By Frank Bublitz
On Sunday, October 13 I got lessons in professionalism and life. It came at the Fox Theater in Detroit, in the form of the Frankie Valli’s The Last Encores Concert.
It was a first-rate technical concert. They had planned the perfect stage show for his voice and physical abilities. Also it enhanced the reminiscence-goodbye theme of the concert by showing slides of their album covers, members of the band, and pictures with other celebrities.
What I learned about life was how to use what you have and be glad and proud of it.
The show opened with a few high energy numbers. Frankie didn’t try to dance. The very energetic and talented Four Seasons did that heavy lifting almost all night. He did sway gently at one point to a love song, careful not to lose his balance while keeping time.
After they were over he walked over to a Mic stand. He carried it downstage by himself. Then he said, “We’re going to slow things down right now. Because I need to”.
Some of the audience seemed to be caught a little by surprised by that joke. I wasn’t. As a performer myself I know that my physical condition makes some stage movement very difficult if not impossible.
I’m sure that he had prepared that remark, along with not having his glasses to see the names of the songs on the CD he was hawking to the audience.
But the limitations of his age were real. He embraced the obvious rather than going with the societal pressure to try to ignore his age.
Some people will call that “brave”. Those people are usually young or naive. I’m neither.
There is nothing brave about being yourself. Rather, it’s cowardly not to face the realities of life head on.
Finally, Frankie Valli had his voice, and he enjoyed the comradery of the entire theater. We were all “Bobby Soxers” or “Greasers”, feeling that way because his voice was strong and vibrant. There may have been a higher gain on his microphone. They definitely tailored the arrangement, which were bright and new in some of the music, to those abilities he had remaining. So it was impressive as any Frankie Valli performance, well worth the concert cost.
That was helped by his stature. He was still straight and slender, able to use his diaphragm to support his breathing. He did not have extra weight, which is something performers such as Frank Sinatra had in their later years. So, it looks as if he has taken assertive care of his health. That’s another thing some older people do NOT do.
Right now, to be honest, I am struggling with my physical health. It’s affected my mental health in a really negative way. But being impressed by the lessons Frankie Valli taught me last night, and being a ham myself, I’m going to get off my butt and move forward.
Just as The Last Encores of Frankie Valli moves onto its next venue.
