In The News

Songwriter Bob Crewe passes away

Songwriter Bob Crewe passes away

THE veteran songwriter Bob Crewe, who co-wrote a number of hits for the Four Seasons, has passed away at the age of 83.

Mr. Crewe, who had also been a singer and producer, also wrote songs which were recorded by many other acts over the years but he will be particularly remembered for his work with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Working with Bob Gaudio from the group, the pair collaborated on a series of hits, including Big Girls Don’t Cry (see below) and Walk Like A Man (see below).

Among their other hits were The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore), which was a hit for The Walker Brothers, and Silence Is Golden, which was a hit for The Tremeloes.

Beginning his career in the 1950s, Mr. Crewe enjoyed chart success with Silhouettes which he wrote for the Rays. He went on to record two albums of his own in he early 1960s which, for a time, made him a ‘teen hearthrob’.

But it was his songwriting and producing skills which were to deliver consistant success during the ’60s and ’70s. His hits included Music To Watch Girls By (see below) and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, which was recorded by a number of people including Frankie Valli, Pet Shop Boys and Andy Williams (see below).

Another of his hit songs was Lady Marmalade which was orginally recorded by Labelle (see below) in 1974. The song would eventually be named as one of the 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine.

Mr. Crewe was inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 1995. In later years he turned to art as an outlet for his creative energies. As well as painting he also designed album covers.

He returned to music in the mid-2000s when he was credited as lyricist for the hit musical Jersey Boys, which was based on the Four Seasons.

Mr. Crewe passed away at a nursing home in Maine.

To see the Four Seasons performing Big Girls Don’t Cry, click here.

To see the Four Seasons performing Walk Like A Man, click here.

To listen to an excerpt from Music To Watch Girls By, click here.

To listen to an excerpt from Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, click here.

To listen to Lady Marmalade, click here.

To view an archive interview with Bob Crewe, click here.

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