| FRANKIE
AVALON (ARTIST BIOGRAPHY)
Frankie Avalon (born Francis Thomas Avallone,
September 18, 1940*) is an American actor, singer, and former teen
idol.(*Other sources give 1939 as birth year)
He was encouraged to perform from the time he was a child, beginning
from when he was tutored on the trumpet by his father. Avalon first
performed at the CR Club, an extension of Palumbo's restaurant. The
CR Club was a private affair where the owner encouraged parents to
bring their children to entertain.
He soon progressed to local talent shows. On local Philadelphia
television he won first places with his trumpet playing in amateur
contests. As a teenager, he played with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and
the Saints. In 1959, "Venus" (5 weeks #1) and "Why" went to number
one on the Billboard Hot 100. "Why" was the last #1 of the 1950s.
Avalon had 31 charted Billboard U.S. singles from 1958 to late
1962, including "Just Ask Your Heart" (U.S. #7), "I'll Wait For You"
(U.S. #15), "Bobby Sox to Stockings" (U.S. #8), and "A Boy Without a
Girl" (U.S. #10), most hits written and/or produced by Bob Marcucci,
head of Chancellor Records.
Teamed frequently with Annette Funicello, Avalon starred in a number
of popular "beach" comedy movies during the 1960s. The wholesome and
romantic coupling of "Frankie and Annette" in summer movies such as
Beach Party and Beach Blanket Bingo became iconic figures in
American films during that era. Avalon also had straight dramatic
parts in the John Wayne historical western film The Alamo as well as
the science-fiction story Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)
with Barbara Eden.
Materializing as a character called Teen Angel, his performance of
"Beauty School Dropout" in the smash-hit 1978 film of the musical
Grease introduced Frankie to a new generation of viewers.
Avalon appeared in nearly two dozen TV episodes, including ABC's The
Bing Crosby Show and The Patty Duke Show, appearing often as himself.
Later, he became a national television spokesperson for Sonic
Drive-In.
The 1980 film The Idolmaker, written by Ed Di Lorenzo and directed
by Taylor Hackford, was a thinly-disguised biography of Avalon
("Tommy Dee" in the film) as well as 1950s teenage star Fabian (called
"Caesare" in the film), along with songwriter/producer Bob Marcucci
(called "Vinnie Vacarri"). In the movie, Dee clashes with the record
producer and younger singer Caesare, whom he feels threatens his
career. Eventually, Dee and Caesare quit the label, but their record
careers collapse just as the British Invasion begins. The real
Fabian threatened a lawsuit, despite the filmmakers' insistence that
the film presented only fictional characters (though Marcucci was a
paid consultant). Avalon denied most of the movie's events.
Avalon married Kathryn Diebel on January 19, 1963. She was a former
beauty pageant winner, and Avalon met her while playing cards at a
friend's house. He told his friend that Kay was the girl he was
going to marry. His agent warned Avalon that marriage would spoil
his teen idol mystique. Still together, they have eight children -
Frankie Jr., Tony, Dina, Laura, Joseph, Nicolas, Kathryn and Carla.
They have 10 grandchildren. Frankie Jr. is a drummer and Tony, the
second oldest son, plays guitar and teaches at the Rock Nation
School. Both sons play on tour with their father.
Though having no major hits after 1960 or any charted singles after
1962, Avalon continued to release singles and albums on Chancellor
through 1963. In 1964 he signed with United Artists and recorded a
few singles and two albums. After United Artist he changed labels
almost yearly.A disco version of "Venus" in 1976 was his last record
to receive any attention. Avalon recorded his last single "You're
the Miracle" on the Bobcat label in 1983.
In 1987 Avalon and Annette Funicello returned to movies with Back to
the Beach. Not long afterwards, Funicello was diagnosed with MS and
retired.Afterwards, Avalon turned to marketing and created Frankie
Avalon Products, a line of health and cosmetic aids. Avalon promotes
his products on the Home Shopping Network with host Bob Circosta.
In recent years, he made a cameo appearance as himself with Robert
DeNiro in the 1995 film Casino. Avalon has starred in stage
productions of Grease in the role of Teen Angel and Tony n' Tina's
Wedding as a caricature of himself. Additionally, in 2007, he
performed "Beauty School Dropout" with the four remaining female
contenders (Kathleen Monteleone, Allie Schulz, Ashley Spencer, and
winner Laura Osnes) for the role of Sandy on the NBC television
reality show Grease: You're the One that I Want! |
