Photo credit: Janet Donovan
Slider photos: Brendan Kownacki
“We’re doing this to promote the fact that our good friend Frankie Valli is having a movie done of his life,” said event organizer John Salomone at a reception at Cafe Milano followed by a private screening of Jersey Boys, a new flick directed by Clint Eastwood about the 1960s rock group The Four Seasons.
“It is very important for Americans, especially Italian Americans, to experience what this film brings to theaters. It shows the American experience – coming from nothing and building yourself up,” he reminded us referring to the American dream. “It’s all put out there in a ninety five minute movie. It’s wonderful.”
We asked guests if they remembered who they were dating when a particular Valli song came out. “I’m going to plead the fifth since my wife is here tonight,” John said. “But, I can tell you, that every song seems to relate to someone special. There were those songs that kind of stuck with you and makes you think of that person. I think you did that more before than you do today for some reason. I’m not saying there aren’t some great songs out today, am just saying that I don’t associate them with anyone – maybe because I’ve been married for thirty three years.”
John Salomone
“Do young people do that, relate music to loves of their past?’ we asked a, well, young person who preferred to remain anonymous. “Oh, I totally do that. I listen to the music from the early nineties, 2000, I remember all kinds of things, like music from the senior prom, college formal, all kinds of milestones.”
Referring to Frankie Valli’s music, he said: “You know, it’ s love, it’s classic. It’s rock ‘n roll. It was a simpler time, Valli’s music was. It was shaking your hips, getting people in the mood. Women were screaming for him all the time and he was on the tail of Sinatra and that’s why the movie’s title is so perfect because he’s a Jersey Boy – a little bit mob, a little bit shore, a little bit music.”
Guests were actually pulling up Valli’s music on their smartphones
“I knew a girl named Sherry, so that’s too obvious,” said Frank Scalici, referring to the song/date thing. “I always used to listen to The Four Seasons on New York radio. I grew up in New York City and everything was ‘do wop.’ Listening to them was just part of growing up – sitting on the corner eating calzones, drinking cold beer and listening to The Four Seasons.
I saw the play on Broadway and thought the play was awesome and awesome there were so many original cast members. Sometimes they go for the big names. These guys did 1200 shows and were living the story, so why not let them do it one more time. Walk Like a Man, Big Girls Don’t Cry, I’m trying to remember the song/romance thing. My wife’s name is Dawn – ‘go away you’re too good for me’ – remember? Oh What a Night – these songs relate to different parts of your life and a person. The music is timeless.”
Frank Scalici
Courtesy of LMIHD = LiveMusicInHD
“At eighty years old Valli is still doing concerts, still doing tours. This guy’s amazing. Frankie Valli’s been a friend for thirty five years so I suggested that we do a premiere in Washington.,” explained Solomone.
“Unfortunately he’s at the premiere in LA tonight so he couldn’t physically be here with us. Someone mentioned I should have brought him here by SKPYE or something which would have been a good idea. In any case, we arranged it with Warner Bros. They were kind enough to provide the theater for us and then this pre-event here at Cafe Milano. It just makes for a special evening and a little bit of nostalgia.”
Photo credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
Nostalgia is not the same for everyone. William Watts remembers it differently. “I graduated in 1963, so I was in the midst of the Vietnam War. I grew up in New Jersey, the Jersey Shore, right across from Seaside Heights. It was great, but it was also the massacres in the Vietnam War, so that was not a good part. but I spent my summers hanging out at a place called The Surf Club that was destroyed in Sandy.
William Watts
It was a hotspot that had five or six bars. They had about a quarter mile of beach where you could go and sit outside to eat. The Surf Club was very famous on the Jersey Shore, so that’s where I started to go when I was allowed to drink. I was in the service for a couple of years, got out and went to school and then moved down here. It was okay. I don’t have all the fond memories as everyone else because it was an awful time. I remember getting out of the service and people were not very nice to us. I don’t think it was a good time for America, but they created great music. I remember driving the big Buick, listening to the radio, The Four Seasons to be exact.”
The Trailer:
Jersey Boys is now playing at the AMC Theater in Georgetown.
