What did Richard Avalon sing in Grease?
A symbol of his era, Avalon went on to appear in the 1950s-themed musical Grease in 1978, playing The Teen Angel and singing the memorable "Beauty School Drop-out" in the film. "Kids know me from their Grease DVD, so they instantly respond," he would later say. "You can hear a pin drop when I do my old songs."
Why was Frankie Valli approached to sing in Grease?
Frankie Valli was approached to sing due to his similar vocal range to Barry and his status as a popular singer from the pre- British Invasion era that Grease represented; Gibb had a longstanding respect for Valli as "one of the hallmark voices of our generation."
What was Frankie Avalon's first song?
Born on September 18, 1940, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Frankie Avalon is considered one of the first manufactured teen idols. His song "Venus" became his first No. 1 single in 1959, and he released six more Top 40 records in that year alone.
What was the name of the song in Grease?
Materializing as a character called Teen Angel, his performance of " Beauty School Dropout " in the hit 1978 film of the musical Grease introduced Avalon to a new generation of viewers.
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Who sang in Grease?
Frankie AvalonAvalon is also well known for his role in the 1970's musical film Grease as Teen Angel, in which he sings Beauty School Dropout to Frenchy (played by Didi Conn)....Frankie AvalonBornFrancis Thomas Avallone September 18, 1940 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.OccupationSinger, actorYears active1951–present8 more rows
Who sang backup on Grease?
Barry GibbPerformed by Frankie Valli, who once exclaimed that “Grease' was one of the biggest records I ever had in my career,” the song was number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts for two weeks. Barry Gibb can be heard singing backup vocals on the recording, which also features Peter Frampton on guitar.
How old was Frankie Avalon when he starred in Grease?
18It's a wonderful musical and it has great songs." The songs includes "We Go Together," "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightning" and "Hopelessly Devoted to You." Avalon was only 18 when he became a star.
Did John Travolta do his own singing in Grease?
Yes! John, now 64, sang alongside Olivia Newton-John and the rest of the cast in the iconic blockbuster. However, he wasn't always supposed to sing “Greased Lightnin'.” According to a recent article written by Variety, John stole the part from one of his co-stars.
Did Rizzo sing in Grease?
But when asked for our favourite “Grease” song, people rarely go to “There Are Worse Things I Could Do”. It's sung by Rizzo, the hard-bitten leader of the Pink Ladies who, over the years, has cultivated a tough exterior. She's seen her way through guys who “only want one thing”.
Who was the youngest cast member in Grease?
Kelly WardKelly Ward was the youngest of the main cast members at 20. Ward was only two or three years older than his character, making for the most realistic portrayal of a high school student among the main cast.
What song did Frankie Valli sing in Grease?
Grease"Grease" is a song written by Barry Gibb and performed by Frankie Valli. "Grease" is the title song for the 1978 musical motion picture Grease, which was based on the 1971 stage play of the same name....Grease (song)"Grease"LabelRSOSongwriter(s)Barry GibbProducer(s)Gibb-Galuten-RichardsonFrankie Valli singles chronology10 more rows
How old was Cha Cha during the filming of Grease?
She was precociously talented and self-assured, for a high school, which likely came on account of how the actress who played Cha-Cha was 29 years old at the time of filming.
What did Frankie Avalon do?
Avalon promotes his products on the Home Shopping Network with host Bob Circosta. He made a cameo appearance as himself with Robert De Niro in the 1995 film, Casino.
What is Frankie Avalon's product line?
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.
Why did Avalon and Milland get together?
Arkoff of American International Pictures (AIP) said Avalon and Milland were teamed together because "they both have particular types of followers and the combination adds up to an attraction. ". For AIP he made a war movie with Tab Hunter, Operation Bikini (1963), singing a few songs in flashback.
How many kids does Frankie Avalon have?
They have eight children – Frankie Jr., Tony, Dina, Laura, Joseph, Nicolas, Kathryn and Carla. They have 10 grandchildren. Frankie Avalon Jr. is a former actor who appeared in the original The Karate Kid and is now a musician, and Tony, the second oldest son, plays guitar and taught at the Rock Nation School.
Why did Ray Milland and Avalon get together?
Arkoff of American International Pictures (AIP) said Avalon and Milland were teamed together because "they both have particular types of followers and the combination adds up to an attraction."
What movie did Avalon play in?
He made a cameo appearance as himself with Robert De Niro in the 1995 film, Casino. In recent years, 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.
What song did Avalon perform in the 1980s?
1970s and 1980s. In 1976, Avalon updated his song "Venus" with a new disco treatment. Materializing as a character called Teen Angel, his performance of "Beauty School Dropout" in the hit 1978 film of the musical Grease introduced Avalon to a new generation of viewers.
Who wrote Grease by Valli?
Valli quickly landed a deal with Warner Brothers, but never scored another hit on the Hot 100. "Grease" was Valli's only #1 not co-written by Bob Crewe or Bob Gaudio. Peter Frampton played lead guitar on this track. With its disco beat, this song is way out place for the '50s, which is when Grease takes place.
Who was the producer of the Grease movie?
That film was produced by Robert Stigwood, who was a partner in the Grease movie and got Gibb on board for the title song. For this project, Stigwood was interested in Gibb's pen, but not his voice, since The Bee Gees sound ingrained with Saturday Night Fever and he wanted Grease to have its own identity. Frankie Valli, who could sing in ...
What is the theme of the song "Grease"?
The song doesn't make any specific references to the movie, but elegantly expresses its theme: individuality . It explicitly empowers the title: It's got a groove, it's got a meaning. Grease is the time, is the place, is the motion. Grease is the way we are feeling. In the bridge, the song gets transcendental:
Who wrote the song "Saturday Night Fever"?
This song was written and produced by Barry Gibb of The Bee Gees specifically for the movie. (Fun fact: in Mexico the film is called Vaselina ). His music helped make Saturday Night Fever a huge hit two years earlier. That film was produced by Robert Stigwood, who was a partner in the Grease movie and got Gibb on board for the title song.
Who sang Beauty School Dropout?
Valli was not in the movie, but another Frankie was: Frankie Avalon played the Teen Angel and sang " Beauty School Dropout .".
Who produced the song "One Night Only"?
James - Beverly Hills, CA. Barry Gibb produced this song with Albhy Galuten and Karl Richardson, who worked on the music to the movie Saturday Night Fever. The Bee Gees never recorded a studio version of this song, but included it on their 1997 live set One Night Only, which was recorded at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Who sang the second verse of "I'm a girl"?
Their performance was augmented by Frankie Valli' s recorded vocals, which come in for the second verse. The performance was also released on DVD; during this song there are lots of shots of Olivia Newton-John, who earned a seat in the front row.
What song did Avalon sing in Grease?
A symbol of his era, Avalon went on to appear in the 1950s-themed musical Grease in 1978, playing The Teen Angel and singing the memorable "Beauty School Drop-out" in the film. "Kids know me from their Grease DVD, so they instantly respond," he would later say. "You can hear a pin drop when I do my old songs.".
Where was Frankie Avalon born?
Considered the first manufactured teen idol—before Fabian and Bobby Rydell and the myriads of other pretenders hoping to follow in Elvis's blue suede shoes—Frankie Avalon was born Francis Thomas Avallone on September 18, 1940, in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What was the first number one song by Avalon?
His song "Venus" became his first No. 1 single in 1959, and he released six more Top 40 records in that year alone. In 1962, Avalon and Annette Funicello paired their clean-cut looks to make the popular Beach Party surfer film series.
What band did Avalon play in?
In his teens, he played backup trumpet in a local band called Rocco and the Saints, and it was there that local impresario Bob Marcucci discovered the future teen star. Eight months later, Avalon's first single, "Cupid," came out on Marcucci's Chancellor label, and his third release, "Dede Dinah," hit the Top 10.
When did Frankie Avalon publish his cookbook?
Avalon published Frankie Avalon’s Italian Family Cookbook: From Mom’s Kitchen to Mine and Yours in October 2015.
Who is the girl who sang the song Venus?
Frankie Avalon. Teen idol Frankie Avalon is known for singing the hit "Venus" and for starring in the popular Beach Party film series with Annette Funicello.
Did Frankie Avalon have a music background?
Frankie Avalon had an authentic music background to go with the pretty boy looks, and it was that talent that allowed him to succeed where others would fail. By 1962, the singer's four-year domination of the music charts was coming to an end, but his career wasn't.
Who sang Grease in the movie?
from the album Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture and Frankie Valli... Is the Word. " Grease " is a song written by Barry Gibb and performed by Frankie Valli. "Grease" is the title song for the 1978 musical motion picture Grease, which was based on the 1971 stage play of the same name.
Who played guitar in Grease?
Shortly after the filming of the 1978 musical film Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Gibb invited castmate Peter Frampton to play guitar on the Grease session. Gibb himself provided backing vocals. The other musicians were some of those from the Andy Gibb album that was being made around the same time.
What song did Frankie Valli sing in 1978?
Frankie Valli singles chronology. "Rainstorm". (1977) " Grease ". (1978) " Save Me, Save Me ". (1978) " Grease " is a song written by Barry Gibb and performed by Frankie Valli. "Grease" is the title song for the 1978 musical motion picture Grease, which was based on the 1971 stage play of the same name.
Why did Randal Kleiser not like the added songs?
The film's director, Randal Kleiser, did not like the added songs because they did not fit the late-1950s/early 1960s style either musically or lyrically. This was especially true of "Grease", which used disco instrumentation and a contemporary 1970s beat; it was nonetheless left in.
When did Grease become a number one song?
"Grease" became a number-one single in the United States in 1978 and also reached number forty on the R&B charts in the same year. In 1978 , Valli released a follow-up album, the title of which— Frankie Valli... Is the Word —echoes the "grease is the word" lyric contained in the chorus of "Grease". "Grease" remains Valli's most recent hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
When was the song "Grease" released?
The song was released as a single by Valli in May 1978 and sold over seven million copies worldwide and was featured twice on the film's soundtrack: as the first track and reprised as the final track. "Grease" was written specifically for the 1978 musical motion picture; it had not originated from the stage production.
Did the Bee Gees ever record a studio version of "One Night Only"?
The Bee Gees never recorded a studio version of this song, however, they later performed the song in their One Night Only tour from 1997 until 1999 and included a performance with Valli on their live album, One Night Only (September 1998).
Who sang the song "Greased Lightnin'"?
The script underwent dramatic changes: Originally, John Travolta's Danny Zuko was written as a bus boy and gas-station employee who sang a song called "Gas Pump Jockey" and the Beach Boys were meant to sing "Greased Lightnin'" in a garage.
Who wrote the poem "Grease"?
1. An advertising copywriter and a high school art teacher created "Grease": According to Vanity Fair, "Grease" was written by Jim Jacobs, an advertising copywriter, and Warren Casey, a high school art teacher, who met through an amateur theater group in Chicago in the sixties.
Who played Rizzo in the song "There are worse things I could do"?
Other songs were (nearly!) cut: Stockard Channing, who played Rizzo, had to convince Carr not to cut her big solo, "There Are Worse Things I Could Do.". "That’s how you know what’s inside this little person,” she said she told Carr. “Otherwise she’s just all that surface stuff.”.
Who sang the song "Sandy" in the movie?
A few of the songs were added at the last minute: The movie was almost made without its title song, which was performed by Frankie Valli, as well as "Sandy," "Hopelessly Devoted to You" and the duet "You're the One That I Want," which was written by Newton-John's songwriter John Farrar.
Who played Sandy in the movie?
Meanwhile, the actresses considered for Sandy included Carrie Fisher, Susan Dey, Deborah Raffin and Marie Osmond, who ultimately dropped out because Sandy morphed into a rebel at the end of the film. Olivia Newton-John, who ultimately played Sandy, was discovered after she sat next to Carr at a dinner party.

Overview
Francis Thomas Avallone (September 18, 1940) professionally Frankie Avalon, is an American actor, singer, and former teen idol. He had 31 charting U.S. Billboard singles from 1958 to late 1962, including the number one hits "Venus" and "Why" in 1959.
Avalon is also well known for his role in the 1970's musical film Grease as Tee…
Early life and music
Avalon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Mary and Nicholas Avallone. His mother was originally from Sicily. His father was a butcher from Naples or Salerno, in Campania, Italy. His paternal grandmother was from Sicily.
In December 1952, Avalon made his American network television debut playing the trumpet in the Honeymooners "Christmas Party" sketch on The Jackie Gleason Show. Two singles showcasing …
Film and TV career
Avalon's first film was a short appearance in Jamboree (1957), playing a trumpet and singing "Teacher's Pet".
In the late 1950s, teen idols were often given roles in films, supporting older male stars in order to attract a younger audience, such as Ricky Nelson in Rio Bravo (1959). Alan Ladd's daughter was a Frankie Avalon fan, who recommend…
1970s and 1980s
In 1976, Avalon updated his song "Venus" with a new disco treatment.
Materializing as a character called Teen Angel, his performance of "Beauty School Dropout" in the hit 1978 film of the musical Grease which introduced Avalon to a new generation of viewers.
In early 1979, Avalon portrayed Sergei in the episode ""Dewey and Harold and Sarah and Maggie" of the NBC television series $weepstake$.
Later career
Avalon then turned to marketing and created Frankie Avalon Products, a line of health and cosmetic aids. He promoted his products on the Home Shopping Network with host Bob Circosta.
Avalon made a cameo appearance as himself with Robert De Niro in the 1995 film, Casino.
In recent years, Avalon has starred in stage productions of Grease in the role of Teen Angel and in Tony n' Tina's Wedding as a caricature of himself. Additionally, in 2007, he performed "Beauty Sc…
Personal life
Avalon married Kathryn "Kay" Diebel on January 19, 1963. She was a beauty pageant winner he met while playing cards at a friend's house. He told that friend she was the girl he would marry. His agent warned him that marriage would spoil his teen idol mystique, to no avail.
The Avalons have eight children – Frankie Jr., Tony, Dina, Laura, Joseph, Nicolas, Kathryn and Carla – and ten grandchildren. Frankie Jr. is a former actor who appeared in the original The Kar…
Legacy
Avalon was mentioned in the System of a Down song "Old School Hollywood". The song supposedly is about Daron Malakian's experience in a celebrity baseball game, where he and Avalon were both ignored.
Avalon is also mentioned in "It Takes Two", a song from the hit musical Hairspray, sung by the character Link Larkin, and in a song by the Wu-Tang Clan called "T…
Acting roles
• 1956 The Honeymooners as Himself
• 1957 Jamboree as Himself
• 1960 Guns of the Timberland as Bert Harvey
• 1960 Alakazam the Great as Alakazam (English version, singing voice)