The Four Lovers worked steadily as session artists, primarily as background singers and background musicians, in addition to resuming their live performances in various clubs and lounges between New York City and Philadelphia[6] They continued to tour nationwide in small gigs for a short time ending when Tommy DeVito fired his brother Nick and Majewski because, as Tommy DeVito recalled in 2008, they refused to travel to a gig he had booked at which they were to have opened for Tony Bennett.
At a gig in Baltimore, the group met Bob Gaudio, keyboardist and songwriter for The Royal Teens; when Garrity returned to the Hollywood Playboys, Gaudio agreed to join the band, while Massey (who eventually changed the spelling of his name to "Massi," matching Valli's) abandoned his solo career after one single to rejoin the band permanently in 1960.
[10] By the end of the contract, the Four Lovers had become a complete outfit with an "in-house" composer (Gaudio) and an associated producer (Crewe) and arranger (Massi).
In mid-1960, as the contract was expiring, a failed audition at a New Jersey bowling establishment led to a handshake agreement between Valli and Gaudio that signified a change: the Four Lovers were no more, and The Four Seasons Partnership was founded.
By the end of 1962, the quartet of Valli, Gaudio, Massi, and Tommy DeVito would have two singles reach the top spot on the Hot 100.
A variety of musical styles are represented here, rhythm and blues ("This Is My Story" and "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", the latter a Lloyd Price chestnut), western ("San Antonio Rose", later a hit for Floyd Cramer), pop ("For Sentimental Reasons" and "Memories of You"), and early rock'n'roll (their version of "White Christmas" and "Such a Night", both popularized by The Drifters).