Frankie Valli’s “retirement” lasted less than two days.
The 92-year-old rock ‘n’ roll legend has refuted an announcement from his brother, Bobby Valli, that the Four Seasons founder was finished.
“In spite of what you might have heard, I am not retired,” read the post on @frankievallifourseasons.
Valli’s publicist Victoria Varela confirmed Friday afternoon Valli posted that message himself, and Bobby Valli’s account was “false.”
On Aug. 12, Bobby Valli said in a Facebook post that his brother was indeed retiring from performing. From his post: “He will now retire. We will always have special memories of Frankie Valli. He has reached a place in his life where his family is there to love, cherish and to be there for him… We appreciate your love and concern.”
Valli announced in May he was pulling off all of his live dates in 2026 “to focus on my health.” His most recent performance was Feb. 22 at the Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. His last Las Vegas appearance was Oct. 25 at Westgate’s International Theater.
The “Oh What A Night’ hitmaker has no dates at Westgate, or anywhere else in Las Vegas.
Valli has performed for 75 years, after he joined the Variety Trio in his hometown of Newark, N.J., in 1951. The high-ranging singer is most famous for his years fronting the Four Seasons, and in many later iterations of the famous American rock act.
The original quartet was the subject of the “Jersey Boys” musical in Las Vegas, which played Palazzo Theater and Paris Theater from 2008-2016. A revival ran from December 2023-February 2024 at Orleans Showroom.
Las Vegas performer Justin Rodriguez has backed Valli in the latest version of the Four Seasons for 2 1/2 years. Rodriguez is a member of the 90s Station cover band that performs regularly on Fremont Street, the Live Music Society at Mandalay Bay’s Rhythm & Riffs, and is about to join the “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” revival at the Rio.
“What I’ve taken from Frankie is don’t quit, never quit,” Rodriguez said Friday as he followed the Valli updates on social media. “Just his love for music has pushed him to where he is right now. He talks so fondly about creating and making music, and if we just follow our hearts, the opportunities are endless.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.