You may have had a very small sample of Bob Crewe's accomplishments if you saw the Broadway or movie versions of "Jersey Boys."

Left to right: Frankie Valli, Bob Crewe, Tommy DiVito, and Bob Gaudio.
Getty Images / Isaac Brekken
Left to right: Frankie Valli, Bob Crewe, Tommy DiVito, and Bob Gaudio.
Getty Images / Isaac Brekken
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It would be an injustice not to pay tribute to this songwriter, producer, and musical entrepreneur who recently passed away.  Bob Crewe was 83.

I have said this before.  It's very rare that I use the word "genius."  Crewe was a musical genius in every sense of the word.

Jersey guy?  You bet.  Stanley Robert Crewe was born in Newark and grew up in neighboring Belleville.

He was one of those individuals in the music industry whose name was not a "household" word.  With one exception, his name appeared on record labels in small print below the title and artist.   In spite of that, Bob was one of those behind the scenes guys who had a major role in shaping our musical soundtrack from the 1950's into the 21st century.

Crewe's early success stretches way back to 1957 when he wrote and produced the Rays' classic doo-wop hit, "Silhouettes."

Would the onset of the British music invasion deter Bob's success?  No way!  As a matter of fact, it was during the early 60's when Crewe hooked up with four youngsters from his home town who called themselves The Four Seasons.

From that point on Mr. Crewe would collaborate with Four Seasons' member Bob Gaudio to write and produce almost every mega hit recorded by the quartet.

The incredible string of hits began with the "Seasons" 1962 debut blockbuster, "Sherry".  From that point Bob co-wrote and produced "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Walk Like a Man", "Rag Doll", "Candy Girl", and "Let's Hang On."  Crewe also wrote and produced Frankie Valli's solo hit, "Can't Take My Eyes Off You."  There were a whole bunch more, but you get the idea.

Fast forward 50 years to "Jersey Boys."

Crewe was the Broadway version's lyricist.  The show won four Tonys, including Best Musical.  His character was featured in the Broadway and movie versions of "Jersey Boys."

Bob Crewe's association with The Four Seasons was only a small sample of his incredible resume'.

During his run of hits with The Four Seasons he founded his own record label, DynoVoice records.  On DynoVoice Crewe recorded his one hit wonder, the instrumental, "Music to Watch Girls By" under the name The Bob Crewe Generation.  Most of us remember the tune when it was used for a highly successful advertising  campaign for Pepsi-Cola.

It's incredible how this songwriter hall of famer was able to evolve with enormous success from the doo-wop era all the way into the 2000's.

He had enough Grammy awards and gold records to fill up an eighteen wheeler.

Here's a sampling of Bob Crewe's songs that he wrote or produced.

You may be amazed.

Remember this from 1965?  I'll have a diet Pepsi with a slice of lemon.

Bob's career took off with this doo-wop hit from 1957.  A cover version was recorded several years later by Herman's Hermits.

With this song Bob Crewe entered music's stratosphere.

Mr. Crewe turned this New York City trio into stars.

Here's a "devil" of a song by Bob.

"Jersey Boys" wasn't his first Broadway venture.  Enjoy this classic from the musical "Hair."

Finally, here's another Bob Crewe composition.  This is Patti Labelle's monster hit from 1975.

There is no doubt.  Millions of us will be humming this Jersey Boy's legacy for a long, long time.

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