Judy Gaudio, Co-Writer of Four Seasons Hits, Dies

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“December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” written by Bob Gaudio and Judy Parker

The death of Judy Parker Gaudio (age 79), the co-writer of several Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons singles, including the 1976 #1 hit “December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” was revealed on Sept. 19, 2017. Parker Gaudio died on her 79th birthday, Sept. 14, at Vanderbilt University Hospital, from respiratory complications. Her husband, ‪Bob Gaudio, the longtime Four Seasons keyboardist, backup vocalist, and co-writer of that song, and many others, confirmed her death. Her songwriting credits also includes 1975’s “Who Loves You,” a #3 pop hit for the popular singing group.

Judy Parker was introduced to ‪Bob Gaudio, a founding member of the Four Seasons, in 1973 at the Motown Studios in Los Angeles, while Gaudio was recording a ‪Marvin Gaye/Diana Ross duet. They dated for eight years and were married in 1981. In their 45 years together, they collaborated on many other songs, some of which were featured in the Tony- Grammy- and Olivier Award-winning musical, Jersey Boys, which became the 12th longest-running musical in Broadway history.

Watch the Four Seasons sing their trademark harmonies on “Who Loves You”

Judy Parker Gaudio
(Photo: Four Seasons Partnership; used with permission)

Born on September 7, 1938 and raised in Michigan, Parker was one of seven children and the daughter of an Army Colonel; she also attended Michigan State University. Before her songwriting career began, Judy pursued a career in acting and modeling.

When she moved back to the U.S. in the late 1960’s, she secured small roles in a number of television series, including Batman, Bonanza and My Three Sons. A songwriting breakthrough came for Judy when she co-wrote, with Bob Gaudio, the title song for ‪Neil Diamond’s 1977 NBC TV special, “Glad You’re Here with Me Tonight.”

While the couple had homes in New York City and Montauk, NY, their primary residence in Nashville, TN. Bob Gaudio, who will turn 75 on November 17, is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He wrote or co-wrote such Four Seasons hits as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll” and “Dawn (Go Away).”

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