Frankie Avalon was one of the ultimate teen stars to emerge from the post-rock 'n' roll era, as the moguls of Tin Pan Alley encouraged the music to evolve towards a lighter style of pop which had a broader appeal to the mainstream of middle America. Starting his recording career as a boy-star trumpeter in his mid-teens, he was signed by the Chancellor label in his home town of Philadelphia. Between 1958 and the effective end of his chart career in 1962 he had 30 hits in the USA and UK, including the iconic No.1s Venus and Why. Once his pop career began to wane he developed his movie acting, and became a ubiquitous star of 'beach movies' during the '60s alongside original Mouseketeer Annette Funicello. He continued to land movie and TV roles including a memorable cameo as Teen Angel in the 1978 movie musical Grease. This LP highlights his biggest and best hits from his vocal debut hit DeDe Dinah. It naturally features the No.1s Venus and Why, and the Top 10 hits DeDe Dinah, Ginger Bread, A Boy Without A Girl, Bobby Sox To Stockings and Just Ask Your Heart. It provides an entertaining overview of the career of one of the archetypal teen stars of the years immediately prior to the arrival of the British Invasion, and is a showcase for his versatile talents as a vocalist across rock 'n' roll, teen ballads and sophisticated pop.
