Teen Idol Frankie Avalon Celebrates Another Year Around the Sun
Singer/actor Francis Thomas Avallone, known as teen idol Frankie Avalon, was born in Philadelphia on September 18, 1940. Avalon’s multitalented music career began at a young age, not with his voice, but with his trumpet. In 1952, Avalon made his TV debut playing the horn on The Jackie Gleason Show.
He made the jump to vocals and hit teen idol status in the ’50s-’60s. His first appearance on American Bandstand was in 1957 and worked throughout his career with Dick Clark and charted 31 U.S. Billboard singles, including the two No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1959: his most famous track, “Venus,” and the syrupy ballad “Why.”
Everett Collection
Pictured with good friends Fabian, Bobby Rydell and Dick Clark
In The Movies
Everett Collection
Avalon got his first role on the silver screen in the 1960 Western Guns of the Timberland. John Wayne took note of Avalon’s performance and had him cast in The Alamo (1960). He also starred in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) and Sail a Crooked Ship (1961) until he hit the beach and became big-screen draw in movies aimed at young audiences, particularly in the “beach party” genre. He appeared (usually with Annette Funicello) in most of the major beach films, from the first one, 1963’s Beach Party, to one of the last, 1965’s Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine.
Courtesy Everett Collection
Mid-career, Avalon’s appearance as “Teen Angel” in the 1978 film adaptation of the musical Grease, in which he memorably crooned “Beauty School Dropout,” gained him new fans. In 1987, he and Funicello reteamed in Back to the Beach, a fun throwback to their earlier hits.
More Recent Times
More recently he made a guest performance on American Idol in 2009, in 2015 co-wrote Frankie Avalon’s Italian Family Cookbook, featuring more than 80 recipes, and continues to sing on tour in clubs and theaters. Frankie is also a National Ambassador for the National Arthritis Foundation and has a company that specializes in natural healthcare products.
He recently celebrated 60 years of marriage with his wife Kay Diebel who he met in 1963 and together they have had 8 kids and 10 grandchildren.
He also will be appearing at Chiller Theater coming up this October 27-28.
Happy Birthday Frankie!
Summer Fun
July 2022
Take a look back to the summer nights when you were young, so full of adventure and possibility.
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