I think I subconsciously planted the seeds for a Frankie Avalon post earlier this month, when I referred to Donna Loren's appearances in the 'Beach Party' film series entries Muscle Beach Party (1964), Bikini Beach (1964) and Beach Blanket Bingo (1965).
It all started with Beach Party in 1963, starring Frankie and Annette Funicello. By this time, Avalon had been a teen idol for several years, thanks to million selling singles such as Venus.
(The above performance of Venus from Dick Clark's prime time Saturday Night Beech-Nut Show is worth watching to the end for the surprise gift that Dick presents to Frankie at the end. You wouldn't get this with Graham Norton or Jonathan Ross these days!)
Beach Party proved to be a smash hit and Avalon and Funicello starred in multiple sequels, and TV appearances, including this performance on The Ed Sulliovan Show on 6th March 1966.
It's a 4-minute medley comprising (deep breath) This Land Is Your Land, I Left My Heart In San Francisco, Manhattan, Big D, Meet Me In St. Louis and My Kind Of Town.
What I didn't know was that Frankie and Annette reunited for 1987 movie Back To The Beach. In the film, Frankie performs California Sun with Connie Stevens. Originally recorded and released by Joe Jones in 1961, the song was a hit for The Rivieras in 1963.
Frankie's backing band is "King Of The Surf Guitar" Dick Dale and his Del Tones, who appeared in the original Beach Party (well, Dick at least, I can't vouch for the rest of the 1987 line up).
Frankie and Annette toured on the back of the film, but a planned sequel was shelved when Annette was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She passed in 2013 but 22nd October would have been her 83rd birthday.
Frankie celebrated his 85th on 18th September and is still performing today (a couple of dates at the Cerritos Center in California in February, if you're interested).
Venus, Beach Blanket Bingo and California Sun all featured in Frankie's show at the Our Lady Of Mt Carmel Society in Hammonton, New Jersey in May this year.
Another sure-fire inclusion was a song that, for kids like me growing up in the 1970s, was our first introduction to the former Teen Idol, courtesy of the 1978 musical Grease.
Happy days.
I know all the words to 'Beauty School Dropout' and if necessary can prove it at #BlogCon26 (although that may deter people from attending).
ReplyDeleteWe could probably do a duet!
DeleteExcellent idea. I could be Donny to your Marie.
DeleteAh, the Teen Angel himself. I absolutely loved films like Beach Party when they started appearing on telly in the early 70s. It was a colourful world that just didn't exist for me at the time. I don't remember that particular series although I may have seen them.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely the era of the Frankies or the Bobbys - they all seemed to be called either one or the other.