Frankie Avalon

The first strategically marketed “teen idol” (after Elvis), Frankie Avalon got his start in the business playing trumpet, but his fate changed in 1958 following an impromptu singing audition for a local manager. Within a year, Avalon was topping the charts with singles such as “Venus,” “Why,” “Cupid,” and “Dede Diana,” and driving millions of teenage girls to distraction. Avalon’s good looks and penchant for sugary ballads kept him a star until 1962 when his popularity began to decline. He went into film, pairing with Annette Funicello in a series of BEACH PARTY movies, as well as appearing in other films and on television. He has appeared as Teen Angel in stage and film adaptations of GREASE. He currently promotes his own line of health products, and still performs on oldies shows.