Hit Man pianist Lee Shapiro told Elmore how he disguised himself to become a Shirelle for one night.

So is the summer of 1973, I’m I’m 19, 20 years old, and I’m in my first few months of being one of Frankie Valli’s Four Seasons, having replaced Bob Gaudio. We arrive to play at an outdoor stage at a fair, and the opening acts are Bo Biddly and the Shirelles. I grew up with all that music, and I can’t believe it.

After soundcheck, we’re all in Frankie’s trailer, and Shirley Owens—Shirley of the Shirelles—comes into our trailer, visibly upset, and says, “Frankie, I’m in a panic here. Our musical director and pianist missed the plane, and he has all the music. Can your guy”—which is me— “play our show? Does he know our songs?”

I’m thinking to myself, Do I know her songs? “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “Tonight’s the Night,” “Soldier Boy”… you’d have to be from another planet not to know their songs.

Frankie really isn’t thrilled to have one of his Four Seasons—especially a new Four Season—become a sideman for the Shirelles. He agrees to let me help them out and be their pianist under one condition: That they face the grand piano towards the back, with my back towards the audience, and I wear a big floppy hat. That’s exactly what we did.

So here I am, on stage, and needless to say, with or without the music I can play The Shirelles songs. I’ve got my back to the audience my big floppy hat on, and Shirley turns around to the band and says, “Soldier Boy,” and off we go. She was thrilled that it was sounding the way it was supposed to sound, the audience is rocking their brains out, and I am in Heaven. Believe me, being one of the Four Seasons was enough, but here I am, a male Shirelle.

After the set, I go back to the trailer, and Shirley comes walking in to find me.

“Lee, can you come here for a minute?” she said. “Thanks, Lee, you really saved our ass.” She reaches out and hands me a crisp $100 bill. Take-home pay for a week—not for a show—for me was $242, so $100 for one date was big bucks for me. I still smile, even today, that Shirley Shirelle herself hands me $100 for sitting in with them… I would have done it for free.

We asked Shapiro what he spent the hundred dollars on.

“Oh my God!” he said, “I think I still have it!”

Today, the Hit Men connect with audiences on a level rarely seen by today’s musical artists; they play interactive sets of music from rock and roll history that are also their personal histories, because these men recorded the music. A short list of acts the band’s members have performed and recorded with: Blood Sweat & Tears, Johnny Winter, Cheap Trick, Lou Reed, Dr. John, Vanilla Fudge, Carly Simon, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Sting, the Ramones, LL Cool J, Luther Vandross, Korn, Paula Abdul, Jack Bruce, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Dave Mason, Todd Rundgren, Christopher Cross, the Turtles, Gary Puckett, Mitch Ryder, Barry Manilow, Tony Orlando, Tommy James, the Four Seasons, and (drumroll) Sesame Street