Frankie Avalon joins forces with Fabian for Rivers Casino show

A couple of legendary ’50s and ’60s crooners, Frankie Avalon and Fabian, will be appearing together as “Dick Fox’s Golden Boys” on Aug. 27 at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh on the North Shore.

Both were teen idols, as they were called back in their heyday. Avalon had a string of hits including 1959’s “Venus” and “Why,” both of which went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Fabian had his own run of hits, which included “Turn Me Loose,” “Tiger” and “I’m a Man.”

“Fabian’s silky-smooth voice and Frankie Avalon’s wonderful ballads will have guests swooning for these legendary performers,” said Shannon Redmond, vice president of marketing at Rivers Casino Pittsburgh. “The Event Center is the perfect venue to hear their all-time classic hits.”

Both men are Philadelphia natives. Fabian, whose real name is Fabiano Anthony Forte, is 79.

When most people think of Avalon, 81, they likely imagine him dancing with long time movie mate Annette Funicello in a series of lighthearted “Beach Party” movies.

But long before that, at the age of 12, Avalon — whose real name is Francis Thomas Avallone — debuted on a 1952 episode of the Jackie Gleason Show on which he sang and played the trumpet. And he could act.

Before the “Beach Party” movies might have made some take him less seriously as an actor, Avalon played the role of “Smitty” in “The Alamo,” starring John Wayne, who also directed the movie.

“We’re not cutting one bit of any scene in which Frankie appears,” said Wayne after the film was shot. “I believe he is the finest young talent I’ve seen in a long time.”

But music appears to have been Avalon’s first love, and he and Fabian are now in their eighth decade of performing. In addition to singing their own hits, the two pop icons will perform together on several songs and pay tribute to Elvis Presley, Bobby Darin, Rick Nelson and Bill Haley.

Tickets are on sale now and start at $29. They can be purchased inside Rivers Casino or at www.RiversCasino.com/Pittsburgh.