Friday, April 10, 2009

American Idol: FRANKIE AVALON - U.S. 60s


He appeared this week on American Idol screened in Singapore on the Star World Channel and sang the world evergreen, 'Venus'.

Francis Thomas Avallone (born 1939) was an American actor, singer and teen idol in the 1950s and early 1960s. By the time he was 12, Avalon began making appearances on U.S. television for his trumpet prowess, and as a teenager, played with Bobby Rydell in a band known as Rocco and the Saints.

In 1959, his songs "Venus" and "Why?" both went to number one on Billboard magazine's Hot 100. Indeed, "Why" was the last Number 1 hit of the 1950s. During the 1960s, Avalon became known for his roles in the Beach Party film genre.

Frankie Avalon married a former beauty pageant winner, and Avalon met her while playing cards at a friend's house. He told his friend that Kay was the girl he was going to marry. His agent warned Avalon not to marry as it would spoil his teen idol mystique, but Avalon ignored his advice. Still together, the couple has 8 children and 10 grandchildren.

In 1987 Avalon and Annette Funicello returned to the movies, with the aptly titled 'Back to the Beach'. With the fading of his music and acting career, Avalon has turned to marketing and has created Frankie Avalon Products, a successful line of health supplements and cosmetic products.

He regularly guest stars in stage productions of 'Grease' in the role of Teen Angel (a role he played in the film version starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John).

(From: Wikipedia)

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