Frankie was

born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania September 18 th . "It

seems like every young kid in Philadelphia wanted to be a singer",

recalls Frankie. "I started as a musiciana trumpet player in the

beginning. But, when I picked up the paper one day and read about Jimmy

Darren, who was from my own neighborhood and school, making a successful

career for himself, I decided that I could do it just as well."

Until he was

nine, Frankie seized every opportunity to enter local amateur contests,

winning one after another. On his own initiative, Frankie began taking

lessons, and continued his musical studies long and hard through the years

that followed. One of his instructors was a member of the Philadelphia

Symphony Orchestra, who volunteered to teach the trumpet virtuoso after

hearing him play. Youthful Frankie Avalon was good enough to make guest

appearances as a trumpet player on The Perry Como and Jackie Gleason Television

Shows.

Frankie has

a long string of Gold Record Million-Seller singles and albums. It wasn't

uncommon during the 1930's ­ 40's for an actor to log extensive film

credits. But in modern Hollywood, industry-ites find Frankie's 30 motion

picture credits quite amazing.

Frankie's starring

roles in the highly successful " Beach Party "

film series, are perhaps quickest to recall. They include " Beach

Party", "Muscle Beach Party", "Beach Blanket Bingo",

"Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine", "Bikini Beach "

and " How to Stuff a Wild Bikini."

The "Beach"

pictures were enormous box office successes. But Frankie, who studied

with Wynn Handman in New York and Estelle Harmon in Los Angeles had his

acting accolades reserved for his dramatic roles in "The Dark",

"The Alamo", "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"

and "Guns of the Timberland", and comedic talent

in " Skidoo ", "Sail a Crooked Ship",

"I'll Take Sweden", "Ski Party ", and " Sergeant

Deadhead ."

In his film

for Columbia Pictures "The Take" co-starring Billy

Dee Williams, Eddie Albert and Vic Morrow, Frankie shows his dramatic

acting ability.

Frankie's nightclub

career has taken him around the world, headlining the finest supperclubs

and niteries. Within the USA, he has starred at The Sahara, Sands, Desert

Inn and Landmark Hotels in Las Vegas, The Fountainebleau and Eden Roc

Hotels in Miami Beach, Blinstrub's in Boston, Rainbow Grill and Copacabana

in New York, Latin Casion in New Jersey, Palumbo's Philadelphia; Camellia

House - Chicago; Cork Club ­ Houston; and Duke's ­ Honolulu.

Frankie has

performed for audiences in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Philippines

and continues to receive offers to make appearances around the world.

His appearances at the International Festival of Stars in Romania marked

the second time that an entertainer from the United States had performed

in that Iron Curtain country since World War II. (The other was Louis

Armstrong).

In addition

to working six months out of the year in nightclubs, Frankie is a familiar

face to television viewers, having appeared on just about every top variety

show, guest-starring on numerous dramatic series and starring in several

of his own specials.

Frankie appeared

in a cameo role in the very successful movie " Grease"

where he sang "Beauty School Dropout" and this cameo was considered

one of the highlights of the movie.

Many honors

have been bestowed upon the young, but seasoned star. Among the many local,

regional, national and international honors are: The Disc Jockey's Association

Selection as "King of Song" ­ 1959, winner of Photoplay

Magazines Gold Award as "Most Popular Vocalist"- 1959, title

of "Outstanding Singer of 1961" by the California All-Youth

Symphony Orchestra, selection by Box Office Magazine in 1964 as

one of the "Top Three Young Male Stars" at the motion picture

box office, named by Film Daily in 1964 as one of the "Five

Best Young Actors of the Year."

Although it

would take many pages to cover, even briefly, the multiple and varied

entertainment world accomplishments of Frankie Avalon, undoubtedly his

greatest personal achievement can be summed up in one short sentence:

"He is one of Hollywood's most prolific fathers." Specifically,

Frank and his wife, Kay married in January 1963, are the parents of four

boys and four girls. In order of appearance, they are Frankie Jr., Tony,

Dina, Laura, Joseph, Nicholas, Kathryn and Carla. The family lives in

a sprawling ranch style home in California's San Fernando Valley.

Like many show

business personalities, Frankie is an avid golfer, spending most of his

non-working hours on the fairways and putting greens on the famous Lakeside

Golf Club of Hollywood. And, expectedly, he is a low handicap golfer,

mastering the sport in the same determined manner he has pursued his career.

Just ask some of the oldtime showbiz duffers who have discovered that

"the kid" is a real proand how!

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