Philadelphia's Bobby Rydell, One Of The First Teen Idols, Dies At 79

Bobby Rydell (Photo: Facebook)

BOBBY RYDELL, a '60s teen idol who starred opposite ANN-MARGRET in the 1963 film, "Bye Bye Birdie," died from pneumonia at the age of 79, just days away from his 80th birthday. 

RYDELL, along with FABIAN and FRANKIE AVALON, was an AMERICAN teen pop star from PHILADELPHIA before THE BEATLES re-wrote the pop music songbook. RYDELL HIGH SCHOOL in the BROADWAY musical "Grease" was named after him, while an actor also portrayed him in a performance scene in the film “Green Book.”

RYDELL had 34 singles chart on the BILLBOARD Hot 100, including “Wild One,” which reached #2, and “Volare,” a #4 hit. Other Top 10 RYDELL songs were “Swingin’ School" and “The Cha-Cha-Cha.” His run of Top 10 songs began with “We Got Love,” which reached #6 in 1959, and ended with “Forget Him” in 1964.

One of his first hits, “Wildwood Days,” only made #17, but remains an anthem in the NEW JERSEY area for which it was named. A mural of the singer adorns the WILDWOOD, NJ boardwalk.

Born ROBERT LOUIS RIDARELLI on APRIL 26th, he began singing and playing drums at 6, and by 7, began performing professionally in PHILLY/SOUTH JERSEY clubs. 

After several unsuccessful singles for small, independent labels, RYDELL signed with PHILADELPHIA’s CAMEO RECORDS, and hit the charts with “Kissin’ Time” in 1959. With that single, and its follow-ups, “We Got Love” (his first million seller), “Wild One,” “Swingin’," and his take on the classic, “Volare,” RYDELL became a bona-fide teen idol.

By 1961, RYDELL became the youngest performer to ever headline at the famed COPACABANA nightclub in NEW YORK, where he was embraced by the RAT PACK crowd as well as teens.

In 1963, he played the role of HUGO PEABODY in the film version of “Bye Bye Birdie,” not the titular rock star, but the jealous boyfriend of the girl who wins a chance to meet BIRDIE before he joins the Army. .

After CAMEO-PARKWAY, RYDELL signed with CAPITOL RECORDS, but THE BEATLES soon ended his mainstream career, relegating him, along with the likes of FRANKIE AVALON and FABIAN, to LAS VEGAS lounge singers and international touring.

After 1965, RYDELL never hit the pop charts again, although he continued to release singles with a disco number, “Sway,” making a showing on the AC side in 1977.

He also wrote a memoir, “BOBBY RYDELL: Teen Idol On The Rocks: A Tale Of Second Chances," and toured as a solo act until his death. He was part of the "Golden Boys" stage production since 1985 with FRANKIE AVALON and FABIAN, with the three readying a spring and summer tour for 2022 at the time of his death.

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