THE ARTISTS WHO INSPIRED “JERSEY BOYS” FORM TEN-YEAR STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PUBLISHER FOR THEIR VAST CATALOG OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
“Valli doesn’t need new material when his catalogue of smashes range from the doo-wop days of the disco era…. His piercing falsetto is on of the most extraordinary sounds in pop, and its power belies the decades.” – The Guardian
Primary Wave Music Publishing announced today they have entered into a multi-million-dollar, ten-year strategic partnership with the Award-wining, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees the Four Seasons. With hit after hit, the Four Seasons are considered to be one of the best-selling musical groups of all time. The agreement includes many of the band’s biggest hits that continue to be celebrated today including “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “December 1963 (O What A Night),” “Sherry,” “Workin’ My Way Back To You” and “Can’t Take Me Eyes Off Of You,” which has been covered by over 200 artists including Lauryn Hill’s iconic Grammy-nominated take on the song that appeared on her Award-winning solo album.
The Grammy Hall of Fame band’s partnership with Primary Wave will include access to the dynamic publishing firm’s marketing team and publishing infrastructure, which includes digital strategy, licensing, synch opportunities and film & TV production. Primary Wave will work with the Four Seasons to market their name and likeness, in addition to managing all daily digital marketing activities. The powerhouse-publishing firm will administer and market their legendary songs, which includes multiple top ten hits and numerous platinum and multi-platinum selling songs. The deal also gives Primary Wave an option to acquire a partnership interest in the band’s works.
“We are thrilled to be associated with Primary Wave Music Publishing,” said Frankie Valli. He continued, “We know they are our partners and will help insure our music lives on.” Bob Gaudio added, “It is great to know we’re with people who will always put our music first.”
Lawrence Mestel, CEO & Founder of Primary Wave Music Publishing, said “I have been a huge fan of both Frankie and Bob since I was a kid. Their music has had a huge impact on people’s lives and we welcome them to the Primary Wave family of icons.”
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons came to fame in 1962 after singing “Sherry” on American Bandstand. They instantly became the hottest band in the land and scored their first number one record. They followed the success of “Sherry” with two more number one hits “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man.” The fateful year of 1964 brought the British invasion, but that didn’t stall the Four Seasons. The group released one smash after another: “Dawn (Go Away),” “Ronnie,” “Rag Doll,” “Save It For Me,” “Big Man in Town” and, in early 1965, “Bye Bye Baby (Baby, Goodbye).”
From late 1965 to 1967, they would release three straight giant hits: “Let’s Hang On,” “Working My Way Back to You” and “Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ‘Bout Me).” The Seasons also cracked the Top 10 with a gorgeous reinvention of the old Cole Porter standard “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” In 1967, they fashioned a signature song that would make Frankie Valli a solo superstar, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” The song shot to number 2 on the Billboard charts. With the popularity of the original record and all the cover versions, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” has become one of the top ten most-played songs in history.
After “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” came two more Top 40 solo hits: “I Make a Fool of Myself” and “To Give (the Reason I Live).” But unlike many lead singers who achieve solo success, Frankie stayed with the Four Seasons, producing hits in two parallel careers. While Frankie flourished solo, the Four Seasons stayed in the Top 40 with “C’mon Marianne,” “Watch the Flowers Grow” and a remake of “Will You Love Me Tomorrow.”
From 1962 to 1978, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons sold more than 100 million records, even before the invention of the compact disc prompted Seasons collectors to buy the hits all over again. For decades after their heyday, Frankie and the Seasons continued to be a top concert draw, and radio constantly played their classics, not to mention the new remixes that kept popping up on the charts. In 1990 Frankie and the other original Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, only five years after the Hall opened for business.
Thanks to the volcanic success of the Tony-winning musical “Jersey Boys” and the American musical drama film of the same name, the Four Seasons are all the rage all over again.
Barry Siegel, Senior Managing Director at Provident Financial Management and Zach Best, Director at Provident Financial Management, represented Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio in this deal.