Gay songwriting legend Bob Crewe dies
Musician and songwriter Bob Crewe has passed away.
The recording artist, 82, died in a nursing home in Scarborough, Maine.
He is most famous for his work co-writing with Bob Gaudio for band The Four Seasons and Frankie Valli, with hits including Big Girls Don’t Cry, Bye Bye Baby, Silence is Golden and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.
The artist also appeared as a character in the musical Jersey Boys – and worked with artists including Michael Jackson, the Rays, and Patti LaBelle.
His sexuality only became common knowledge later in life, when the musical was released in 2005.
Jonathan Hadley, who played Crewe in the US touring musical, said previously: “Today we’d identify Bob Crewe as a gay man.
“He dated women but he had boyfriends. What’s extraordinary to me is that these tough straight guys [The Four Seasons] totally click with this sort of Paul Lynde type.
“They accept him for who he is — a talented and brilliant producer, manager and lyricist.
“It’s fascinating that you essentially had these four street thugs who accepted this obviously gay man based simply on his talent.
“I like it because it’s such a subversive way to show gays’ influence on the arts.”
