Key points: Bobby Rydell's death was attributed to pneumonia complications Rydell sold more than 25 million albums and had 34 top-100 hits The famous rock musical Grease was set in the fictional Rydell High School Marriages and Health Problems Mr. He grew up in the Lower Moyamensing neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Would you like to joinus? Then he asked me what I was drinking. According to a statement shared on Rydell's verified Facebook page, the crooner died. AP In fact, he's already been immortalized in more ways than many may realize. In return, Dick would expose Cameos recordings to his national audience. Learn more at, Governor touts No. "That hasn't changed. Bobby Rydell performing in Wildwood at age 10, A lot of Italian singers from my eraand probably a decade or two beforewere rumored to have mob affiliations or mob backing. Frank, he said, Iwant you to meet the kid.. 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 of complications from . On July 9, 2012, Bobby underwent a double organ transplant. Rydell had a long history of alcohol abuse that destroyed his liver and kidneys. Gov. He was born Robert Ridarelli in a South Philadelphia neighborhood that would also produce teen idols Darren, Fabian and Avalon. Born Robert Ridarelli on April 26, 1942, the star died on April 5, just weeks shy of what would . [15] Also during that time, Rydell served in the 103rd Engineer Battalion of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Carmine, the maitre d, came up to me as I was checking my coat and asked if I wanted to sit withFrank. In Kon Tum, I sang What Kind of Fool Am I? to a large crowd of Marines while howitzers were laying down a barrage a fewmilesaway. Since my teen idol days were nowin the rearview mirror, Frankie Day was OK with it and happy for both of us. I surmised that he had some serious pull in certain unspecified circles. Im pretty sure they were his bodyguards. Louie looked me right inthe eyes, firmly shook my hand and said, I dont know what it is about you kid, but I love you.. It was here that his name was Anglicised to Bobby Rydell. A drunk driving suspect blamed his intoxication on his impending divorce. The block of 11th Street where he grew up was christened Bobby Rydell Boulevard by his hometown in 1995. Uncle Julieas he asked me to call himwas the guy who ran the Copa. Rydells success and prospects led his father, Adrio, a foreman at the Electro-Nite Carbon Company in Philadelphia, to resign in 1961 after 22 years to become his sons road manager. In the 1980s, he joined a trio called The Golden Boys, with fellow former teen idols Frankie Avalon and Fabian Forte. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. In the 1980s, he formed a trio called, In 1968 at age 26, he married Camille Quattrone, who died of cancer 35 years later. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, Bobby Rydell amassed a catalog of pop music hits in his hey-day, Bobby starred alongside Ann Margaret, Dick Van Dyke, and Janet Leigh in Bye Bye Birdie, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). In 2012 he was told , and unbeknownst to me, he was in the housethat night to see his old friend perform. They have two kids together, a son named Robert and a daughter named Jennifer. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. Frankie must have liked what he saw and heard, because he approached me after our set and said hed like to manage me. ", Another fan recalled: "Thinking about my younger days, watching American Band Stand and crushing on Bobby Rydell. He also appeared on The Danny Thomas Show, Jack Benny, Joey Bishop, and The George Burns Show. [18] He had one more hit after 1965, a disco re-recording of "Sway", which reached the Billboard Easy Listening chart in 1976. Singer Bobby Rydell is shown aboard a luxury liner in New York City after arrival from Europe on March 12, 1962. (AP Photo, File) By The Associated Press. hide caption. A polished performer by the age of 19, he was the youngest person ever to headline the famous Copacabana in New York. He also made live appearances nationwide on a tour organized by Clark. His successful career earned him some luxurious lifestyles and some fancy car trips. After an agonizingly uncomfortable minute of silence, Louie returned to the table, smiled, gave me a hug and kissed me on the cheek. In January 2013, six months after the double transplant surgery, Rydell returned to the stage in Las Vegas for a three-night engagement to a sold-out audience. Louie pounded his fist on the table and walked away, leaving me with his twoassociates. After a couple of flops, Kissin Time made the charts in 1959. I moved my parents, grandparents, and myself out of South Philly and into a newhome in suburban Penn Valley. Bobby Rydell, 1960s teen idol and star of the 1963 film "Bye Bye Birdie," has died at the age of 79. He recorded 34 Top-40 hit-records and sold more than 25 million records, including Volare, Wild One, We Got Love, Kissin' Time, Swingin' School, Wildwood Days, and Forget Him. It was great, he says. Anyone can read what you share. Bobby Rydell was married to his first wife, Camille Quattrone Ridarelli, for 35 years from 1968 until her death in 2003; they had two children. At the end of the show, Sinatra gets up and leaves, and Im thinking to myself, Idiot! Loved him in Bye Bye Birdie. American singer and teen idol (19422022). [22] In January 2013, six months after the double transplant surgery, Rydell returned to the stage in Las Vegas for a three-night engagement to a sold-out audience. I sang the hell out of that tune, but the records success wasnt all because of me. Their friendly demeanor of 10 seconds earlier turned menacing and they said, Are you fkin crazy? At age 9, he debuted on an amateur television show and became its regular drummer for three years. The original stage production of Bye Bye Birdie had no real speaking role for the character of Hugo, but the movie script was rewritten specifically to expand the part for Rydell. He was dedicated to public awareness; spreading the word to the world in his travels about the Gift of Life through organ donation. He really went out of his way to make me feela part of his entourage, and then posed for a picture with me and signed a copy of my. Detroit, Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, and othercities followed suit. Mr. Rydell was a pop phenomenon but hardly a cutting-edge rock star. He could have done a lot of good things with the $3,000settlement he received from his employer. How could I have any kind of serious relationship with Camille under those conditions? On July 9, 2012, at age 70, he received a life-saving liver and kidney transplant and six months later, he was singing again in Las Vegas. Reviewing his performance there, in 1961, Variety complimented him on his sense of career., Right now, hes a teenagers teenager, the magazine said. His son had passed away, and Bobby always felt he was looked upon by Mr. Skelton as a son.. 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. Robert Louis Ridarelli was born in April 1942 into the poor, tough Italian neighborhood of south Philadelphia. The same type of thing happened to me at lotsof other venues around the country. View our online Press Pack. He won the contest, and the shows presenter, Paul Whiteman, recruited him into the cast, where he remained for several years. Bobby Rydell played in several bands in the Philadelphia area, including Rocco and the Saints, in which he sang and played drums. Bobby Rydell is an American professional singer, mainly of rock and roll music. "I remember when Bobby Rydell was a young guy on American Bandstand and in movies like Bye Bye Birdie. The bass player for the main band was Frankie Day who liked Rydell and offered to manage his career. We decided that was a crummy idea but at least we then had the idea of a song called "She Loves You". ", A second fan tweeted: "We have lost so many legends. , the show was broadcast weekday afternoonson ABC from local affiliate WFILs 46th and Market Street studio. For all I knew, Cameo was considering dropping me after Id struck out three straight times. With my tail between my legs, I went to theupstairs lounge to say goodbye to JulesPodell. Read Full Obituary. We have a great time doing it.". The stories ofFrank Sinatras alleged connections to guys like Sam Giancana and Vito Genovese dogged him throughout his career. Let's go out there and have fun,'" Rydell told The Atlantic City Weekly in 2006. Bobby tied the knot with his second wife, Linda Hoffman, on January 17, 2009. ), He also recalled that in 1963, in England, the Beatles climbed onto his tour bus to meet him. In February 1961, he appeared at the Festival du Rock at the Palais des Sports de Paris in Paris, France. I think people see that attitude coming from the stage. Rydell and Ann-Margret were in attendance at the restoration premiere in Beverly Hills by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. [12], During the 1960s, Rydell had numerous hit records on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. We just said to ourselves, 'Here are three Italian kids from South Philadelphia, born and raised within two blocks of each other. He sings his own hits and some standards. 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. This sent him into a major depression that he treated by drinking excess amounts of alcohol. [21] On July 9, 2012, he underwent a double organ transplant, to replace his liver and one kidney, at Thomas Jefferson University in his hometown of Philadelphia. He was 79. But one mid-60s appearance at the Latin Quarter in New York did give me a more personal look into thesocial culture of what many, rightly or wrongly, perceive to be organized crime. Among countless other cultural references such as The Beatles' hit "She Loves You," which as Vulture pointed out, was a response to Rydell's "Swingin' School" further preserving Rydell's memory is his own repertoire of hits. Bobby's filmography includes That Lady From Peking, Bye Bye Birdie, and Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story. Oh those Wildwood Days! Part of the Philadelphia music scene which also spawned Frankie Avalon and Fabian, Rydell was undoubtedly the most talented of the teen idols. Bobby Rydell in an undated photo. [4], During that time, he performed on many television programs, including The Red Skelton Show, where a recurring role as Zeke Kadiddlehopper, Clem Kadiddlehopper's younger cousin, was written for him by Skelton. In addition, Cameo had a secret weapon in its corner that became the most important factor in breaking not only Kissin Time, but my career, aswell. The bands drummer was sick so Frankie Avalon asked Rydell to play the drums and sing a few songs. Cameo was started in 1956 by songwriters Bernie Lowe andKal Mann in the basement of Bernies West Oak Lane home. Excess alcohol can destroy your liver and kidneys. Both of his parents were of Italian descent. Changing musical tastes ushered in by the Beatles and the rest of the British Invasion defused the hit-making careers of Rydell and his compatriots, and he continued performing and recording music with limited success in the late 1960s and 1970s. His style is packed with rhythm and bounce, and his nice boy next door demeanor is quite winning. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. He continued to tour up until his death in 2022. To avoid rejection of his kidney and liver transplants, he had to take drugs to suppress his immune system, and on April 5, 2022, 10 years after his transplants, he died of pneumonia, an infection in his lungs. One of the tougher periods occurred in February 1966, when I toured South Vietnam for three weeks. But in 1985, he joined his old friends Avalon and Fabian for what they thought would be a few appearances. In the early 1960s he was considered a teen idol. Detroit, Boston, New York, Pittsburgh, and othercities followed suit. He is survived by his second wife, Linda Hoffman, whom he married in 2009, along with son Robert Ridarelli, daughter Jennifer Dulin, and five grandchildren. He was one of the richest and most influential singers in the United States. Early Life and Rise to Fame In January 1968, it was announced in the UK music magazine NME that Rydell had signed a long-term recording contract with Reprise Records. Hes an entertainer in the old-fashioned mold. It occupied a place of honor in our living room. On one of my National Guard weekends in 1967, I was dismissed early from my duties, so I decided to surprise Camille. It was her birthdayandshe was celebrating at a restaurant on the Delaware River with her sister and some friends. I asked around and was told Louie owned a restaurant called Separate Tables and supposedly was connected with the Gambino family. Rydell died of complications from. I think your father fked up your career., My spine instantly tightened up and I saw red. In 2012 he was told, that he needed an organ transplant because he was in liver and kidney failure. According to a statement shared on Rydell's verified Facebook page, the crooner died. Throughout the early 60s, I appeared on almost all of them. Those included shows hosted by Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, Perry Como, Jack Benny, Milton Berle and Red Skelton. His second success was We Got Love. 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