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-- Before"Jersey Boys" and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was a 15-year-old musical whiz from Bergenfield who hadto decide between staying in school and touring with Chuck Berry.

His parents wanted him to stay in school, but Paul Hoffmeister, whowas Bergenfield High School principal then, convinced them otherwise. Andit was this decision that Gaudio believes helped him become the world-famoussongwriter he is today.

On Friday, the original member of The Four Seasons and composer of suchhits as "Short Shorts" and "Big Girls Don't Cry" visited his former highschool -- the current Roy W. Brown Middle School -- to receive honoraryClass of 1958 jerseys and to listen to the school's big band.

Gaudio will return again this fall to receive an honorary high schooldiploma and field questions from students. Gaudio also answered questionsduring his visit Friday:

How does it feel to be back in Bergenfield?

It looks a lot like it used to. I remember a long walk to school – liketwo miles. And I remember being out on that football field and separatinga bone in my ankle and I had to walk home.

I understand you left high school at age 15 and the high school principalhad something to do with it?

Yeah, Paul Hoffmeister told my parents that I should seek that opportunityand stay with it and I could always come back to get my high school education-- which I'm doing.

And how did that decision make a difference in your career?

Oh, you know, it was probably largely responsible for what has happened.I might have become an attorney [laughs].

How has your background -- growing up in Bergenfield and being fromNew Jersey -- influenced your music?

I think we're all inspired by our surroundings. I can't say specificallythat a traffic light on the corner of Washington Street created a songin my mind. But I think we pick up just in general about our surroundings.

What is your earliest memory associated with music?

Wow, I'll say one of my most vivid memories is meeting Louis Armstrongwhen I was 15. We were doing a TV show, and he came over to say hello.Shaking that man's hand was probably a bigger thrill than meeting [Elvis]Presley.

What advice would you give to a kid who has similar dreams?

It sounds like a cliche, but if you have that fire burning – if youdon't, get a real job – but if you really have that fire burning, you haveto follow your dream. But it's a tough world out there, particularly inshow business. You have to be really thick-skinned.