About this column:
A look at the giants in the music industry who had their roots in New Jersey.
It was 1963 -- and Lesley Gore was living the normal life of a carefree 16-year-old in Tenafly, while attending the Dwight School for Girls in Englewood. That was the case before a snappy little tune called It's My Party was released. The bouncy melody -- teamed with lyrics that struck a chord with every teeny-boppin' teenage girl in the country -- put the newly-minted Leslie Gore on the big-time musical map. It's My Party shot to the top of the charts, and paved the way for a string of Top 20 hits, including Judy's Turn to Cry (#5), You Don't Own Me (#2), She's A Fool (#2), That's The Way …
With 29 records in the Billboard Top 40 -- including five number one hits -- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons rank near the top of the list when it comes to New Jersey music icons. The group, formed in Newark in 1956 as the Four Lovers, first charted in 1962 with the release of Sherry -- which spent five weeks at number one -- an amazing feat for a debut group. Less than two months later, their distinctive sound landed Big Girls Don't Cry in the top Billboard spot for another five weeks. As a comparison, the Monkees first two releases -- Last Train to Clarksville (one week) and I'm A …
