A songwriter behind many classic tunes from the 1950s and 1960s has made the largest gift ever given to the Maine College of Art.
The $3 million donation from the Bob Crewe Foundation was announced on Tuesday. Crewe co-wrote many songs for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, including “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man.”
The 83-year-old Crewe is in a Scarborough nursing facility.
Portland Mayor Michael Brennan said the donation not only helps MECA but the city.
“This college anchors our downtown, and as many of you know, there are downtowns, there are cities across the state of Maine, and across the country, that struggle because they don’t have an identity, they don’t have an anchor. And the Maine College of Art has provided that anchor and that identity for the downtown of Portland,” Brennan said.
College officials said the donation will be used to launch a new program to allow students to explore interactions of art and music.
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