Bob Crewe, Songwriter and Jersey Boys Inspiration, Has Died

Bob Crewe, the songwriter behind a string of hits for Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and a real-life inspiration for a character in the hit musical Jersey Boys, has died at the age of 82.

Born in Newark, New Jersey and raised in Belleville, New Jersey, Crewe left Parsons School of Design after a year to write songs with Frank C. Slay. Perhaps best known at that time for The Rays' hit "Silhouettes," the pair also collaborated on tunes including "Bells Bells Bells" and "Lucky Ladybug," among others.

In the early 1960s, Crewe hired a young vocal group, later renamed The Four Seasons, to sing backup on a series of demos and singles. Writing with Bob Gaudio, the cowriter of the pop hit "Short Shorts," Crewe became the songwriter behind "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," "Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye)," "Big Girls Don't Cry," and "Walk Like a Man." Their first #1 single, in 1962, was "Sherry." The Crewe-Gaudio collaboration was immortalized in the hit Broadway musical Jersey Boys, as well as in its film adaptation.

Crewe's discography also includes the hit songs "Lady Marmalade" and "Devil With a Blue Dress On," which he arranged for Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels. He is survived by his brother, Dane Crewe, and his nieces and nephews.