Frankie Avalon rekindles memories, in Chandler 2/20
Frankie Avalon is a show-biz survivor.
As a youngster in the ‘50s, he got his start as a trumpet-playing virtuoso. Later he was the prototypical teen heartthrob, with such sighing hit singles as “Venus” and “Why,” both million-sellers. He became a film star in the ‘60s, most notably playing opposite Annette Funicello in a series of fun-in-the-sun beach flicks. He found success on nightclub stages, in regional theater and on TV. In 1978, he starred as Teen Angel in “Grease,” which extended his name recognition to a new generation of moviegoers.
At age 75, he still stays busy. He has lent his name to a line of pain-relief products. He pitches Italian food on QVC. Four months ago, St. Martin’s Press issued “Frankie Avalon’s Italian Family Cookbook: From Mom’s Kitchen to Mine and Yours." And, he's still on the road, bringing a fun-sounding live show that blends film clips and his hit singles that ruled the radio in the era after Elvis Presley but before the Beatles.
Avalon, chatty and gracious, called from his home outside of Malibu to plug his Feb. 20 concert in Chandler.
Q: Is it true you still have Sunday family dinners every week?
A: Well, I’d say as much as possible, because I travel quite a bit. But I’ll make the pasta and the meatballs. We are a very close family. I have eight children and 10 grandchildren, and they all live within 10 miles. Most people who have children have one who’s in Idaho, one who’s in New York. We are very fortunate.
Q: Do you ever think about retirement?
A: Once in a while it comes to mind, but then it’s dismissed pretty quickly. How much golf can I play? I like to be busy. I do just enough, then take some time off. I just played Las Vegas, then I’ll take a few weeks off, then I’ve got to go to QVC and present my products there. I’m always looking to do something.
Q: You kind of thrived when many of your contemporaries didn’t. You survived the Beatles, for instance.
A: When the Beatles came in, I really concentrated on making a lot of movies. Those beach films that we did were a lot fun. They hit with an audience that related to what we were trying to do on the screen. That kept me going all through that Beatle period.
Q: Was Annette Funicello as nice as everyone says?
A: It’s better than that. She was nicer than anybody I’ve ever worked with. Our families were very close and still are. I’m godfather to her firstborn, Gina. Her first husband, Jack Gilardi, he’s still my agent. It’s always been a family kind of situation, and it was just a terrible ending of a life. (Multiple sclerosis) is such a debilitating disease.
Q: Who was the most talented teen idol out of all of you?
A: The best of all was Bobby Darin, no doubt. Oh God, he was just so good. We were roommates and we studied with the same vocal coach on 48th Street (in New York City), and we were both looking to make it. He was so talented.
Q: Do you like your hits?
A: I recognize them for what they were. “DeDe Dinah,” “Ginger Bread,” come on. They’re fun things. They’re middle of the road. It wasn’t really rock and roll. I don’t know what it was, but it was something accepted and bought, and people still like them. When I reminiscence on stage, people respond. They really like those songs.
Q: And “Venus” is a classic.
A: It’s one of those songs. I guess if Muzak was still around today, you’d be hearing "Venus" in elevators.
Q: Does it bother you that you’re not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
A: That’s always been an argument and a fight. It doesn’t make any difference to me. But I look at some of the lists of the artists, and I don’t know who the hell they are or what they have contributed.
Q: Did you ever think, “Oh no, my career is over?”
A: It would cross my mind. I started to grow up and mature, and my audience did exactly what I did: They got married and started having kids. Before I would be playing venues with 5,000 or 10,000 people. Then it went to nightclubs, and you’d have 500 or 600 people, but you would play a week at a time. You’d learn your craft a little better and try different things.
Q: You started as a trumpet player. Do you still play?
A: I keep it in my bedroom, but no. I loved that horn, and I would play six or seven hours a day. It was hot living out in Philly, and I'd be in the bathtub filled with cold water and I'd just be playing my horn. But then I got involved with all these other things. The trumpet is really the bastard of brass instruments. I just couldn't practice like you need to.
Q: Oddball question: I saw a photo of you without a shirt, and you have a tattoo. That seems very un-Frankie Avalon-ish.
A: (Laughing) I’ve had that tattoo for 53 years. It’s my wife’s name. I had it when we were doing the beach party pictures, and we spent more takes covering up my tattoo than performing sometimes.
Q: Offstage, are you Frank or Frankie?
A: I’ve been Frankie since I’m a little boy, but I’ll answer to anything. I did an album (in 1961) called “…And Now About Mr. Avalon” and I was trying to transition to Frank Avalon. (Chuckling) Frank Avalon? Sounds like a guy that works in an insurance company.
Q: How come you never age? Is there a secret?
A: (Laughing) I don’t know. I look in the mirror and think, “Who is this guy?” I guess I’ve maintained my hair. I’m like a Donald Trump. I have a good, solid head of hair, and that’s been my trademark all these years. When my kids were growing up, if we were going to Disneyland, they’d say, “Dad, put on your hat.” Because when I put on a hat, I swear to you, nobody recognizes me.
Q: What is your relationship like with your fans?
A: It’s a very friendly relationship. It's like either an old school chum or a relative, like an uncle or aunt. It's always, "Hey, Frankie, how's it going?" It's that kind of rapport, because it's like they grew up with me. It's nice.
Reach the reporter at randy.cordova@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8849. Twitter.com/randy_cordova.
February concert guide: Fetty Wap, Carly Rae Jepsen
Frankie Avalon
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20.
Where: Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave.
Admission: $42-$62.
Details: 480-782-2680, chandlercenter.org.