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Joe Long

For other people named Joe Long, see Joe Long (disambiguation).

Joseph Louis LaBracio (September 5, 1932 – April 21, 2021), better known by his stage name Joe Long, was an American musician. He was best known for his tenure as the bass guitarist and vocalist for the Four Seasons from 1965 to 1975, having succeeded original bassist Nick Massi in those positions.

Joe Long
Long in 1966
Long in 1966
Background information
Birth nameJoseph Louis LaBracio
Born(1932-09-05)September 5, 1932[1]
Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedApril 21, 2021(2021-04-21) (aged 88)
Long Beach Township, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationMusician
InstrumentsBass guitar, vocals
Formerly ofThe Four Seasons

Life and career

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Long (at right) with the Four Seasons in 1966

Long was a classically trained musician who studied with Alfonse Strazza, the principal bassist for the New York Philharmonic. However, a severe hand injury forced Joe to give up the rigors of playing classical bass and switch to the Fender bass guitar. He then began listening more to rock and roll music and became a bass player for several local New Jersey rock bands before joining the Four Seasons in 1965. Long recalled that Tommy DeVito had called Long's agent regarding an opening in the band following Nick Massi's abrupt resignation that year, and that in lieu of an audition, Long was sent on tour to West Virginia and thrown into the band's lineup without warning when Charles Calello, who had been filling in for Massi, had a schedule conflict and was unavailable.[2] Long and DeVito proved to have excellent on-stage chemistry, and thus Long became a permanent member of the band.[3] Long helped guide the group away from its original target audience of working-class youth and into more adult material, noting that his favorite album with the group was The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette and his favorite song was their cover of "I've Got You Under My Skin."[3] A competent guitarist in addition to his bass playing, Long trained Penny "Demetri" Callas to replace DeVito after DeVito left the band in 1970.[4]

He continued to record, perform and tour with The Four Seasons through the mid-1970s, with his last work being their comeback hit "Who Loves You."[3] Long's departure from the group came with some contention; Long recalled that though lead singer Frankie Valli remained loyal to him (unsuccessfully lobbying for Long to be included in the group's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction and hiring him to emcee occasional Four Seasons shows), the new members of the band (Lee Shapiro, Gerry Polci and Don Ciccone) and an unnamed member of the backing band (possibly John Paiva, who was immediately promoted to the main lineup after Long's departure), convinced producer and band co-owner Bob Gaudio to force Long out, claiming that the group was being held back due to Long's hand injury and quirky sense of humor.[5] Long also stated that he had asked for a larger cut of The Four Seasons' profits given his role in the band but that, contrary to a claim by the Seasons' attorney, he had not given Valli or Gaudio an ultimatum.[5] Long had also shown dissatisfaction with the new material (much of it co-written by Gaudio's new girlfriend Judy Parker) because it was straying too far from the group's core sound, commenting that when "Uptown Girl" became a hit for Billy Joel, Long felt vindicated in his stance.[6]

After leaving the group, Long formed the rock 'n roll group LaBracio and later the jazz band Jersey Bounce. In a 2007 interview, Long stated "I still play an occasional gig. And, I have done a few recording sessions with Tommy. For the most part, though, I am retired."[7] He was portrayed, mainly as a background character, in Jersey Boys; Long admitted he liked the play, but that it was only accurate with regard to character personalities and not with chronology, and that he was not fond of the film adaptation.[3] For the last several years of his life, he came out of retirement to serve as music director and occasional on-stage member of the Jersey Four, a Four Seasons tribute band.[3][6]

Long was inducted, along with DeVito, Gaudio and Massi, into the New Jersey Hall of Fame as members of the Four Seasons in 2017 (Valli had already been inducted in 2010).[8] The inclusion of Long in the New Jersey Hall of Fame lineup was partial redemption, as he held ill feelings toward the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for excluding him in its induction of the Four Seasons.[6]

Long died from complications of COVID-19 on April 21, 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey.[2][9]

References

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  1. ^ "'Jersey Boy' Visits St. Bart's Italian Festival as Joe Long of The Four Seasons Takes the Stage". TAPinto. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b Jordan, Chris. "Joe Long, Four Seasons bassist and Elizabeth native, has died". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e Trevelise, Steve (21 February 2019). "Joe Long dishes on 'Jersey Boys,' time with the Four Seasons". WKXW. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  4. ^ McGuire, Colin (16 January 2020). "'He was built like a superhero': Local legend 'Penny' Callas dies". The Frederick News-Post. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b Miller, Stuart (2004). Joe Long: His Story. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Mark, Voger (2 July 2016). "Four Seasons singer a real Jersey". Nj.com. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  7. ^ "JBB EXCLUSIVE: Interview With Joe Long–Part Three!". Jerseyboysblog.com. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  8. ^ "New Jersey Hall of Fame - 2017 Inductees". New Jersey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  9. ^ Bobby Olivier (21 April 2021). "Joe Long, ex-Four Seasons member and N.J. native, dies from COVID". Nj.com. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
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