Joe Long

For the American football player, see Joe Long (American football)

Joe Long (born in Elizabeth, New Jersey on September 5, 1941 as Joseph LaBracio) is an American musician best known as the bass guitarist for The Four Seasons.

Biography

Joe LaBracio (Joe Long) is a classically trained musician and studied with Alfonse Strazza, the principal bassist for the New York Philharmonic. However, a severe hand injury forced Joe to give up the rigors of playing classical bass and switch to the Fender bass-guitar. He then began listening more to rock and roll and became a rock 'n roll player for several local New Jersey bands before joining The Four Seasons in 1965 as a replacement for Charles Calello, who temporarily replaced Nick Massi. Joe Long continued to record, perform and tour with The Four Seasons through the mid-1970s. After leaving the group, Long formed the rock 'n roll group LaBracio and later the jazz band Jersey Bounce. In a recent interview Long stated that, "I still play an occasional gig. And, I have done a few recording sessions with Tommy (DeVito). For the most part, though, I am retired."

External links

• Joe Long at the Internet Movie Database
• Joe Long Tribute Evening, Baldoria's, New York City 5/28/06
• Interview: Joe Long: His Story
• The Jersey Boys 2006 Tony Award Winner for Best Musical
• Jersey Boys Blog Exclusive Interview 11/20/07 (Part1)
• Jersey Boys Blog Exclusive Interview 11/20/07 (Part3)