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Frankie Valli Will Always Be a Jersey Boy at Heart

Legendary singer talks music, marriage and keeping in singing shape

Gayle Jo Carter,

AARP

Published August 02, 2024

Frankie Valli against green ombre background

AARP (Walter McBride/Getty Images)

At age 90, most people would be ready to retire from life on the road, but not Frankie Valli. The legendary singer is still out performing with The Four Seasons on their “Last Encores” tour, and he says the tour name is not an accurate reflection of how he feels: “When it’s the last, they’ll hear it from me. … There’ll come a time when I’ll say enough is enough. But I don’t think I’m ready for that right now.” He shares with AARP how he celebrated his 90th birthday; how he’s enjoying marriage with his fourth wife, Jackie Jacobs, 61; and why he’ll always be a Jersey boy at heart.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

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What do you hear most from your fans?

Well, they don’t want [us] to stop performing. We have a very wide range of people that come to see us — everything from very young kids to people in their 60s, 70s and 80s. So it’s quite amazing.

So many people know you and your music from the long-running Broadway musical Jersey Boys. Are you still a Jersey boy all these years later?

I’ll always be a Jersey boy. That’s where I grew up [Newark’s Stephen Crane Village public housing project; in 2023, a street was named Frankie Valli Way in his honor]. That’s where I was born, and I loved my childhood, even though we were not a wealthy family.

Young Frankie Valli with Joe Long, Tommy DeVito and Bob Gaudio holding The 4 Seasons Gold Vault of Hits album

Valli is seen here in 1966 with The Four Seasons members Joe Long, Tommy DeVito and Bob Gaudio.

Hulton Archive/Getty Images

What would you have done if your musical career didn’t work out?

Well, I was a hairdresser for a short period. My dad was a barber. And he always thought that I should forget about “the singing” and get into the hair business. And I liked it. It was one of the things that I chose to go after. I just didn’t like working in a shop. It’s different than when you’re in school and you can do what you want — you can be creative.

Are there any artists you’d still like to record with?

There was a time that I wanted to put together a trio, but it just never worked out. The people were Dion from Dion and the Belmonts and Felix Cavaliere of the Rascals. For some reason, we talked about it a lot, but that just never came about.

What artists do you enjoy listening to?

I like anything. [Frank] Sinatra, Little Jimmy Scott, the Four Freshmen.…Phil Collins, Elton John, Billy Joel are [some] I really like and listen to.

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So many artists have recorded your music. Do any stand out?

Well, I like the Lauryn Hill version of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” That’s a good one. It seems like everybody is doing “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” I hear the Jonas Brothers do [it] as a regular part of their show. It’s a great song. I don’t blame them.

Did you celebrate your 90th birthday in a big way?

No, just a little cake and a little dinner.

Speaking of cake, do you have a special diet regimen?

I’m not a big eater, and I seem to gravitate a little bit away from meat. I’m not a great chicken guy. I’d rather have a piece of fish.

What do you do to keep yourself in shape for performing?

Well, you have to sing every day. It’s like weightlifting or exercise. So I sing for about an hour a day.

Jackie Jacobs and Frankie Valli standing together; Valli's arm around Jacobs' waist

In February, Valli and wife, Jackie, attended record executive Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Gala in Beverly Hills, California.

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

You got married again last year. How’s that going?

It’s going terrific. I’m a homebody and [I love] family and being at home, with as much traveling as I do. My vacation is getting back to where I live, where I go to bed at night and hang out in the summer.

What’s your secret to life on the road?

You just go through it. There’s no way that I could think that it makes it easy to travel and go on the road.

Is there any project you still have on your to-do list?

I take it as it comes, depending on how I’m doing and how I’m feeling. If a project comes along and I like it, I’ll take it. There are a lot of things that come along that I just am not interested in. … I’m enjoying life and all the wonderful gifts that have been given to me so that I was able to have this great success.

Gayle Jo Carter is a former entertainment editor at USA WEEKEND, who during her 30-year reporting and editing career, has worked at USA TODAY, Voice of America and Feature Story News. When not interviewing high-profile people, she’s teaching reformer Pilates classes and doing her best to raise two empathetic, curious, healthy young people to adulthood.

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