Joe Long

Joseph Louis LaBracio (September 5, 1932 – April 21, 2021), better known by his stage name Joe Long, was an American musician. He was best known for his tenure as the bass guitarist and vocalist for the Four Seasons from 1965 to 1975, having succeeded original bassist Nick Massi in those positions.

Early life Joseph Louis LaBracio was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Joe Labracio and Mary Picaro. His grandparents had emigrated to the US from Italy. Long and DeVito proved to have excellent on-stage chemistry, and thus Long became a permanent member of the band.

He continued to record, perform and tour with The Four Seasons through the mid-1970s, with his last work being their comeback hit "Who Loves You." Long also stated that he had asked for a larger cut of The Four Seasons' profits given his role in the band but that, contrary to a claim by the Seasons' attorney, he had not given Valli or Gaudio an ultimatum.

Later career After leaving the group, Long formed the rock 'n roll group LaBracio and later the jazz band Jersey Bounce. In a 2007 interview, Long stated "I still play an occasional gig. And, I have done a few recording sessions with Tommy. For the most part, though, I am retired." He was portrayed, mainly as a background character, in Jersey Boys; Long admitted he liked the play, but that it was only accurate with regard to character personalities and not with chronology, and that he was not fond of the film adaptation.

Long was inducted, along with DeVito, Gaudio and Massi, into the New Jersey Hall of Fame as members of the Four Seasons in 2017 (Valli had already been inducted in 2010). The inclusion of Long in the New Jersey Hall of Fame lineup was partial redemption, as he held ill feelings toward the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for excluding him in its induction of the Four Seasons. He was the second member of the Four Seasons to die from the virus, the first being original member Tommy DeVito, who died aged 92 seven months prior.