Tommy DeVito, original Four Seasons member, dead at 92 from COVID-19 By Rob Bailey-Milado
The New York Post
Tommy DeVito, one of the smooth harmonizers of legendary doo-wop group the Four Seasons, has died from complications of the coronavirus. The baritone vocalist and lead guitarist was 92.
When reached by The Post for comment, Four Seasons frontman Frankie Valli and singer-keyboardist Bob Gaudio said in a joint statement:
“It is with great sadness that we report that Tommy DeVito, a founding member of the Four Seasons, has passed. We send our love to his family during this most difficult time. He will be missed by all who loved him.â€
Actor Alfred Nittoli (“Casinoâ€) first confirmed DeVito’s passing Tuesday on Facebook.
“My dear friend Tommy passed away in Las Vegas at 9:45 last night,†Nittoli wrote, spurring dozens of emotional condolences. “With deep regret I am writing this sitting in his living room. I was informed by his daughter Darcel there will be a service in New Jersey" . . .
The Four Seasons, circa 1963-64; left to right: Bob Gaudio (their chief co-songwriter); Tommy DeVito; Frankie Valli; Nick Massi (who did their vocal arrangements and died twenty years ago).
One of the only things the film version of
Jersey Boys got right: Tommy DeVito, sadly enough,
was the Season most likely to have become a made wiseguy if he hadn't become a musician and singer. He'd grown up in an abusive household and pushed him too young into a life of street crime that ended only when he hooked up with the guys who eventually became the Four Seasons with him. (Much like George Harrison was the only Beatle who grew up in a normal household un-wracked by divorce or parental death, Bob Gaudio was the only Season who grew up without family turmoil. He was also the only Season who didn't grow up in New Jersey---he was a Bronx boy.)
DeVito was supposed to be the band member handling the group's finances, but he developed such a gambling habit and ran up such a huge bill with the IRS that, in 1971 (after the group made their most experimental album,
The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette---the one that impressed Frank Sinatra so much he engaged Season co-songwriter Gaudio and Jake Holmes,
Gazette's lyricist, to write
him an album,
Watertown), Gaudio and Frankie Valli agreed to pay off DeVito's debts---in return for him leaving the band and surrendering his stake in their formal business partnership. (At the time, the band said publicly that DeVito was leaving due to hearing problems; the Four Seasons weren't exactly the type to hang their dirty laundry in public in those years.)
DeVito did get a second chance in life and made the most of it, happily enough. He relocated to Las Vegas (some of his siblings already lived there) after his forceout from the Four Seasons with $100,000 in the bank. (He once swore he would have left the Four Seasons on his own if he hadn't been forced out of the band because---like Nick Massi before him---he tired of the touring.) He ran through it in a year, then took up housecleaning as a profession, and married a Vegas showgirl who'd quit when her show went topless. He got back onto his feet slowly, raising a family and eventually becoming a recording studio operator and producer, not to mention getting some low-keyed film work thanks to his old friend Joe Pesci.
And good for him. Many are the men who don't redeem their early foolishnesses.
RIP.
