[4], Rydell played in several bands in the Philadelphia area. Are frankie valli and the 4 seasons still alive? [Expert Review] It reached No. He still appears regularly on "oldies" shows, although he hasn't had a hit since the early 1960s. Born Robert Ridarelli, Rydell got his first song on the Billboard 100 in 1959 and went on to have a career that included 34 top 100 hits and more than 25 million album sales, according to the statement. He also appeared in the shows Red Skelton Show, The Danny Thomas Show, The George Burns Show, The Milton Berle Show, and Combat! Bobby Rydells influence on popular music was profound. As for his love life, he married a woman named Camille Quattrone Ridarelli in 1968. Bobby's hits include million . He had great success on the oldies circuit into his last years. In 1998, he married his current wife, former Miss Pennsylvania USA Andrea Patrick, Fabian (pictured left in 2008) now lives with Patrick on a 20-acre estate in Pennsylvania. In 1973, he returned to singing and landed a show at the MGM-Grand in Las Vegas. "It's been my life since like 7 years old," Rydell, now 74, says in a phone call from suburban Philadelphia, where he still lives. The Australian police had to make a wedge to get us out of Sydney Stadium. He was arrested in 1975 after he was accused of hitting Regan, and was put on probation for two years. Azzara later assumed the stage name Pat Martino, and became a notable jazz guitarist. Nonetheless, by 1964 Rydells hits were drying up, though he reached No 4 that year with Forget Him, and his generation of performers was sidelined by the seismic impact of the Beatles and the British Invasion. In fact, he's already been immortalized in more ways than many may realize. In the early 1960s he was considered a teen idol. He also appeared in two TV movies the same year, Swingin' Together and Rockabye The Infantry. The album of the same name, his first, sold a million copies and obtained gold disc status. RELATED:Maureen McCormick Played Marcia on The Brady Bunch. Rydell and many of his generation were knocked off their pop pedestals by the dramatic arrival of the Beatles and their British counterparts, but he had the staying power of mainstream performers from a slightly earlier generation. American singer and teen idol (19422022). In his interview with From the Mixed Up Files, he shared a story about his wife discovering some of his old work. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Bobby Rydell is currently . As such, the official announcement of Rydell's death reiterated the importance of organ donation, stating, "Rydell lived to be 79 years old through the gift of organ donation," and urging fans to become donors. Now, they tour as The Golden Boys. He is pictured in 1960, Before joining the Golden Boys, he landed 31 singles on the U.S. Bobby Rydell (Robert Louis Ridarelli), singer and musician, born 26 April 1942; died 5 April 2022, Teen pop idol of the 60s and star of Bye Bye Birdie, whose hits included Wild One and We Got Love, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Mr. Rydell was born Robert Louis Ridarelli on April 26, 1942, to Adrio and Jennie (Sapienza) Ridarelli. Everybody has known us for the better part of 50 years. Mr. Rydell did not just have staying power; he also made a comeback after years of alcohol abuse, which he chronicled in his autobiography, Bobby Rydell: Teen Idol on the Rocks (2016), written with the guitarist and producer Allan Slutsky. [7], Rydell left Cameo-Parkway Records later in 1964 and signed with Capitol Records. Avalon's second eldest son, Tony, plays guitar and taught at the Rock Nation School. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); [2][3], As a child, he mimicked the singers he saw on television, and at the age of seven his father took him around the clubs of Philadelphia, asking if he could sing and do some impersonations. [20] Rydell was a longtime resident of Penn Valley, Pennsylvania, and lived in the same house from 1963 to 2013. When the producers of Grease wanted to pay tribute to the era in which the popular musical was set, they named the high school where most of the action took place Rydell High in his honor. All rights reserved. 2023 Galvanized Media. Mr. Rydell performing with the City Rhythm Orchestra in Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center in Manhattan in 2016. He enjoyed a further glimmer of chart success with a disco version of his song Sway in 1976. He made his first album while also working part-time in a pharmacy and studying at South Philadelphia High School. The three are all from South Philadelphia and knew each other as kids. In an interview with The Morning Call, Rydell revealed that he was humbled by the gesture. He then married someone named Kate Netter in 1980, and they were together for 10 years before splitting. Its amazing., There had been some rocky moments along the way. Rydell died of complications from pneumonia at a hospital in a suburb of his hometown of Philadelphia, according to a statement posted by his marketing and event coordinator Maria Novey. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Besides singing, he was also a huge actor - starring in A Bullet for Pretty Boy (pictured),Hound-Dog Man, High Time, North to Alaska, Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation, and The Longest Day, He has been married three times - tying the knot with his first wife, Kathleen Regan, in 1966. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Contributors control their own work and . Rydell died on April 5 in Abington, Pennsylvania, from pneumonia complications, which were unrelated to Covid-19, the statement said. He continued to perform for the rest of his life. Ann-Margret, right, and Bobby Rydell dance during a scene from "Bye Bye Birdie" on the movie set in Hollywood, Ca., Sept. 14, 1962. Singer Bobby Rydell is shown aboard a luxury liner in New York City after arrival from Europe on March 12, 1962. From the Brat Pack to the biggest boy bands of the decade, here's what they look like today. Billboard chart. Unlike some of the other pretty faces of his era, he was a real musician. "Bobby is eternally grateful to be alive," Allan Slutsky, who co-wrote Rydell's book, told me. Is Tommy DeVito still alive? Both have joined Avalon on tour. He told The Morning Call that his drinking became heavier after his lost his wife of 35 years, Camille Quattrone Ridarelli, in 2003. [15] Bands such as The Beatles became more popular, and Rydell unwittingly contributed to his own downfall by inspiring John Lennon and Paul McCartney to write "She Loves You", a song which catapulted their success way beyond his. His song Shivers was his first big hit and it got the attention of Dick Clark, who invited him to play at an event. In the wake of Rydell's passing, FEMAIL uncovered everything his bandmates have accomplished since their time in the Golden Boys (pictured in 2000). The Tragic Death Of Singer Bobby Rydell - NickiSwift.com [4], In 1961, he performed at the Copacabana in New York City, where he was the youngest performer to headline at the nightclub. "We started that show in 1985, and it was a tremendous success," Rydell told From the Mixed Up Files in 2020. xhr.send(payload); He is pictured with Margaret in the movie, Paul McCartney once said that Rydell inspired the Beatles song She Loves You, according to the book The Beatles Anthology. Rydell was also born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 26, 1942. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Here's what the teen dreams you remember from your must-watch shows look like today. There was a Bobby Rydell song out at the time and, as often happens, you think of one song when you write another. Bobby Rydell net worth. Rydell is survived by his wife, Linda J. Hoffman, son Robert Ridarelli, daughter Jennifer Dulin, and his five grandchildren, according to the statement. Did you encounter any technical issues? Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get Dubbed by Variety as one of the world's original teen idols, Rydell's icon status was cemented in "Grease," with the film's characters as students at Rydell High School. At age 6, he told his father he wanted to play the drums like Gene Krupa. In total, he has now amassed 34 hit singles throughout his career. [16] Also during that time, Rydell served in the 103rd Engineer Battalion of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including After cutting a few unsuccessful singles, Rydell signed to Cameo Records, and made his first appearance on the charts with the exuberant Kissin Time (1959). Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c05ac74cb5f0fc4 But, just because he was no longer at the height of his popularity, Rydell didn't stopped performing. On October 6, 1964, he made a guest appearance on the episode "Duel" of the television series Combat!. Published Long after their days on the pop chart were past them, they enjoyed great success on the oldies circuit. His singing career lasted for decades (above, left and right), and he is often remembered for dancing alongside Ann-Margret in the film . In 1998, he married his current wife, former Miss Pennsylvania USA Andrea Patrick. Bobby Rydell, seen here performing in 2013, died on April 5 at age 79, according to his representatives. Bobby Rydell, a '60s teen idol and 'Bye Bye Birdie' star, dies His career had had its ups and downs, its peaks and valleys, he said, but Ive survived through all of that, and I continue to do what I really enjoy doing. Singer Bobby Rydell is shown aboard a luxury liner in New York City after arrival from Europe on March 12, 1962. In 2015, he published his own cookbook, called Frankie Avalon's Italian Family Cookbook, and in 2021, he performed on Dancing with the Stars. The death of his wife, Camille Quattrone, in 2003, after 35 years of marriage, tipped him into life-threatening alcoholism. Rydell could still command enough audience loyalty to tour regularly and appear in nightclubs and Las Vegas venues through the 1970s and 80s, performing the great American songbook of material by the likes of Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Richard Rodgers alongside his repertoire of pop and easy-listening material. Rydell performs with two of his contemporaries, Frankie Avalon and Fabian. Mr. Rydell married his high-school sweetheart, Camille Quattrone, in 1968. On July 9, 2012, Bobby underwent a double organ transplant. Rydell continued to tour throughout the remainder of his life, performing in nightclubs, bars, and small venues - and before his death, he had multiple concerts lined up for later this year. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. "And I said to Frankie, and I called him Cheech, because in Italian, Frank is Cheech. Bestlifeonline.com is part of the Dotdash Meredith Publishing Family. Bobby Rydell obituary | Pop and rock | The Guardian Mr. Rydell played Hugo Peabody, the meek high school steady of Kim McAfee, played by Ann-Margret, the small-town girl chosen to give the Elvis-like Conrad Birdie a kiss on national television. [2] The original stage production of Bye Bye Birdie had no real singing role for the character of Hugo, but the movie script was rewritten specifically to expand the part for Rydell. His most well-known songs include "Wildwood Days," "Wild One" and "Volare" (cover of an Italian song by Domenico Modugno, "Nel blu, dipinto di blu"); in 1963 he appeared in the musical film Bye Bye Birdie.[2]. [12] In 2011, Sony Pictures digitally restored the film. Performance & security by Cloudflare. He later admitted that the pressures of fame caused him to turn to drinking during the '60s. Bobby Rydell in 1965, a time when his hits were drying up. He also appeared on The Danny Thomas Show, Jack Benny, Joey Bishop, and The George Burns Show. Biography | Bobby Rydell Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use. Bobby Rydell, a Philadelphia-born singer who became a teenage idol in the late 1950s and, with his pleasant voice, stage presence and nice-guy demeanor, maintained a loyal following on tours even after both he and his original fans were well past retirement age, died on Tuesday in Abington, Pa. His life was about to end when the generous family of a dying child saved 8 lives by organ donation. Your IP: Bobby Rydell, seen here performing in 2013, died on April 5 at age 79, according to his representatives. Columbia Pictures signed Mr. Rydell to a contract in 1961. The cause was complications of pneumonia, said Maria Novey, a spokeswoman. The follow-up, We Got Love, sold a million copies, igniting a streak of hits including Wild One, Swingin School, Ding-A-Ling and Volare. Per Billboard, the singer had no less than 29 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 over his career. See Her Now at 65. 11 on the Billboard chart. In 2012, he told CBS Phillythat, prior to undergoing a liver-kidney transplant, his doctor had predicted he had "maybe a month" to live. They are pictured in 1968, They had two children together, named Christian and Julie, before going their separate ways in 1975. In a 2011 interview, he recalled the reaction in Australia: They stormed the stage, thousands and thousands of kids. Skelton fell in love with Bobby, Mr. Rydells personal assistant, Linda F. Hoffman, said in 2013. Per an announcement made on his official Facebook page, Rydell's death has been attributed to pneumonia. In 1963 he was cast as Hugo Peabody in the film version of the musical Bye Bye Birdie, alongside Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke. He landed his first big break in 1952 - at the age of 12 - when he played trumpet during a Honeymooners sketch on the Jackie Gleason Show. He also published an autobiography in 2016. By that October he was back, singing on a cruise ship with Mr. Avalon. He continued to tour up until his death in 2022. How old is Bobby Rydell still alive? He also acted, starring inmovies like The Alamo in 1960, war movie Operation Bikini, musical Beach Party (and it's four follow-up movies), and Dick Clark's Good Ol' Days (pictured), As for his TV credits, he made appearances in Love, American Style (pictured) The Big Crosby Show, The Patty Duke Show, Sonic Drive-In, and Happy Days, Later on in his career, Avalon created his own health and vitamins line, called Frankie Avalon Products. In the early 1960s, he was considered a teen idol. Rydell married his second wife, Linda Hoffman, in 2009. In 1963, Bobby starred with Ann- Margret in the iconic movie Bye Bye Birdie. They appeared a few years ago together recently at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences premiere of the digital restoration of the movie. He is survived by his wife, Linda J. Hoffman (who is not related to Linda F. Hoffman); two children from his first marriage, Robert Ridarelli and Jennifer Dulin; and five grandchildren. In 1985, he teamed up with other former teen stars Avalon and Fabian to form the Golden Boys, and together, the trio performed for many years. He is pictured in 2015. He married a beauty pageant winner named Kathyrn 'Kay' Diebel in 1963 after they met playing cards at a friend's house. Billboard chart, including his songs Venus, Why, Just Ask Your Heart, and I'll Wait for You. After the movie The Idolmaker came out in 1980, Fabian launched a $64 million lawsuit again the creators, claiming that it made him look like 'a totally manufactured singer, a mere pretty face without any singing ability or acting talent.'. He praised Red Skelton and other show-business veterans for helping him along, recalled that in 1985 the touring trio didnt think their act would last more than two years, and joked that the G sometimes fell off marquees where they performed, making their name the Olden Boys., He said he felt odd that he was one of the first 10 people inducted into the Philadelphia Music Foundations Hall of Fame. He then took a break from performing for four years before he returned to the stage in 1981. He also branched out into acting - landing a few big roles including the movie adaptation of the play Bye, Bye, Birdie. In 2020 he recalled: I said to Frankie this is great, but how long is this going to last? In a radio interview in 2013 in Hamilton, Ontario, Mr. Rydell explained why he hadnt stayed in Hollywood to make more movies: I couldnt. He was 79. He is pictured in 2016. After three years on the show, he branched out into performing with local bands, including Rocco and the Saints in which a fellow Philadelphian, Frankie Avalon, played the trumpet and changed his name to Rydell. Pop icon BOBBY RYDELL is back on tour after cheating death yet again! He spent years acting on the show while also playing drums in several bands (including one with Avalon), until he was eventually signed by Cameo Records. Even the adults realize this, and it works to his advantage., By his 21st birthday, Mr. Rydell had made three trips to perform in Europe and three others to Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Japan. Bobby Rydell Death Fact Check, Birthday & Age | Dead or Kicking Here come the girls! Six decades later, teamed with his fellow singers Frankie Avalon and Fabian, he was still drawing crowds. His father shortened the boys name to Rydell for the show. Mr. Rydell was a pop phenomenon but hardly a cutting-edge rock star. His father, a fan of the big bands, would take him as a child to see Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw at the Earle Theater in Philadelphia. Since news broke of Rydell's death, countless celebrities have voiced their admiration of him. [11], That same year, Rydell portrayed Hugo Peabody in the film version of Bye Bye Birdie, also starring Ann-Margret and Dick Van Dyke. Rydell was a . 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 on Tuesday. "And I don't know if my wife ever watched the whole movie, but we left it on, and she says, 'Oh my God, look at you. It was fitting that his name was chosen for Rydell high school in Grease, the Broadway and later film musical that depicted teenage lives in the early rocknroll days of the late 50s. April 5, 2022. In 1978, the starred in the beloved musical Grease as a character named Teen Angel, performing the song Beauty School Dropout. "Oh, I mean, what an honor!" On July 9, 2012, Bobby underwent a double organ transplant. Bobby Rydell, Teenage Idol With Enduring Appeal, Dies at 79 Rydell has also performed both solo and with other musical acts, like he did in the show Stars of the Sixties. Bobby Rydell, a teen idol from the 60s known for songs like Wild One and his role as Hugo Peabody in the 1963 film Bye Bye Birdie, has died, according to a statement released by his representatives. Both of his parents were of Italian descent. I said, 'Cheech, this is great, but how long is this going to last? In the early 1960s he was considered a teen idol.His most well-known songs include "Wildwood Days," "Wild One" and "Volare" (cover of an Italian song by Domenico Modugno, "Nel blu . His father kindled his musical interest by taking him to see the jazz bands of Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman, and he began playing drums and singing in nightclubs in Philadelphia and New Jersey at the age of seven. Together, they had eight children and 10 grandchildren. Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman played brothers. Eventually, "I said, 'Well, if I'm gonna sit down and talk with anybody, it's gonna be Allan. I had the good fortune to spend my peak years as a recording artist during the golden age of the TV variety show, he wrote in his autobiography, Bobby Rydell: Teen Idol on the Rocks A Tale of Second Chances (2016). His last major chart success was "Forget Him", which reached number 4 on the Hot 100 in January 1964. His 1963 song Wildwood Days paid homage to Wildwood, the New Jersey beach town where his grandmother had a boardinghouse and where he spent his early summers; like Philadelphia, Wildwood later held an honorary street-naming for Mr. Rydell. Clark later wrote of the performance, 'The little girls at the hop went wild. Rydell performs with two of his contemporaries, Frankie Avalon and Fabian. Mr. Rydell, Mr. Avalon and Fabian would perform their own songs and then sing together; there would also be tributes to Frank Sinatra and to Mr. Rydells favorite singer, Bobby Darin. Mr. Rydell and two other affable performers who became stars in those years, Frankie Avalon and Fabian, grew up within about two blocks of one another in South Philadelphia. He is pictured in 1959 (left) and in 2013 (right), Fabian (pictured in 1973) was discovered by Chancellor Records owners Bob Marcucci and Peter DeAngelis while they were scouting Philadelphia neighborhoods in search of teen talent. He grew up in the Lower Moyamensing neighborhood of South Philadelphia. From left, Fabian, Frankie Avalon and Mr. Rydell in performance in Atlantic City, N.J., in 2006. In 1961, aged 19 and now a confirmed teen heart-throb, he became the youngest performer to headline at the fabled Copacabana club in New York. He had his first hit in 1959. They had two children and were together for 35 years, until she passed away in 2003. A Warner Bros. Bobby Rydell - Age, Birthday, Biography, Movies, Albums & Facts - HowOld.co In the 1960s, he served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's 103rd Engineer Battalion. Rydell first took the stage as a professional drummer at the age of 9. All Rights Reserved. Bobby Rydell, a pompadoured heartthrob of early rock 'n roll who was a star of . Billboard chart from 1958 to 1962, including his songs Venus (which spent five weeks at the number one spot in 1959), Why, Just Ask Your Heart, and I'll Wait for You. It just doesnt make any sense., Bobby Rydell, Teenage Idol With Enduring Appeal, Dies at 79, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/05/arts/music/bobby-rydell-dead.html. His last appearance on Billboards Hot 100 was in 1965 with Diana, which reached No 98. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Philly entertainer Bobby Rydell picks Vegas for his wedding Saturday night to one Linda Hoffman. It's amazing.". A polished performer by the age of 19, he was the youngest person ever to headline the famous Copacabana in New York. He also worked as an actor in the past. He also acted - making his film debut in the 1960 western Guns of the Timberland with Alan Ladd. [14] By that point, the British Invasion had arrived and acts such as Rydell suffered a dramatic decline in popularity. Born Robert Ridarelli on April 26, 1942, the star died on April 5, just weeks shy of what would have been his 80th birthday. Bobby Rydell, 1960s Pop Idol and Star of 'Bye Bye Birdie - Variety The comments below have not been moderated. A polished performer by the age of 19, he was the youngest person ever to headline the famous Copacabana in New York. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. A man who gave us big hits like, Wild One, Volare, Kissin' Time, We Got Love, Swinging School, Sway, Good Time Baby, Ive Got Bonnie, Ill Never Dance Again, Wildwood Days, Forget Him, A World Without Love. } The Beatles scrambled to meet him when he visited Britain in 1963, and Paul McCartney has said that the Lennon and McCartney song She Loves You was based on a Rydell song, though he did not specify which one (Swingin School is a likely candidate). He is also a musician. His name alone could conjure up an entire era: The 1970s rock musical Grease, in both its Broadway and movie versions, was set in 1959 at the fictional Rydell High School. At age 6, he told his father he wanted to play the drums, like Gene Krupa; a year or two later Bobby was singing in local nightclubs. Bobby Rydell (born Robert Louis Ridarelli; April 26, 1942) is an American professional singer, mainly of rock and roll music. He didnt know them, but they knew him. After making two appearances on The Red Skelton Hour on which he just sang, he appeared in sketches intermittently from 1961 to 1969 as various characters, including Zeke Kadiddlehopper, cousin to Skeltons country-bumpkin character Clem Kadiddlehopper. Rydell recalled how the films director, George Sidney, saw some kind of magic between Ann-Margret and myself, and every day that I went back to Columbia Studios, my script got bigger, and bigger, and bigger. Rydell's last hit came in the mid-'70s when he released a disco cover of the song "Sway." But he still does shows for fans nostalgic for his music. I was basically a South Philadelphia kid, and I was an East Coast guy. (He also played a nightclub singer in the 1975 film That Lady From Peking, which was shot in Australia.). Bobby Rydell, a teen idol from the '60s known for songs like "Wild One" and his role . He used to make a lot of money from these gigs as well. He stills performs here and there, and he also works as the managing director for Gladys Magazine. Mr. Rydells repertoire included plaintive love ballads; slow, danceable tunes; occasional frenetic rockers like Wild One and Swingin School; and ageless songs like Domenico Modugnos 1958 hit Volare, which became Mr. Rydells signature song in his later touring years. Robert Louis Ridarelli[1] (April 26, 1942 April 5, 2022), known by the stage name Bobby Rydell /radl/, was an American singer and actor who mainly performed rock and roll and traditional pop music. A new liver and a new kidney, because of all the drinking.. Wildwood, New Jersey also has a street named for Bobby in appreciation for Bobbys massive hit, Wildwood Days.. What happened?' For starstruck millennials, the Biebs may be the current teen idol, but Bobby Rydell was one of the first teenage singers who trailblazed his way into the hearts of every tween and teenage girl alive back in the late 50s, early 60s. Bobby Rydell, 60s teen idol and 'Bye Bye Birdie' star, dies. There was a Bobby Rydell song out at the time and, as often happens, you think of one song when you write another.'. He stills performs, and he also works as the managing director for Gladys Magazine. One of the classic teen idols of the late 1950s and early 60s, Bobby Rydell, who has died from complications of pneumonia aged 79, was only seven when he . Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh were the films stars, but the parts of Hugo and Kim were considerably beefed up in the transition from stage to screen. Bobby Rydell passed away on April 5, 2022, at the age of 79. His first three songs on the Cameo label were flops, but he scored in 1959 with Kissin Time, which Dick Clark, whose show had succeeded Paul Whitemans, immediately liked. Vodka became a very, very dear friend, he said, to the point where, a few years later, it led to a double transplant. Published: 16:43 BST, 6 April 2022 | Updated: 20:46 BST, 6 April 2022. The singer passed away on Tuesday from pneumonia, Variety has reported. It could have been Anka High, Presley High, Everly High and they came up with Rydell High.". He is pictured in 1965 (left) and 2017 (right), His career started after he won a talent competition put on by jazz bandleader Paul Whiteman, which landed him a spot on his show, TV Teen Club, Rydell released a series of big songs, including Wild One, Volare, and Swingin' School. He raised his children there, and moved in 2013 only because the house had grown too big for him and his wife. He also starred as Huge Peabody in the movie version of Bye Bye Birdie alongside Ann-Margaret and Dick Van Dyke. He also starred in a number of films, including"Marco Polo Junior" and, of course, "Bye Bye Birdie." In total, he has now amassed 34 hit singles throughout his career. Bobby Rydell (born Robert Louis Ridarelli; April 26, 1942) is an American professional singer, mainly of rock and roll music. But, as the '60s continued on, Rydell's career slowed down thanks to new rock and roll bands like the Beatles. 2. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. } His father was a machine shop foreman. Bobby Rydell - Wikipedia Rydell was born in April 1942 and was the son of Jennie Ridarelli (nee Sapienza) and Adrio "Al" Ridarelli.