Robert Louis Ridarelli, known by the stage name Bobby Rydell, was an American singer and actor who mainly performed rock and roll plus traditional pop music. In the early 1960s he was considered a teen idol.
Born to Jennie Sapienza and Adrio "Al" Ridarelli on April 26, 1942 in Philadelphia PA Rydell passed on April 5, 2022 in Abington Township PA from complications due to pneumonia.
He grew up in the same Italian neighborhood of South Philadelpia as Frankie Avalon and Fabian Forte. At the age of four or five, Bobby used to sit in front of the TV set trying to impersonate performers like Louis Prima and Johnny Ray. His father recognized Bobby's talent and encouraged him to pursue a show business career. Rydell began playing drums at age five because he admired Gene Krupa. By age seven, he had begun to work nightclubs in Philly. While other kids were listening to the latest hits Rydell's father was taking him to listen to the last big bands working the various local clubs.
At age nine, he was a regular on Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club television show that was broadcast from Philadelphia and performed on it for three years. It was during this time it was said that Whiteman shortened Bobby's last name to Rydell because he had trouble pronouncing Ridarelli. The truth was Bobby's father came up with the name. By the time he was a teen, he was playing drums in a dance band called Rocco and the Saints. It featured Frankie Avalon on the trumpet. Rocco and the Saints began playing annual summer bookings in the seaside resorts around Atlantic City. Rydell also played the guitar and was a natural comedian.
Rydell appeared as Hugo Peabody in the Oscar-nominated 1963 musical comedy, Bye Bye Birdie. He acted alongside Ann-Margret, Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh. Though the story dealt with a rock and roll singer, Rydell was cast with Ann-Margret who played Kim MacAfee, as a pair of high school sweethearts. Ann-Margret was 22 years of age when she made the movie. The film is credited with making Ann-Margret a superstar during the mid 1960s, leading to her appearing with Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas in 1964.
As a sidenote, it's no wonder that Ann-Margret and Elvis fell for each other during the filming of Viva Las Vegas; after all, Ann-Margret herself was often viewed as a female version of the King of Rock and Roll. Both were sex symbols and musical talents with undeniable star power and magnetic charisma.
Covid-19 effectively stalled Rydell's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star that was slated for 2020. At least Rydell was one of the first 10 to be inducted into Philadelphia's Walk of Fame on Broad street and Rydell High from the movie, Grease was named in honor of the singer.
The Golden Boys of Bandstand
Bobby, Frankie and Fabian
Teamed up in 1985
And Then There Were Two
