He was 88.
“It is with great sadness that we learned that our dear bandmate, Joe Long, has passed away,” said Four Seasons members Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio in a statement on social media. “We send our deepest condolences to his family, friends and fans.
“We will miss Joe.”
Long was born Joe LaBracio in Elizabeth. He played music to support his family after his dad became ill when Tommy DeVito of the Four Seasons called.
They were looking for a replacement for departed original bassist Nick Massi.
“I got a call from Tommy DeVito who had been talking to a friend, an agent who was booking me, a guy named Frankie Fame,” said Long to Stuart Miller of the Genuine Imitation Life Gazette Four Seasons fan site. “That was when Nick left abruptly and they were looking for another guy and Frankie said, I think I ve got the guy for you. He plays bass, he s got a gruffy voice like Nick, sounds like he has a cold all the time, and he might be the guy.
The two other images featured Long alongside the likes of Valli, now 86, and Bruce Springsteen.
According to New Jersey Arts, Long joined the vocal group in 1965 and stuck around until 1975. He was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame along with the band in 2018.
Long was a bass player for the band, having replaced Charles Calello, who served as a temporary replacement for original member Nick Massi.
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Joe Long, ex-Four Seasons member and N.J. hall of famer, dies from COVID
Updated Apr 21, 2021;
Posted Apr 21, 2021
Joe Long, a former member of the Four Seasons and a performer who grew up in Elizabeth, has died. He is shown in this 2014 file photo. (Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media)SL
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Joe Long, a former member of the legendary Four Seasons doo-wop group and a New Jersey Hall of Famer, died Wednesday morning. He was 88.
Long, an Elizabeth native, died of complications due to COVID-19, according to Anthony Newell, a close friend and member of the Jersey Four tribute band, of which Long was the musical director.