Bobby Rydell
(born Robert Louis Ridarelli
, April 26, 1942, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania [1]) is an American teen idol from the early 1960s era of rock and roll. According to Allmusic music journalist, Kim Summers, "Rydell is one of the most sought-after nightclub and concert acts in the U.S., and his interest in showbusiness began at the age of four. His performance in Bye Bye Birdie
and his recordings "Wild One" and "Volare" made him a famous performer in the 1960s. Rydell used his talents as an impersonator and drummer mostly in pursuing a musical rather than an acting career."
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BOBBY RYDELL TICKETS
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Career
In 1950, Rydell entered the amateur show of
Paul Whiteman; his first-place gained him a regular part on the show.
He stayed with the Whiteman show for three years, as Ridarelli became the easier to pronounce Bobby Rydell, and he then went to join several local bands in Philadelphia.
As a
teenage drummer, he played alongside
Frankie Avalon in a
band known as Rocco and the Saints.
He was later signed to a
recording contract by
Cameo Records, and his debut hit "Kissin' Time," recorded in the summer of 1959, launched his musical career and made him a teen idol at the age of 17.
Rydell was considered one of the teen idols alongside
Frankie Avalon,
Fabian,
Johnny Tillotson,
Jimmy Clanton and
Bobby Vee.
His second hit "We Got Love" was his first million seller, gaining
gold disc status.
"Wild One" backed with "Little Bitty Girl" was his second 1959 million selling
disc; followed by further gold disc honours for "Ding-a-Ling" backed with "Swingin' School" plus "Volare" the following year.
[2] After making his first hit recordings, he pursued a
solo career, performing at the
Copacabana in
New York in 1961, where he was an instant hit.
[3] In February 1961 he appeared at the
Festival du Rock
, at the
Palais des Sports de Paris in
Paris,
France.
[4]
In 1963, he portrayed Hugo Peabody in the
movie version of
Bye Bye Birdie
with
Ann Margret and
Dick Van Dyke.
During the 1960s, Rydell had numerous
hits on the
Billboard Hot 100 chart. These included his most popular hit, 1960's "Wild One" (his highest charting
single, it reached #2). Other songs included, "
Volare" (#4), "Swingin' School" (#5), "Kissin' Time" (#11), "
Sway" (#14), "I've Got Bonnie" (#18) and "The Cha-Cha-Cha" (#10). His last major chart hit was "Forget Him" (which reached #4 on the
Billboard
Hot 100 in 1963), just before the
British Invasion hit the American
music industry. The song proved to be his fifth and final gold disc winner.
[5]
During this time, Rydell also appeared on many
television shows, including the
Red Skelton Show
and the
Danny Thomas Show
. On October 6, 1964, he guest starred on an episode of the
TV series,
Combat
, playing opposite
Vic Morrow.
This was Rydell's first dramatic
acting role.
In January 1968, it was announced in the UK
music magazine,
NME
, that Rydell had signed a long term
recording contract with
Reprise Records.
[6]
Rydell continued to perform in
nightclubs, supper clubs and
Las Vegas venues throughout the 1970s and 1980s (although his career was hindered by the fact that
ABKCO Records did not release any of the
Cameo-Parkway hits until 2005, forcing him to re-record his old hits which were issued by
K-tel). He still performs as a solo act, and part of 'The Golden Boys' (with Frankie Avalon and Fabian).
Media
In both the
Broadway musical,
Grease
and the
film,
Grease
, the
high school was named 'Rydell High' after Bobby Rydell.
Chart singles
Release date
| Title
| B-side
| Chart Positions
|
U.S. Hot 100 [7]
| U.S. AC
| U.S. R&B
| UK Singles Chart [8]
|
1959
| "Kissin' Time"
| "You'll Never Tame Me"
| 11
|
| 29
|
|
"We Got Love" b/w
|
| 6
|
|
|
|
| "I Dig Girls"
| 46
|
|
|
|
1960
| "Wild One" b/w
|
| 2
|
| 10
| 7
|
| "Little Bitty Girl"
| 19
|
|
|
|
"Swingin' School" b/w
|
| 5
|
| 44
|
| "Ding A Ling"
| 18
|
|
|
|
"Volare"
| "I'd Do It Again"
| 4
|
| 9
| 22
|
"Sway" b/w
|
| 14
|
|
| 12
|
| "Groovy Tonight"
| 70
|
|
|
|
1961
| "Good Time Baby" b/w
|
| 11
|
|
| 42
|
| "Cherie"
| 54
|
|
|
|
"The Fish"
| "The Third House"
| 25
|
|
|
|
"I Wanna Thank You"
| "The Door To Paradise"
| 21
|
|
|
|
"Teach Me To Twist" †
|
|
|
|
| 45
|
"Jingle Bell Rock" †
|
|
|
|
| 40
|
1962
| "I've Got Bonnie"
|
| 18
|
|
|
|
"Lose Her"
|
| 69
|
|
|
|
"I'll Never Dance Again"
| "Gee It's Wonderful"
| 14
|
|
|
|
"The Cha-Cha-Cha"
| "The Best Man Cried"
| 10
|
|
|
|
1963
| "Butterfly Baby"
| "Love Is Blind"
| 23
|
|
|
|
"Wildwood Days"
| "Will You Be My Baby"
| 17
|
|
|
|
"Let's Make Love Tonight"
| "Childhood Sweetheart"
| 98
|
|
|
|
1964
| "Forget Him"
| "Love, Love Go Away"
| 4
| 3
|
| 13
|
"I Just Can't Say Goodbye"
|
| 94
|
|
|
|
"Make Me Forget"
|
| 43
|
|
|
|
"A World Without Love"
|
| 50
|
|
|
|
1965
| "Diana"
|
| 98
|
|
|
|
†
Chubby Checker and Bobby Rydell
See also
- List of people from Philadelphia
- List of acts who appeared on American Bandstand
- List of Italian American entertainers
- List of stage names
References
- Biography by Kim Summers
- The Book of Golden Discs
- The Book of Golden Discs
- NME Rock 'N' Roll Years
- The Book of Golden Discs
- NME Rock 'N' Roll Years
- Title Unavailable
- British Hit Singles & Albums