Bobby Rydell

His fame as the epitome of an American pop star was such that Rydell High School in the Broadway musical and subsequent film “Grease” was named after him.

After having tried his luck with a handful of unsuccessful singles for small, independent labels, Rydell signed with Philadelphia’s Cameo Records (eventually Cameo/Parkway) and hit the charts with “Kissin’ Time” in 1959. And I’m not a movie star by any stretch of the imagination, but if I had to be in one picture, it’s a classic, such as ‘Grease.’ And I’m really happy to be involved with something that was that wonderful.” The singer had 34 singles chart on the Billboard Hot 100, the most well-remembered of which include “Wild One,” which reached No. 2, and “Volare,” a No. 4 hit. “Out of all the kids” from that era, Blavat said, “he had the best pipes and was the greatest entertainer. “It was so nice to know that the high school [in ‘Grease’] was named after me,” he said. An actor also portrayed him in a performance scene in the film “Green Book.”

Along with James Darren, Fabian and Frankie Avalon, Rydell was among a wave of wholesome teen idols who emerged after Elvis Presley and before the rise of the ...

But in 1985, he joined his old friends Avalon and Fabian for what they thought would be a few appearances. Rydell and his fellow Philadelphia performers were ideal for “Bandstand” host Dick Clark, who sought to make rock n’ roll palatable to young and old. The block of 11th Street where he grew up was christened Bobby Rydell Boulevard by his hometown in 1995. His first drum kit was a gift from his father, Al Ridarelli, who inspired his son’s choice of instrument by taking him to see Gene Krupa perform. He made me always try to be a better singer. His recordings will never be forgotten.

Bobby Rydell, a 1950s teen idol who starred in the hit musical film "Bye Bye Birdie," has died. He was 79. Rydell died from pneumonia complications.

Rydell was also open about his hardships. Born Robert Ridarelli, Rydell rose to fame after getting discovered on the show "TV Teen Club" in 1950. Throughout his music career, he sold over 25 million albums and landed 34 top 100 hits.

Bobby Rydell, a teen idol who had hits including 'Wild One' and 'Volare,' and starred alongside Ann-Margret in 'Bye Bye Birdie,' has died.

And I’m not a movie star by any stretch of the imagination, but if I had to be in one picture, it’s a classic, such as ‘Grease.’ And I’m really happy to be involved with something that was that wonderful.” A new liver and a new kidney, because of all of the drinking. After having tried his luck with a handful of unsuccessful singles for small, independent labels, Rydell signed with Philadelphia’s Cameo Records (eventually Cameo/Parkway) and hit the charts with “Kissin’ Time” in 1959. “And I said to Frankie — and I called him Cheech, because in Italian, Frank is Cheech — I said, ‘Cheech, this is great, but how long is this going to last? The singer had 34 singles chart on the Billboard Hot 100, the most well-remembered of which include “Wild One,” which reached No. 2, and “Volare,” a No. 4 hit. In a 2020 interview, Rydell talked about the endurance of the trio as a touring act. “Now we do a show, I’m sure you’re aware of it, called ‘The Golden Boys,’ and we started that show in 1985, and it was a tremendous success,” he said. “It was so nice to know that the high school [in ‘Grease’] was named after me,” he said. He told the best stories, did the best impersonations and was the nicest guy.” “Out of all the kids” from that era, Blavat said, “he had the best pipes and was the greatest entertainer. An actor also portrayed him in a performance scene in the film “Green Book.” A mural of Rydell adorns the Wildwood, NJ boardwalk.

Along with James Darren, Fabian and Frankie Avalon, Rydell was among a wave of wholesome teen idols who emerged after Elvis Presley and before the rise of the ...

But in 1985, he joined his old friends Avalon and Fabian for what they thought would be a few appearances. Rydell and his fellow Philadelphia performers were ideal for “Bandstand” host Dick Clark, who sought to make rock n’ roll palatable to young and old. The block of 11th Street where he grew up was christened Bobby Rydell Boulevard by his hometown in 1995. His first drum kit was a gift from his father, Al Ridarelli, who inspired his son’s choice of instrument by taking him to see Gene Krupa perform. He made me always try to be a better singer. His recordings will never be forgotten.

Bobby Rydell, a pompadoured heartthrob of early rock 'n roll who was a star of radio, television and the movie musical “Bye Bye Birdie,” died Tuesday.

But in 1985, he joined his old friends Avalon and Fabian for what they thought would be a few appearances. Rydell and his fellow Philadelphia performers were ideal for “Bandstand” host Dick Clark, who sought to make rock n’ roll palatable to young and old. The block of 11th Street where he grew up was christened Bobby Rydell Boulevard by his hometown in 1995. His first drum kit was a gift from his father, Al Ridarelli, who inspired his son’s choice of instrument by taking him to see Gene Krupa perform. “We weren’t out to prove anything. Rydell got his big break in 1959 on “American Bandstand,” which originally was broadcast from Philadelphia. His first hit, “Kissing Time,” quickly followed, and the skinny 17-year-old with a pompadour haircut rocketed to stardom.

Along with James Darren, Fabian and Frankie Avalon, Rydell was among a wave of wholesome teen idols who emerged after Elvis Presley and before the rise of the ...

But in 1985, he joined his old friends Avalon and Fabian for what they thought would be a few appearances. Rydell and his fellow Philadelphia performers were ideal for “Bandstand” host Dick Clark, who sought to make rock n’ roll palatable to young and old. The block of 11th Street where he grew up was christened Bobby Rydell Boulevard by his hometown in 1995. His first drum kit was a gift from his father, Al Ridarelli, who inspired his son’s choice of instrument by taking him to see Gene Krupa perform. He made me always try to be a better singer. His recordings will never be forgotten.

Singer, drummer and actor had five US Top 10 hits, and inspired the Beatles to write She Loves You.

Like many of his teen-idol brethren, Rydell’s pop-cultural heft swiftly waned in the wake of Beatlemania and the British Invasion, but his career was sustained with music and acting appearances on numerous variety shows, most notably The Red Skelton Show. And buoyed by an enduring, increasingly nostalgic fanbase, he continued to tour for the rest of his life, such as in a trio with Frankie Avalon and Fabian as the Golden Boys of Bandstand. He also hopped on the late 70s disco craze, re-recording Sway in the style. Bobby Rydell, who enjoyed numerous US hits during the teen pop craze of the early 1960s, has died aged 79. Rydell toured Europe and Australia, and played New York’s renowned Copacabana nightclub.

Bobby Rydell was among a wave of wholesome teen idols including James Darren and Frankie Avalon, who rose to fame in the '60s.

But in 1985, he joined his old friends Avalon and Fabian for what they thought would be a few appearances. The block of 11th Street where he grew up was christened Bobby Rydell Boulevard by his hometown in 1995. Rydell and his fellow Philadelphia performers were ideal for Bandstand host Dick Clark, who sought to make rock n’ roll palatable to young and old. His first drum kit was a gift from his father, Al Ridarelli, who inspired his son’s choice of instrument by taking him to see Gene Krupa perform. Let’s go out there and have fun,’” Rydell told The Atlantic City Weekly in 2006. “We weren’t out to prove anything.