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Four Seasons veterans summon other Hit Men
By John Benson
There’s no doubt part of the appeal of The Four Seasons was the fact the band members were basically rough-and-tumble street guys turned platinum performing artists.
In many ways, there was very little difference between the band and its fans. For proof, look no further than the fisticuffs that ensued a few years ago at a Cleveland performance of the Four Seasons’ hit Broadway show “Jersey Boys.”
It’s for that reason that the name of offshoot act The Hit Men, which comes to Westminster College for a Saturday show, seems so apropos.
“‘Jersey Boys’ does depict the original members in the ’50s and early ’60s, when they were tough, street-corner guys,” said former Four Seasons recording and touring member Lee Shapiro, calling from New Jersey. “You had to be tough, and especially as a singer, you had to have a chip on your shoulder or you wouldn’t fare well.”
That chip on Shapiro’s shoulder has become nothing but fondness for the past in The Hit Men, which includes his erstwhile Four Seasons bandmate Gerry Polci. The act also features former members of mega-star acts such as Tommy James and the Shondells, The Critters, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, Elton John & Kiki Dee and Jim Webb.
That means at the upcoming show, audiences will hear “Rag Doll,” “Dawn,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Sherry” and “Oh What a Night,” as well as Cat Stevens’ “Peace Train,” Jim Croce’s “Leroy Brown,” Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” and Tommy James’ “Mony Mony.”
“For years, people asked Gerry and myself if we were going to do something together, but I became a music producer and he was teaching,” Shapiro said. “Then ‘Jersey Boys’ came out and was a phenomenon.
“We had both been in touch with Frankie Valli regularly. We had remained friends for over 40 years. I called Frankie and told him what my thoughts were, maybe putting together a group of guys who all had been with big-name acts, and he was supportive.”
Even though Shapiro could have easily toured as The Hit Men without Valli’s blessing, he felt it was important to get his approval. He added that the fact his former band member was in his corner made the endeavor that much sweeter.
Now four years later, The Hit Men are playing upward of 70 gigs a year around the nation. So why are audiences flocking to hear music from decades ago?
“Because they want to be young, and our show guarantees you’ll leave the theater happier and younger than when you arrived,” Shapiro said. “The Hit Men’s product is time travel. You’ll hear the music the way you remember it. People really do feel like they’re back in time.
“I discovered the music actually has a place in people’s hearts. They can recapture a time in their life where things were maybe a little carefree and simple.”