European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 22, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 16 the stars and stripes wednesday january 22. 1986 Bobby sox idol Frankie Avalon still breaking hearts by Iris Krasnow United press International Frankie Avalon has t muscle Bea Charlied in 20 years bul the curly haired Philadelphia boy is still breaking hearts Annelle Funicello s Dreamboat is Back stage 46. It s like Back id Tho past or Back to the Mure or  says Avalon. This 50s and 60s lever is probably stronger now than it was in its  together with allow Bobby sox idols Bobby Rydell and Fabian. Avalon rocks in Golden boys of bandstand on pcs to later this month the one hour special was taped fast summer at Virginia s Wolf trap farm Park one of a series of Dick Fox productions the Trio did to task Tho Market says Avalon. The lest worked. Alt bul eight of the so bandstand concerts played in Large Amphitheatres around the United sales were sell outs. I be had adulation in my Lile through the teen idol years through i he Beach boy image bul i be never experienced anything like what s happening not with the three of us on stage together he said. The majority of fan Are Iho same people who started with us the 35 to 45-year-old set. There had been a void Lor a certain age group of people who watched us grow and been a part of our lives. Those people can t identity with a Madonna or Duran Duran. So Here we show up and they say Lei s go see them and relive a Parl of our past " there is also a new chunk of groupies those in their Early 20s who consider the Beach party pictures to be cult  America s thirst Tor Golden oldies comes alter a dry Pelmor Avalon. From about 1967 to 1978, there was t a tremendous need Lor a Frankie  he admits. With 1he British invasion of hard Rock and heavy Metal i was sort of caught in Between. My style of songs were ballads and they were nol  unlike the Lale Rick Nelson who tried to shake his 60s image Avalon has held on to the tunes that put him on the map. In 1986, Lour years shy of his 50th birthday Frankie still croons mackely Yack Blueberry Hill Venus and Rock around tha clock i knew Rick Nelson Tor 25 years says Avalon. To met when we were both Riding High on the  Avalon recalls Nelson s 1972 hit Garden party a song based on a disappointing concert at Madison Square Garden. The audience would not accept Nelson s newer tunes and instead wanted to hear such songs As the 1061 hits hallo Mary Lou and travel a Man although Avalon s style of Rock n Roll was on the Wane in the 70s, he never Felt that same sense of rejection. The benefits of being a Success irom 1957 to 1967 sustained me says a Aton. There was always a Nice kind of reception irom the general Public because my pictures were still being shown on network television and my records were being played on the oldies but goodies stations. I was always still  in recent years Avalon appeared in a Cameo role in tha hit movie grease and in the Box office Flop blood song. He remains a familiar sight on the Las vegas and Atlantic City nightclub circuits. It has t been easy Lor his wife of 23 years Kay to be married to a Guy who causes women to shriek he says. The parents of four boys and Lour girls Ages 11 to 22. The Avalon live in a remole area outside of los Angeles. Yet ii i difficult Lor a woman to be involved with a Man who is a celebrated person says Avalon. People say this is Frankie s Wile she is put in the  their two eldest sons Are following dad s musical footsteps. Frank 22, is studying guitar and Tony. 21. The Drums. Ii was during Avalon s Philadelphia childhood in a Light knit fillian family that the foundation of his career Frankie Avalon tight with fellow Soi and 60t idols Bobby Kydell top my and Fabian tooled. Was established. His Walher worked As a Butcher cab Driver and steel worker bul Avalon recalls his raw Talent was As a multifaceted musician. 1 As the years go by i realize my father was an extremely talented Man he says. We could t afford a television so he would play Guilar piano Fie could sing. "1 remember childhood scenes sitting around where he would get the guitar i d sing along Wilh him. Do impressions. I d take the lampshade Olf the Light and my sister would hold the lamp As ii it were n spotlight. I be been a Ham All my  along with a push from the Avalon family to Harn in up Young Frankie was also mesmerized by Frank Sinatra. I guess like All singers of my age group. The inspiration to go out and do it has been Frank  says Avalon. Artistically i ust admired Iho Man and still do. I be had dinner with him. We have a vary Nice Friendship bul i be never Sung Wilh him. I think my Knees would probably be louder than my  the Prospect of growing old does t fluster the Man who has Buzil his whole career on Youthful sex Appeal. Rather he looks Forward to growing old gracefully when and if his career is completed. If it All worked out for me i d like to lust keep going and have a lot of grandchildren and a Nice big House so everybody could come Over. I could Eal my pasta drink my wine and get lat and  he pauses Well maybe not