Bob Crewe
Songwriter, producer and his little known contribution to the music of many
by Graham Sclater
Millions of people have already seen the musical “The Jersey Boys” based on the history and music of The Four Seasons and Frankie Valli. But behind hit records are people that have received little or less recognition are the songwriters of those feel good hits: the late *Bob Crewe, who also produced many of those recordings and Bob Gaudio.
Bob Crewe, portrayed in the film and Tony-winning musical “Jersey Boys,” frequently collaborated with Bob Gaudio, the singer, songwriter and keyboardist who was one of the original members of the Four Seasons. “He was elated with his portrayal and thrilled with the show. He talked about it incessantly,” Gaudio said, in an interview, following their viewing of the show and film.
Crewe was born Nov. 12, 1930, in Newark, N.J., and grew up in nearby Belleville, where some of the future members of the Four Seasons were born. He did not meet any of them until much later, however.
During the mid-fifties, teen-idol handsome and model-thin, Bob Crewe recorded demos and teamed with Frank Slay, his first writing partner. Together they produced a number of successful tunes, including the US, 1957 doo-wop hit “Silhouettes” recorded by the Rays.
By the end of the fifties Crewe had also been producing records for several years. “Bob was one of the first people who gave me a shot, took me in the studio and recorded me,” Valli told The Times “He was an enormous talent,” Valli said. “He was making records from the early ‘50s to the ‘60s and ‘70s. He had his own record company for a while. Sometimes I wonder if the industry really realized what a talent he was. He was surely one of the most creative people I ever worked with.”
In 1959, Crewe signed Valli and the other members of his band, the Four Lovers. They became the Four Seasons in 1960 and with his guidance as producer scored their first top-selling song, “Sherry,” which was written by Gaudio with additional lyrics by Bob Crewe. It was followed by a string of Crewe-Gaudio hits including: “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Rag Doll” and “Silence Is Golden.”
Bob Crewe had no formal musical training but he had natural talent, which many say is a much better asset to have than having to learn it. Most of his hit songs written and recorded in the nineteen sixties included so many now recognised as standards.
Although he couldn’t play an instrument or read music, “He had a way of painting a picture of what he wanted,” Gaudio told The Times. “He had a way of communicating with people - and they got it. He’d say, ‘I want to hear some blue streaks here.’ He’s heard in the show saying, ‘I want to hear sky blue; you’re giving me brown.’”
His brother Dan Crewe commented, “Bob would sing the tune and the parts for the musicians. He would hear a horn and sing it.”
“Can’t Take My Eyes off You,” also co-written with Gaudio, became Valli’s first solo hit, in 1967 and a major hit for Andy Williams the following year. A great song works in most genres and this can be seen by the wide range of diverse artist that have gone on to record it, including: Gloria Gaynor, Sheena Easton, Lauryn Hill, The Lettermen, Maureen McGovern, Jay and The Americans, Nancy Wilson, Kelly Jones of the Stereophonics, Barry Manilow, Pet Shop Boys, Overtones, Muse and many more. It has also been featured in numerous film soundtracks.
In the following decade Crewe wrote the soul hit, “Lady Marmalade” for the female vocal group fronted by Patti LaBelle and songs for Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels, Bobby Darin and Lesley Gore.
He also performed and supervised the score for “Barbarella,” the 1968 science fantasy film that starred Jane Fonda.
With his unusual approach to composing, Bob Crewe, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1985, developed a style that resonated with millions of music lovers around the world.
*Bob Crewe died in 2011 at the age of 83 and left behind a legacy of music still heard every day across the airwaves around the world.
Graham Sclater is a music publisher, record producer and author and is the CEO of Tabitha Publishing Limited.
https://tabitharecords.webs.com
"Ticket to Ride" was Graham's first novel and originally published by Flame Books in 2006. It was re-issued by Tabitha Books in October 2012, with additional reviews and photos. It is a gritty novel loosely based on events during his time as a professional musician in Hamburg during the 60's.
"We're Gonna Be Famous", a children's novel, was our first publication by Graham in April 2009, followed by his second, "Hatred Is The Key", in 2010, which is an historical novel based on true events between 1812 and 1814.
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