Jean Valli

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"Texas" Jean Valli was a hillbilly music singer. [1] Born Gina Rozanna Vadala in 1926, [1] she was raised in Carbondale, Pennsylvania and started playing country-western music and yodeling at age 9 with her own radio show at age 13. [2] By age 17, she was not only an entertainer but also a promoter recruiting top country music stars to shows she promoted. [2] After high school she moved to Syracuse, New York where she got a job performing on country station WOLS. She later toured New York State including with country singer Hank Williams Sr. [3]

In the early 1950s she performed with Milton Berle when he hired her for his Kentucky Mountaineering Act, touring with him in the summer and playing clubs in Las Vegas, [2] as well as being featured on Berle's TV show for five years. [4] She played bass fiddle and guitar and wrote country songs, [5] and was considered one of the top female yodelers. [4] Also, she was known to be able to impersonate other artists such as Lefty Frizzell, Kitty Wells, and Wanda Jackson. [2] In 1970, she toured with Grand Ole Opry type country music shows and fairs. [6] She was an active performer around the same time as June Valli, which caused some mix-ups. [7]

Valli took on a teenage singer named Francesco "Frankie" Castelluccio as a protege in 1953. At a meeting with record producers, Valli introduced Castelluccio as her brother, thus giving Castelluccio his stage name, Frankie Valli. [5] [8] [3]

Discography

References

  1. 1 2 "Texas Jean Valli". www.hillbilly-music.com. December 18, 2023 [December 18, 2006].
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Jean Valli to perform at Chautauqua Fair". Warren Times-Mirror and Observer. July 18, 1970 – via newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 McAuliffe, Josh (July 9, 2006). "Digging Up Country Roots: Former Carbondale Resident's Career was Medley of Love for the Music". The Scranton Times-Tribune. p. F1 – via newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "Country western entertainers from 'Grand Ole Opry' to perform at Fair". Montana: Lewistown Daily News. June 17, 1970 – via newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 Herbert, Geoff (20 June 2014). "Long before 'Jersey Boys,' Frankie Valli stole his name from a Syracuse hillbilly singer". www.syracuse.com. The Post-Standard . Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  6. ↑ "Jean Valli Due At Wayne Fair". The Scrantonian Tribune. July 19, 1970 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ Robinson, Barry (June 16, 1964). "Show Notes: Night Life". Asbury Park Press – via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Reynolds, Robert (7 July 2018). The Music of the 4 Seasons Featuring Frankie Valli. Lulu.com. ISBN   978-1-387-92709-8 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Jean Valli". 45cat. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
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