All eyes (and ears) will be on Olivia Polci this Thursday as she takes the stage at the Bergen PAC in Englewood, New Jersey. “She’s beautiful, she’s talented and she’s the daughter and granddaughter of rock and roll royalty,” says Joseph Mirrione, the show’s promoter. The lineage he’s referring to is only partially revealed by her last name. Olivia’s father, Gerry Polci, holds the distinction of being the only member of the Four Seasons, other than Frankie Valli, to have sung lead on a Four Seasons hit recording. That hit, “Oh, What a Night (December, 1963)” was the Four Seasons’ biggest ever. When it re-charted in the nineties, it became the longest-charted Billboard hit in history of rock and roll. However, in addition to being one of the key players in Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons’ seventies resurgence, Gerry Polci married Frankie’s daughter, Toni, making Olivia the granddaughter of the original Jersey Boy himself.
The Hit Men
Gerry’s recently returned to the limelight as one of the stars of the Hit Men, whose Thursday night concert will provide the stage for Olivia’s solo vocal debut. The Hit Men are a super-group comprised of former Seasons, Shondells and Critters as well as legendary studio musicians who’ve played on over 80 albums. “These guys have played with Elton John, Paul McCartney, Carly Simon, Chicago, Cat Stevens, Barry Manilow and everyone in between,” says Mirrione. “Their show is a non-stop romp through what seems like every hit you’ve ever sung along with on the radio, but make no mistake – this is no tribute show. These are the guys who made those songs in the studio and played them on stage alongside the superstars of rock and roll.” Joining drummer Polci on stage are keyboardists Lee Shapiro (also of the seventies’ Four Seasons) and Russ Velazquez, guitarist Jim Ryan and bassist Larry Gates.
Several other children of the Hit Men who are respected musicians and vocalists in their own right, will join the group on stage Thursday for a special presentation of their holiday show, featuring not only the hits, but a sprinkling of cheer from their new CD, “Holiday Hits.” (The Bergen PAC is located at 30 N Van Brunt St. in Englewood, NJ. Tickets start at $41 and are available at www.bergenpac.org or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. Showtime is 8:00 PM.)
