 

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons were recognized in 1990 for their impact on popular music with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside other classic acts such as The Who and the Four Tops. Considering his still-driving energy, it seemed likely that Valli's famous falsetto would delight listeners for another 30 years.
peace and love, montevon

My Interests


WELCOME EVERYBODY! I"M SO GLAD YOU'VE DROPPED BY....PLEASE, TAKE SOME TIME AND DURING THE INTRO SONG...SCAN AROUND MY SITE, CHECK OUT THE DIFFERENT FEATURE AREAS....WHEN THE INTRO SONG IS OVER, GO BACK AND ENTER THE FEATURE AREA, YOU WISH TO EXPERIENCE...THIS SITE IS DOUBLE WIDE...SO BE SURE TO SCHOLL

THE RAIDERS AND THE KINGSMEN ON THE SAME STAGE JAMMING!

LOUIE LOUIE The Kingsmen
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PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS-KICKS!
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REALLY RARE RAIDERS VIDEO!
Paul Revere & The Raiders-Ooh Poo Pa Doo

Add to My Profile | More Videos

I'd like to meet:

ROOTS OF ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC LOVERS!

Click on the great cartoon above by mikael oskarsson of rock-n-history! Or check the series at www.webcomicsnation.com/mikaeloskarsson/rock/series



.. Some of my favorite videos of some of my friends..enjoy!

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montevon's
Featured NW Artist!
THE SONICS-SHE"S A WITCH .. .. .. .. ....

Music:

ALL KINDS OF Rock-n-Roll, Country, Classical, Standards, Jazz, R & B!

Just a few more of my buddies and clients from the past. MORE I either promoted, booked or managed these legends of rock at one point of time... some are still great friends, others I'd love to hear from.... ..

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Movies:

More of my friends and groups of the past...the list is long!

Television:

ROCKSTAR Super Nova... Here's a few more legends of the past and groups I've worked with....

Books:

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Get this video and more at MySpace.com ..

Heroes:

My Brother, Johnny Carson,Bob Hope, Sir Paul .. .... JOHNNY CARSON SHOW-

My Blog

WHO LOVES YOU?

Who loves you pretty baby,Who's gonna help you through the night?Who loves you pretty mama,Who's always there to make it right?Who loves you pretty baby,Who's gonna help you through the night?Who love...
Posted by montevon on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:40:00 PST

You Think..

You think I'd leave your side baby? You know me better than that You think I'd leave down when your down on your knees? I wouldn't do that I'll do you right when your wrong I-----ohhh, ohhh If only yo...
Posted by montevon on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 08:59:00 PST

I Believe...

I believe that the sun shines after the rainI believe if you don't get hurt you'll never gainI believe in not doing things the easy wayI believe that being selfish doesn't payI believe in a second cha...
Posted by montevon on Sat, 19 Apr 2008 12:59:00 PST

WHO AM I?

Some think they can buy me, others say they cannot find me, Some fall in and out with me, while others, associate hate with me! But, I belong with hope, not hate, And bring no fear, nor negativity, I ...
Posted by montevon on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:35:00 PST

~Wisdom from an Indian Elder~

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, And if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing. It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if y...
Posted by montevon on Wed, 16 Apr 2008 07:14:00 PST

Friendship

Friendship is the kind of love(that never can grow old.(Warm and cozy it will stay(when other things are cold.Friendship is a love so true(it won't be denied,Because a friend will always be(there clos...
Posted by montevon on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:27:00 PST

The Heart

A loving heart is so precious A gift to all around(It sometimes is apparent Some people just reject it(But there are many Who simply give love back(If you don't take the risk You may miss out on the b...
Posted by montevon on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:24:00 PST

Sometimes......Always!

Sometimes , people come into your life and you know right away that they are meant to be there; they serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or help you figure out who you are. Sometimes, when...
Posted by montevon on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 11:39:00 PST

I’ll Wait for you.......

Girl you could have stayed but you wouldn't give me a chanceWith you not around it's a little bit more than I can standAnd all my tears they keep runnin' down my faceWhy did you turn away?So why does ...
Posted by montevon on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 06:38:00 PST

WAITING FOR A GIRL LIKE YOU

So long, I’ve been looking too hard, I’ve been waiting too long Sometimes I don’t know what I will find, I only know it’s a matter of time When you love someone, when you love ...
Posted by montevon on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:43:00 PST