Frankie Avalon

Francis Thomas Avallone (born September 18, 1940), known professionally as Frankie Avalon, is an American singer, actor and former teen idol. He had 31 charting U.S. Billboard singles from 1958 to late 1962, including number one hits, "Venus" in 1959 and "Why" in 1960.

Avalon started appearing in films in the 1960s; he is well known for having appeared in the Beach party films of this decade and for supporting roles in the 1960 western The Alamo and in the 1978 musical film Grease. In the latter film, he sings the song "Beauty School Dropout".

Avalon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Italian-American parents Mary and Nicholas Avallone. His mother was originally from Sicily. His father was a butcher who was born in Philadelphia, whose father Francesco was from Salerno, in Campania, Italy, and whose mother 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 Avalon's trumpet playing were issued on RCA Victor's X sublabel in 1954. His trumpet playing was also featured on some of his LP songs as well. As a teenager, he played with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints.

In 1959, "Venus", which was a number one single for five consecutive weeks, and "Why" went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. "Why" was the first number one hit of the 1960s.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.