Don Ciccone

Donald Joseph Ciccone (February 28, 1946 – October 8, 2016)[1][2][3] was an American singer, songwriter and musician. He was a founding member of the pop group The Critters singing their biggest hits "Younger Girl" and "Mr. Dieingly Sad". The latter he wrote about his girlfriend Kathy Cobb before he entered the Air Force during the time of the Vietnam War. Kathy later became his wife. When The Critters's first album started to take off, Don was in the Air Force and the band had to tour without him which is why many videos on YouTube do not feature him. Ken Gorka is lip syncing Don's part.[4]

Don Ciccone
Birth nameDonald Joseph Ciccone
Born(1946-02-28)February 28, 1946
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedOctober 8, 2016(2016-10-08) (aged 70)
Ketchum, Idaho, U.S.
GenresRock, pop
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsGuitar, bass, vocals
Associated acts

Ciccone was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on February 28, 1946. He was the son of an immigrant father, Vito Ciccone, who owned and operated Bill Williams Auto Sales in the 1950s. From the age of 5, Don grew up in a 56-room mansion in Plainfield, New Jersey. In the 1970s, Don Ciccone joined the Four Seasons, where he played guitar and bass and also contributed lead vocals to songs including "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" and "Rhapsody." [5] After the Seasons, he joined Tommy James and the Shondells as their bassist, through 1987.[6]

During his time with the Critters, he wrote "Mr. Dieingly Sad", produced by Artie Ripp, which reached #17 for the group. He also wrote and recorded "There's Got to be a Word"[7] which was later recorded and released by the Innocence in December 1966. Their version reached #34 on the charts.

Ciccone also performed with the band The Hit Men - other members included his former The Four Season's band mates Lee Shapiro and Gerry Polci.[8][9][10]

Ciccone, who was a long time resident of Ridgewood, New Jersey and Port Saint Lucie, Florida had moved to Sun Valley, Idaho, a few years before he died of a heart attack on October 8, 2016 in adjacent Ketchum at the age of 70.[11]

References
  1. Donald Joseph Ciccone February 28, 1946 - October 08, 2016 accessdate January 22, 2018
  2. "Don Ciccone, Songwriter and Lead Singer of the Critters, Dies at 70". The New York Times. Associated Press. October 13, 2016. p. B15. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  3. "In Memory Of Don Ciccone". Legacy.com. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  4. The Critters - Mr. Dieingly Sad, November 24, 2006, retrieved July 17, 2019
  5. "Don Ciccone, singer of 1960s group The Critters, has died". Scottsbluff Star-Herald. October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  6. "Don Ciccone". Herald News. October 12, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  7. DON CICCONE - THERE'S GOT TO BE A WORD, September 11, 2010, retrieved July 17, 2019
  8. "The Hit Men are coming". newstimes. March 21, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  9. James, Gary. "Gary James' Interview With Don Ciccone Of The Four Seasons". classicbands.com. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  10. Porter, David (July 21, 2017). "Long after Frankie Valli, the Hit Men are still making music". The Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  11. "Don Ciccone, singer of 1960s group The Critters, has died". Miami Herald. October 12, 2016. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)


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