"Baby's Got Back" benefit co-chairs, left to right: Nancy Adams, Sukey Forbes Bigham and Jennifer Walske. (Photo by Roger Farrington)
 

More than 200 guests, family and friends gathered at the Adams residence in Chestnut Hill on Sunday, June 29 to celebrate the Charlotte Saltonstall Bigham Memorial Fund's first-ever "Baby's Got Back" benefit fundraiser.

The fund has been established by Weston residents Sukey Forbes Bigham and her husband Michael Bigham in memory of their daughter Charlotte who died suddenly at the age of six from an episode of Malignant Hyperthermia triggered by a fever.

The fundraiser featured temporary "Charlotte" heart tattoos, a barbeque buffet under a white tent, mechanical bull riding, and the much-anticipated "Yummy Mummy Hip Hop Dance Troupe" performance.

The Troupe, consisting of twelve committee moms, performed a tightly choreographed hip hop dance routine to Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby's Got Back," which brought cheers from children and dads alike.

Troupe members included Nancy Adams, Sukey Forbes Bigham, Kaia Miller Goldstein, Julia Hicks de Peyster, Kim Kozol, Kristina Lyons, Stacey Philipkosky, Stacy Rubin, Lucienne Sanchez, Lori Sidman, Jennifer Walske and Alicia Winn.

The event was a great success and more than $70,000 in donations were made to the Charlotte Fund. The fund will help keep Charlotte's spirit alive by supporting non-profit organizations that strive to keep children and families healthy - emotionally, physically and spiritually.

For more information, visit www.charlottesaltonstallbigham.org.

Frankie Avalon to Perform in Brookline on November 1st

The Barry L. Price Rehabilitation Center has just announced that Greater Boston's "18th annual Barry Price Center Fundraiser and Concert" will feature singer Frankie Avalon on Saturday, November 1 at the Holiday Inn, located at 1200 Beacon Street, Brookline.

Funds raised will benefit the non-profit organization, which has facilities located in West Newton, Brookline, and Dedham. The Price Center provides support services to adults with developmental disabilities. At the Center, individuals are provided with opportunities in community-based work as well as treatment and living environments aimed to enhance self-confidence and to maximize independence.

Tickets are available now by calling Franktix at 781-239-1480 or The Barry L. Price Rehabilitation Center, Inc. at 617-332-7477.

All Price Center donors will enjoy the show featuring Frankie Avalon at 7 p.m. in the hotel ballroom. A full buffet dinner featuring fine cuisines of all kinds, caviar, cocktails, wines, coffees, and delicious desserts will follow in the hotel lobby and atrium, beginning around 8:30 p.m. The rhythm & blues group The G Clefs will provide upbeat entertainment during the buffet.

We thank Sue Auclair for sharing the following information with us:

Frankie Avalon (born Francis Thomas Avallone, September 18, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is one of America's most popular entertainers. Frankie Avalon went from '50s teen idol to a national and international star.

Frankie had his early trumpet playing career end abruptly when a family friend named Bob Marcucci heard him sing and signed him to a recording contract. His first song, "De De Dinah," became a smash hit; and his recording of "Venus" was one of the biggest selling hits of the era. He had many follow-up hits. Avalon is also credited with having the last "number one" record of the '50s with "Why" reaching that status in December 1959.

Avalon had 31 charted Billboard U.S. singles during his career from 1958 to late 1962, with most of the hits written and/or produced by Bob Marcucci, head of Chancellor Records.

In his acting, he was best known for his starring roles in the teenage Beach Party film genre, although he also had straight dramatic parts in films such as "The Alamo" as well as "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea."

Avalon also appeared in nearly two-dozen TV episodes, including a role in "The Patty Duke Show" titled "A Foggy Day in Brooklyn Heights," appearing as himself.

The 1980 film "The Idolmaker" was a thinly-disguised biography of Frankie Avalon (called "Tommy Dee" in the film) and 1950s teenage star Fabian (called "Caesare" in the film), as well as songwriter/producer Marcucci (called "Vinnie Vacarri" in the film).

Frankie Avalon married Kathryn Diebel on January 19, 1963. She was a former beauty pageant winner, and Avalon met her while playing cards at a friend's house. He told his friend that Kay was the girl he was going to marry. His agent warned Avalon not to marry, as it would spoil his teen idol mystique, but Avalon ignored his advice.

Still together, the couple has eight children: In order of age, they are Frankie Jr., Tony, Dina, Laura, Joseph, Nicolas, Kathryn and Carla. They also have 10 grandchildren. Frankie Jr. is a drummer and Tony, the second oldest son, currently plays guitar and teaches at the Paul Green School of Rock; both still tour and perform with their father.

With the fading of his music and acting career, Avalon has turned to marketing, and has created Frankie Avalon Products, a successful line of health supplements, pain and cosmetic products. Avalon personally promotes his products live on the Home Shopping Network, along with veteran host Bob Circosta.

He regularly guest stars in stage productions of "Grease" in the role of Teen Angel (a role he played in the popular 1978 film adaptation) and "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" as a characterized version of himself.

Enjoy!

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