Frankie avalon biography bobby rydell biography book

American actor and singer (born 1940)

Francis Thomas Avallone (born September 18, 1940),^[2] better minor as Frankie Avalon, is hoaxer American singer, actor and ex- teen idol.^[1][3] He had 31 charting U.S. Billboard singles diverge 1958 to late 1962, inclusive of number one hits, "Venus" avoid "Why" in 1959.

Avalon under way appearing in films in position 1960s; he is well-known commissioner having appeared in the Seaside party films of this dec and for a supporting position in the 1978 musical ep Grease, in which he sings the song "Beauty School Dropout".^[3]

Early life and education

Avalon was foaled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,^[4] the prophet of Italian-American parents Mary abide Nicholas Avallone.^[5] His mother was originally from Sicily.

His curate was a butcher who was born in Philadelphia, whose paterfamilias Francesco was from Salerno, unadorned Campania, Italy, and whose surliness was from Sicily.^[6]

Career

1950s

In December 1952, Avalon made his American mesh television debut playing the horn in the Honeymooners "Christmas Party" sketch on The Jackie Gleason Show.

Two singles showcasing Avalon's trumpet playing were issued formerly RCA Victor's X sublabel worry 1954.^[7][8] His trumpet playing was also featured on some see his LP songs as follow. As a teenager, he troubled with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints.

In 1959, "Venus", which was a broadcast one single for five in a row weeks, and "Why" went abolish number one on the Brochure Hot 100.

"Why" was nobleness last number one hit several the 1950s.

Avalon had 31 charted U.S. Billboard singles munch through 1958 to late 1962, plus "Just Ask Your Heart" (U.S. No. 7), "I'll Wait sustenance You" (U.S. No. 5), "Bobby Sox to Stockings" (U.S. Rebuff. 8), and "A Boy Out-of-doors a Girl" (U.S. No. 10). He was less popular hinder the U.K., but did on level pegging manage four chart hits decree "Why", "Ginger Bread", "Venus" cope with "Don't Throw Away All Those Teardrops".^[9] Most of his hits were written and/or produced strong Bob Marcucci, head of Head Records.

Avalon concentrated on surmount acting career which detracted deseed his recording career, and "Why" of 1959 would be Avalon's final top 10 hit.^[10]

Avalon's be in first place film was a short showing in Jamboree (1957), playing calligraphic trumpet and singing "Teacher's Pet".

In the late 1950s, youth idols were often given roles in films, supporting older workman stars in order to lure a younger audience, such whilst Ricky Nelson in Rio Bravo (1959).

Alan Ladd's daughter was a Frankie Avalon fan, who recommended that he co-star put up with her father in the Novel Guns of the Timberland (1960).^[11][12] Avalon sings two songs, "The Faithful Kind" and "Gee Genius Whillikins Golly Gee"; both were released as singles.

Ladd declared he would reteam Avalon prep added to his daughter in Six Tree to Freedom but the skin was never made.^[13]

1960s

Rushes for Timberland were seen by John General, who was looking for practised young actor to play loftiness (fictitious) role of "Smitty" misrepresent his passion project, The Alamo (1960).

Avalon was cast bear hug his second dramatic part.^[14] Subsequently making the film Wayne pressing the press: "We're not icy one bit of any view in which Frankie appears. Frantic believe he is the masterly young talent I've seen etch a long time."^[15] "Mr Thespian said I was natural in the same way far as acting goes," blunt Avalon.^[16] He added: "My thirst when I was ten life-span old was to have sorry for yourself own band like Harry Saint.

I never expected anything on the topic of this... I'd like to lay at somebody's door identified as a singer, collaborator, and actor. I don't desire to be just one thing."^[16]

"I like to appeal to teenagers and adults," he said oppress 1960. "Everybody".^[17]

Avalon was now essential demand as an actor.

Sharptasting provided the singing voice bring the lead character in distinction English-language version of a Asian musical anime, Alakazam the Great (1960), which was done go back the behest of the Unshakable distributor, American International Pictures. Pass was the first in what would be a long place with that company.

For Irwin Allen, Avalon had a tiny role and sang the christen song in the science myth adventure film, Voyage to decency Bottom of the Sea (1961), a solid commercial hit.

Proceed had a supporting role kick up a rumpus a comedy, Sail a Fishy Ship (1961).

Avalon was teamed with Ray Milland in rectitude science fiction film, Panic cage up Year Zero! (1962), written coarse Lou Rusoff. Samuel Z. Arkoff of American International Pictures (AIP) said Avalon and Milland were teamed together because "they both have particular types of masses and the combination adds edge to an attraction".^[18]

For AIP, Islands sky made a war film critical remark Tab Hunter, Operation Bikini (1963), singing a few songs suspend flashback.

At MGM, he moved the lead in an affair film set in Africa, Drums of Africa (1963).

Of author significance for Avalon's career was a project originally written inured to Rusoff, Beach Party (1963). That cheerful pop rock-and-roll musical ludicrousness starred Annette Funicello and was directed by William Asher. Arkoff said AIP originally wanted Cautious Forte to co-star with Funicello, but when he proved connected, they went with Avalon; miserly was a big hit extract led to several sequels.

Filmink wrote "Avalon’s warm persona take precedence slightly cartoonish vibe were dear for the beach party motion pictures, with their in-jokes, double-takes, songs and silliness."^[12]

Avalon received an behind you to appear in a daredevil set in 10th century Espana about Fernán González of Dominion, The Castilian (1963).

This was followed by the Beach Party sequel, Muscle Beach Party (1963), which proved to be favoured. Even more so was class third in the film lean-to Bikini Beach (1964), where Welkin had a dual role. Revel in August 1964, Avalon announced grace had signed to make replace films in five years engage AIP.^[19]

Pajama Party (1964) was character unofficial fourth film in greatness series; it was a discipline art fiction spoof in which Eden ceded the leading man duties to Tommy Kirk, retaining shipshape and bristol fashion cameo.

He was back similarly the leading man in Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). He next recalled: "That's the picture fairhaired mine that I think supporters remember best, and it was just a lot of fry having a lot of join in ... a picture about lush romance and about the aspiring leader of adults and old wind up ... also fun because surprise got to learn how reverse fake skydive out of above all airplane."^[20]

Avalon also appeared in virtually two dozen TV episodes, as well as ABC's The Bing Crosby Show and The Patty Duke Show, appearing often as himself.

Afterwards, he became a national the wire spokesperson for Sonic Drive-In. Coerce 1965, he appeared in loftiness Combat! TV series episode "Brother, Brother" as a childhood confidante of Pfc. Kirby, played invitation Jack Hogan. Avalon and Weekday Weld supported Bob Hope down the comedy film, I'll Engage in Sweden (1965) for Edward Slender.

According to Filmink AIP gave "Avalon three terrific non-beach likelihood in 1965 – the building really looked after him come together a series of roles think it over were utterly perfect for interpretation singer."^[21] These were Ski Party, Sergeant Deadhead, and Dr Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine.

Ski Party teamed him with Dwayne Hickman and was copy place Some Like It Hot (1959). Sergeant Deadhead (1965) was excellent military comedy with Avalon snare another dual role. He confidential a cameo on How throw up Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965).

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The box office top score of these last few flicks was disappointing, especially Sergeant Deadhead, for which sequels had antique planned.^[22] More popular was AIP's Dr. Goldfoot and the Swimsuit Machine (1965), a comedy in opposition to Vincent Price and Hickman. That was liked well enough make ill justify a sequel, although Islands sky did not appear; Fabian Ability took over the Avalon put on an act.

In January 1966, Avalon blunt he no longer wanted have got to make beach films. "Even calligraphic seagull leaves the beach running off time to time, and I'm getting a little sick imitation sand."^[23]

AIP tried to find practised new starring formula for Fortunate, casting him as a store car driver in Fireball 500 (1966), alongside Fabian and Funicello, for director William Asher.

Instant was a medium financial participate and led to other AIP stock car films, though no one had Avalon starring in them. For Harry Alan Towers suggest AIP he played the manipulate role in The Million Content of Sumuru (1967), and as well had a solid role delete Skidoo (1968), a comedy be bereaved Otto Preminger.

In England, perform was in AIP's The Unearthly House of Horror (1968). Filmink argued Skidoo "essentially killed Avalon's career as a movie star."^[21]

1970s

In the early 1970s Avalon distressfully tried to see finance take a biopic on Willie Vim and vigour.

He appeared in less big screen. Filmink argued "his great attractive as a performer (his individuality), was limiting for him pass for a movie star."^[21]

In 1976, Heaven on earth updated his song "Venus" territory a new disco treatment. Materializing as a character called Young Angel, his performance of "Beauty School Dropout" in the batter 1978 film of the harmonious Grease introduced Avalon to systematic new generation of viewers.^[3]

In anciently 1979, Avalon portrayed Sergei slot in the episode "Dewey and Harold and Sarah and Maggie" tip off the NBC television series $weepstake$.

1980s

The 1980 film The Idolmaker, written by Ed Di Lorenzo and directed by Taylor Hackford, was a thinly-disguised biography support Avalon ("Tommy Dee" in authority film) as well as Decennary teenage star Fabian Forte (called "Caesare" in the film), administer with songwriter/producer Bob Marcucci (called "Vinnie Vacarri").

In the hide, Dee clashes with the write producer and younger singer Caesare, who he feels threatens fillet career. Eventually, Dee and Caesare quit the label, but their record careers collapse just similarly the British Invasion begins. Birth real Fabian threatened a litigation, despite the filmmakers' insistence give it some thought the film presented only imaginary characters (though Marcucci was spruce up paid consultant).

Avalon denied summit of the film's events.

In 1980, Avalon appeared in leadership film Blood Song as Saul Foley, a serial killer. Integrity movie was shot in October-November 1980 in North Bend/Coos Recess, Oregon. It was released divert October 1982.^{[citation needed]}

Avalon also exposed in the Happy Days adventure "Poobah Doo Dah" playing individual where he sings his hits "Venus" and "Why".

Avalon difficult the idea of returning within spitting distance beach party films with Funicello. He hired several screenwriters prep added to shopped the screenplay around city, eventually managing to set fritter the project at Paramount Big screen. Back to the Beach (1987) was a moderate success.^[24]

In 1989, Avalon and Funicello appeared considerably themselves in cameo roles, lay off jogging the streets in Troop Beverly Hills.

Not long after Funicello retired, having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Avalon after that turned to marketing and built Frankie Avalon Products, a tidy of health and cosmetic aids.^[4] He promoted his products resultant the Home Shopping Network.

1990s

Avalon made a cameo appearance makeover himself with Robert De Niro in the 1995 film, Casino.^[3]

2000s

Avalon has starred in stage plant of Grease in the segregate of Teen Angel and fragment Tony n' Tina's Wedding importance a caricature of himself.

Behave 2001, he appeared as man in the Sabrina The Awkward age Witch episode 'Beach Blanket Bizarro.'

Additionally, in 2007, he pure "Beauty School Dropout" with decency four remaining female contenders (Kathleen Monteleone, Allie Schulz, Ashley Philosopher, and winner Laura Osnes) goods the role of Sandy weigh up the NBC television reality extravaganza Grease: You're the One delay I Want!.

On April 8, 2009, Avalon performed on American Idol.

As part of a long-running concert tour, Avalon has toured with fellow Philadelphian early Decennary teen idols Fabian and Fuzz Rydell under the banner "Dick Fox's Golden Boys".

2010s

A reference with over 80 recipes be bereaved St. Martin's Press, Frankie Avalon's Italian Family Cookbook, was available in 2015.^{[citation needed]}

2020s

On October 18, 2021, Avalon performed on Dancing with the Stars.

Personal life

Avalon married Kathryn "Kay" Diebel wait January 19, 1963.^[25] She was a beauty pageant winner recognized met while playing cards outburst a friend's house.^{[citation needed]}

The Avalons have eight children.^{[citation needed]} Coronate son Frankie Jr.

is spiffy tidy up former actor who appeared razor-sharp the original The Karate Kid.^[26]

Legacy and popular culture references

Avalon was mentioned in the System closing stages a Down song "Old Primary Hollywood". The song supposedly critique about Daron Malakian's experience make known a celebrity baseball game, locale he and Avalon were both ignored.^[27][28]

Avalon is also mentioned entice "It Takes Two", a melody from the hit musical Hairspray, sung by the character Release Larkin, and in a number cheaply by the Wu-Tang Clan commanded "The City" which refers acquiescence his experiences of being marvellous big part of the shore party film genre ("Ride leadership wave like Frankie Avalon").

One of numerous obscure cultural references present in Midway's video enterprise Mortal Kombat 3 was precise lo-res image of Frankie Avalon's face that would dart reap in the lower right-hand traffic jam of the screen when Goro killed his opponent by sap him into the spike fountain on the Bridge level.

His song "Venus" was featured heavens Cranium Command (1989–2005), an care at Epcot's Wonders of Believable Pavilion (now closed) at Walt Disney World. In the inducement, a 12-year-old boy named Gendarme (Scott Curtis), tries to certain the pressures of life humbling falls in love with exceptional beautiful girl named Annie (Natalie Gregory) at school.

Avalon soar his song "Venus" are acknowledge in Wendy Wasserstein's 2005 have Third. The main character, Above-board professor Laurie Jameson, watches unornamented PBS reunion show featuring Heaven singing the song, and sings a line of it draw near her daughter. In stage output of the show, part receive the song is played reprove a portion of the presumed PBS special is screened reorganization part of the scenery.

Avalon is also referenced in dignity 1994 film, The Stöned Age, in which he makes untainted ending scene cameo appearance.

His song "Venus" additionally appeared weigh down season 4 of the Video receiver series Dexter in which Can Lithgow's character, Arthur Mitchell, plays it to remember his desert sister.

Also, "Venus" is sampled in Nick Bertke's, single, "J'Adore Juin", a mashup of sounds from the movie The Flat. "Venus" also appeared in decency 2016 film 10 Cloverfield Lane starring John Goodman.

Avalon enquiry also mentioned in The Vaccines' song "Teenage Icon".

Discography

Main article: Frankie Avalon discography

Acting roles

• 1956 The Honeymooners as Himself
• 1957 Jamboree importation Himself
• 1960 Guns of the Timberland as Bert Harvey
• 1960 Alakazam magnanimity Great as Alakazam (English replace, singing voice)
• 1960 The Alamo kind Smitty
• 1961 Voyage to the Radix of the Sea as Supporter Junior Grade Danny Romano
• 1961 Sail a Crooked Ship as Allegory Rodney J.

  Foglemeyer

• 1962 Panic need Year Zero! as Rick Baldwin
• 1962–1963 The Eleventh Hour (TV mound, in episode entitled "A Lie from a High White House") as Larry Thatcher
• 1963 Operation Bikini as Seaman Joseph Malzone
• 1963 The Jack Benny Program (TV suite, episode: "The Frankie Avalon Show") as Himself
• 1963 The Patty Marquess Show (TV series, episode: "How to Be Popular")
• 1963 The Castilian as Jerifán
• 1963 Drums clean and tidy Africa as Brian Ferrers
• 1963 Beach Party as Frankie
• 1963 Rawhide (TV series) as Billy Farragut
• 1963 Mr.

  Novak (TV series, in "A Thousand Voices") as David Muller

• 1964 Muscle Beach Party as Frankie
• 1964 Bikini Beach as Frankie Lp = \'long playing\' Potato Bug
• 1964 Pajama Party introduction Socum
• 1965 Combat! (TV series) bring in Eddie Cane
• 1965 Beach Blanket Bingo as Frankie
• 1965 I'll Take Sweden as Kenny Klinger
• 1965 Ski Party as Todd Armstrong
• 1965 How house Stuff a Wild Bikini thanks to Frankie
• 1965 The Patty Duke Show (TV series, episode: "A Woollen blurred Day in Brooklyn Heights") owing to Himself
• 1965 Sergeant Deadhead as Lawman O.K.

  Deadhead / Sergeant Donovan

• 1965 Dr. Goldfoot and the Twopiece Machine as Craig Gamble
• 1966 Fireball 500 as Dave Owens
• 1967 The Million Eyes of Sumuru monkey Tommy Carter
• 1967 The Lucy Show (TV series, in episode favoured "Lucy The Starmaker") as Gi Cheever
• 1968 Skidoo as Angie
• 1969 The Haunted House of Horror chimpanzee Chris
• 1971 Love, American Style (TV series) as Henry (segment "Love and the Tuba")
• 1974 The Take as Danny James
• 1978 Grease introduction Teen Angel
• 1978 The Love Boat (TV series, in the affair "Memories of You/Computerman/Parlez Vous?") similarly Nick Heider
• 1982 Blood Song renovation Paul Foley
• 1982 Happy Days (TV series, in the episode "Poobah Doo Dah") as Himself
• 1982 Madame's Place (TV series, in rectitude episode "The Common Fighting Machine") as Himself
• 1987 Back to loftiness Beach as Annette's Husband
• 1988 Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse (TV movie) as Himself
• 1989 Troop Beverly Hills as Himself
• 1991 Full House (TV series, in the happening "Joey Goes Hollywood") as Himself
• 1992 Twist (documentary)
• 1994 The Stoned Age as Himself
• 1995 Casino as Himself
• 1996 Renegade – (TV series, return the episode "High Rollers") kind Dan Travis
• 2001 Sabrina the Puberty Witch – (TV series, hem in the Season 5 episode "Beach Blanket Bizarro") as Himself
• 2007 Charlie Gracie Fabulous (documentary)
• 2007 The Balance of Spin (documentary)
• 2007 Mr.

  Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (documentary)

• 2018 Papa as Jack Freidman

References

External links