Bobby Rydell

Bobby Rydell – born Robert Louis Ridarelli on April 26, 1942, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – was a pop singer, teen idol, and actor best known for his 1960 hits “Wild One” and “Volare.” His musical career began as Robert Ridarelli in 1950 when he won a talent contest and was added to the cast of popular television series Paul Whiteman’s TV Teen Club. Originally a drummer, he started playing in bands including Rocco and the Saints, which also featured future fellow teen idol Frankie Avalon. Discovered by manager Frankie Day, he was signed as a solo artist. Changing his name to Bobby Rydell, he eventually signed with Cameo Records and scored his first hit in 1959 with “Kissin’ Time,” which reached Number 11 in the Hot 100. His next single, “We Got Love,” reached Number 6. Further hits included 1960’s “Wild One” (Number 2), “Swingin’ School” (Number 5), and “Volare” (Number 4). While he continued to have hits in the early 1960s – including “Good Time Baby” (1961), “I’ve Got Bonnie” (1962), and “I’ll Never Dance Again” (1962) – his singles failed to land in the Top 10. In 1963, he appeared in the hit film Bye Bye Birdie, which also featured Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke. After several more singles in the Top 20, Bobby Rydell’s singles began to place lower in the charts. In 1965, his single “Diana” made it to Number 98 and that was his last charting single until 1975’s “Sway” (Disco Version). In the 1970s and 1980s, he performed mainly in Las Vegas in night clubs and rock and roll revival shows. Because of contractual disputes, his back catalog remained out of print for years. Bobby Rydell joined forces with fellow (former) teen idols Frankie Avalon and Fabian, and they began performing as The Golden Boys. His health deteriorated sharply in 2012 but he continued to perform sporadically. Bobby Rydell published his autobiography in 2016. He died on April 5, 2022, at the age of 79 from pneumonia. Over the years, legal issues have allowed the release of various albums and compilations by Bobby Rydell including The Best of Bobby Rydell - Cameo Parkway 1959-1964 and The Complete Capitol Recordings (2014).