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Frankie Avalon

Frankie Avalon

Frankie Avalon was unlike many of the other teen idols that came out of Philadelphia in the 1950s and 1960s. He was different because he actually had a background in music. His father taught him how to play the trumpet at a very young age and he spent time in his youth playing in local clubs and theaters. He even won a TV talent show for playing a solo on his trumpet.

One day in 1952 Frankie was playing at party for Al Martino and there also happened to be a talent scout there that was impressed with Frankie. He was so impressed with Frankie that he got him an appearance on Jackie Gleason’s TV show. This appearance led to more appearances on television and by 1954 he cut his own record on a small local label. When he was twelve years old he was in a band called Rocco and the Saints; this group also included Bobby Rydell who would soon be famous.

Eventually, Frankie got a recording contract with Philadelphia’s Chancellor Records, during that time he recorded “Cupid” and “Teacher’s Pet.” Because of these two records he was able to play a small part in Jamboree to promote “Teacher’s Pet.”

The next record Frankie recorded, “De De Dinah,” was a song written by his managers. After he appeared on “American Bandstand” the record sky rocketed and eventually sold more than a million copies. The next few songs were also big hits and in 1959 he recorded the song he is most recognized for, Venus, and it sold over a million copies.

Finally, sometime in the 1960s his career began to go downhill and his record sales dropped. It was then that he started taking roles in movies such as The Alamo and Drums of Africa. His career in movies really picked up after the movie Beach Party and its sequels. Teenagers were attracted to these movies because of the surfing, dancing, and bikinis.

Frankie continued to record songs for Chancellor but he was most famous with the young people for his acting career. Frankie still makes person appearances and tours.