Tommy DeVito has passed away at the age of 92 from complications of the coronavirus.
The news was shared by his actor friend Alfred Nittoli who said the artist died in Las Vegas on Monday evening. He added there will be a service in Tommy’s native New Jersey.
The veteran musician was best known as one of the founding members of the Four Seasons which flourished during the 1960s and 1970s with hit songs such as Walk Like A Man, Sherry and Big Girls Don’t Cry. DeVito served as the baritone vocalist and lead guitarist.
Sad loss for music: Tommy DeVito has passed away at the age of 92 from complications of the coronavirus. Seen here in 2006 at the Tony Awards
Nittoli’s note read: ‘My dear friend Tommy passed away in Las Vegas at 9:45 last night.
‘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 star had died from complications of the coronavirus. according to NJ.com. COVID-19 has claimed more than 200,000 lives in the US alone.
It was also reported that the singer was hospitalized only ‘recently’ after contracting COVID-19.
The magic four: (L-R) Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Nick Massi and Tommy of The Four Seasons at the Democratic National Convention in August 1964 in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Bobby Valli, brother of Four Seasons frontman Frankie Valli, also took to social media to comment on the star’s passing.
‘MUSIC LEGEND! (ORIGINAL JERSEY BOY) TOMMY DEVITO (R.I.P.),’ Valli wrote. ‘YOU WERE LOVED AND WILL BE MISSED.’
Tommy grew up in an Italian-American family in Belleville, New Jersey and took to music at a young age.
At eight he learned how to play a guitar and by age 12 he was playing music for tips inside taverns.
He befriended Frankie Valli, who was also from New Jersey, and they formed The Four Lovers in 1956.
From Lovers to Seasons: He befriended Frankie Valli, who was also from New Jersey, and they formed The Four Lovers in 1956. In 1960 they changed their name to The Four Seasons
Their debut single, Otis Blackwell’s You’re the Apple of My Eye, did well on the charts and that same year The Four Lovers appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.
In 1960 they changed their name to The Four Seasons. Their first big hit was Sherry and then then came out with the doo-wop hits December 1963 (Oh, What a Night), and Big Girls Don’t Cry.
Another big hit song was Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.
DeVito left the group in 1971 citing a hearing problem but later it was reported that he was bought out because the band felt he was too much of a problem due to his tax problems and gambling debts.
Hot act: Their first big hit was Sherry and then then came out with the doo-wop hits December 1963 (Oh, What a Night), and Big Girls Don’t Cry. Seen in 1966
Tommy continued to perform however and in 2007 released a solo instrumental album.
Though DeVito had left the group in 1971, he was with the remaining Four Seasons players when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 2005, their band inspired the Broadway musical Jersey Boys, which then became a film in 2014 with Clint Eastwood as director.
The Four Seasons are one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, having sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide.
With his pals: Tommy with Joe Pesci, Frankie Valli and Charlie Calello in 2005
