Nick Massi

Nicholas E. Macioci (September 19, 1927 – December 24, 2000) was an American bass singer, songwriter, and bass guitarist. He is best known for his work as the bassist and bass vocalist for The Four Seasons, for whom he performed under the stage name Nick Massi.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Nicholas "Massi" Macioci was first taught to play the bass fiddle by Newark native and musician Anthony Gaeta. As a bass singer, Massi had been playing with several bands before he joined The Four Lovers in 1958, including some groups that featured future Four Lovers and Four Seasons members Frankie Valli and Tommy DeVito. Valli credited Macioci as one of his most influential early mentors in the music business.^[1] In October 1959, Macioci, by this point billed as "Nickie Massey," was signed to Brunswick Records as frontman for the Nite-Lites; he recorded one single, the self-composed "Tell Me You Care," which received a positive review in Cashbox^[2] but eventually failed to chart.

After Massi rejoined DeVito and Valli (who by this point were joined by keyboardist Bob Gaudio), the group evolved into the Four Seasons. They performed such hits as "Sherry," "Dawn (Go Away)," and "Rag Doll." He was responsible for most of the group's vocal arrangements and wrote at least one song, the doo-wop style ballad "Living Just for You," for the group's Working My Way Back to You album. He took a scientific, "open harmony" approach to his arrangements that differered from the improvisational style of doo-wop groups before him.^[1] Massi left the Four Seasons in September 1965, and was replaced temporarily by Charles Calello who, in turn, was replaced by Joe Long.

Massi, Tommy DeVito, Frankie Valli, and Bob Gaudio—the original members of The Four Seasons—were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990^[3] and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.^[4] Massi was posthumously recognized in 2017 when DeVito, Valli, Gaudio and Joe Long (Massi's successor) were inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.^[5]

Following his departure from the Four Seasons, he continued to operate Vito-Mass Productions,^[6][7] a production company that primarily focused on local New Jersey musical acts.^[8] He had a longstanding desire to front his own group, a factor in his departure from the Four Seasons and a desire that, other than occasional singles on small independent labels, never materialized.^[9] Much like his successor Joe Long, Massi had occasional reunions with the band after his departure, most prominently for a stretch in the 1970s.^[10]

In 1949, Macioci married Margaret Ann "Margie" Mengel, with whom he had three children, Robert "Bobby" Macioci, Nick Macioci Jr. and Patricia "Patti" Massi-Candeliere. Nick and Margie would remain married until his death. Margie died in 2022.^[11]

In his latter years, Macioci, reverting to his birth surname, took up painting as a hobby; his daughter Patti has published many of his paintings online, consisting of a broad variety of styles but most commonly featuring portraits of celebrities and figures associated with his Catholic faith.^[12] He was made aware of plans to make Jersey Boys in the earliest stages and gave his approval to go ahead with the product before his death;^[8] his family eventually gave its strong support, with his widow describing it as her favorite musical.^[11] Valli and Gaudio ensured that the Massi family were paid an equal share of the profits from Jersey Boys as the other three members received;^[13] his son Nick Jr. claimed that DeVito used the contract to take a share four times as large as the Massi family received and that while Margie received a royalty (the size of which was in dispute), the children received nothing, which led to tensions when Nick Jr. resorted to scalping and aggressive behavior at Jersey Boys shows in an effort to provide for his daughter.^[14]

Massi died of liver cancer on December 24, 2000, allegedly brought on by "alcoholism and other demons," at his home in West Orange, New Jersey.^[15][14] He spent the later years of his life as a recluse; according to Nick Jr., his father was estranged from his mother at the time of his death, living in the basement of their family home in "an igloo" and living off a Social Security pension.^[14]

• "Nick Massi". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• Nick Massi at AllMusic
• Nick Massi at IMDb
• Nickmassiart.com — an official site run by Massi's daughter