The Four Seasons are portrayed as having links to the mafia in Jersey Boys, but by the time we UK fans saw them in the mid 1970s any hint of that was dismissed as those Seasons were a clean cut bunch of guys in their mid-thirties with huge musical talent. A NEW line-up with a NEW sound.
Well 35 years on they are still hugely talented and 3 of them are once again regularly demonstrating this in the band ‘The Hit Men’….but there are no criminal connections here. It is just hit songs!!
We don’t feature or support ‘Four Seasons’ or Jersey Boys tribute bands but when former Four Seasons start playing the songs they made famous again we start to take notice. And when they start recording again that is cause for celebration.
The group which is now a six piece band comprises former Four Seasons – Lee Shapiro, Gerry Polci and Don Ciccone – together with Jimmy Ryan, Larry Gates and Russ Velazquez
As Frankie Valli played only a minor vocal part in their hit numbers back then they are able to reproduce the sound from those times even without him.
We contacted the band’s arranger and conductor Lee Shapiro and he gave us an EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW which we are able to share via this blog. Just click on the audio files to hear ‘Kenny’ and Lee discussing the Four Seasons.
Question: How did you come up with the idea of the ‘Hit Men’?
Question: What is the biggest benefit you have found from performing again?
Question: Do the audiences see you at all as the Four Seasons you were or as a NEW band.?
Question: When is the CD out and what are the chances of a UK visit?
Go to the Hit Men Facebook page….
The group are at Mexicali next weekend and we will have our correspondent’s there to rate the performance. More from Lee and the guys as they expand their concert performances and profile.
Casey Chameleon
