RIP Bob Crewe, the Jersey boy behind The Four Seasons
Word reached us last night of the death of a man whose work we’ve talked about quite a lot here on Rhino.com, not just this year – although lord knows that’s true, thanks to all of the releases tied to the Jersey Boys movie – but for many, many years now: Bob Crewe, whose tremendous contributions to the Four Seasons’ career as a writer and a producer cannot be understated…and that’s only just one of the artists who benefited from his creativity.
Born in Newark, New Jersey on November 12, 1930, Stanley Robert Crewe may have started out with grand designs toward becoming an architect, he’d solidly established his career in the music industry by the mid-1950s, beginning a collaboration with Frank Slay, Jr. which resulted in the hit singles “Silhouettes,” among many other successes. Crewe also attempted to forge a career as a solo artist, succeeding to a certain extent thanks to a cover of “The Whiffenpoof Song,” but after teaming up with Bob Gaudio, late of the Royal Teens (“Short Shorts”), Crewe soon had his hands full with the Four Seasons.
“Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” and “Let’s Hang On” are among the many, many Four Seasons songs which Crewe either had a hand in writing or was responsible for producing, but the group also recorded some of his compositions that went on to find greater success for other artists, including “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore),” which became a huge hit for the Walker Brothers, and “Silence is Golden,” which was a successful single for the Tremeloes. He also started his own label, DynoVoice Records, which was responsible for The Toys’ “A Lover’s Concerto” and provided the world with Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, and he worked with a fellow called Oliver on his versions of “Jean” (from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie) and “Good Morning, Starshine” (from Hair).
As a solo artist, Crewe’s biggest hit – released under the moniker The Bob Crewe Generation – was the instrumental “Music to Watch Girls By,” but here at Rhino, we seriously dig his 1977 album, Motivation, which actually features him singing. In addition, it should never, ever be forgotten that Mr. Crewe was a part of the one and only Disco Tex and the Sex-O-Lettes, but “Get Dancin’” wasn’t his only dance floor sensation: with Kenny Nolan, Crewe also co-wrote “Lady Marmalade.”
Sadly, Crewe’s health was already so poor earlier this year that he was unable to attend the premiere of Jersey Boys – indeed, according to the Miami Herald, Crewe's brother Dan had transferred the musician to a nursing home after he was diagnosed with dementia – but his musical legacy will live on for years to come. We’ve put together a playlist to celebrate some of the songs which Crewe had a hand in writing, producing, or introducing to the world. Give it a spin. If you didn’t already know how much he’d accomplished in his career, you will soon…and it’ll astonish you.
