Frankie avalon biography childrens book

(1940-)

Synopsis

Born on September 18, 1940, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Frankie Avalon is considered one of the first manufactured teen idols.

His song "Venus" became his first No. 1 single in 1959, and he released six more Top 40 records in that year alone. In 1962, Avalon and Annette Funicello paired their clean-cut looks to make the popular Beach Party surfer film series.

Early Life and Career

Considered the first manufactured teen idol—before Fabian and Bobby Rydell and the myriads of other pretenders hoping to follow in Elvis's blue suede shoes—Frankie Avalon was born Francis Thomas Avallone on September 18, 1940, in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Avalon broke into show business as a child prodigy trumpet player, earning an appearance on The Jackie Gleason Show and making records for RCA Victor Records' subsidiary, "X." In his teens, he played backup trumpet in a local band called Rocco and the Saints, and it was there t