04-27-2022, 03:46 PM
Bobby Rydell, late t0s-early 60s teen idol, left this world on April 5, 2022 at age 79. He was the artist behind such teeny bopper hits as "Kissing Time", "We Got Love", "Wild One" and "WIldwood Days". His last real chart success came in early 1964 with a version of "A World Without Love", which was a much bigger hit for Peter and Gordon.
He also was part of the Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie", whose title character was loosely based on Elvis Presley as he was getting ready to go off to join the Army. It was the first real rock 'n roll Broadway musical. He continued to perform almost up to the end of his life, which is something I never really knew up until now. He had a total of 34 Top 100 hits. He also received countless love letters from young women proposing marriage.
Mr. Rydell was part of the South Philly rock 'n roll scene of the time which also included the likes of Frankie Avalon, James Darren and Fabian Forte, the latter of which usually performed under just his first name. These three are still alive as far as I know. Later in his career he began to embrace the swing tunes and American standards, following in the footsteps of Bobby Darin. This is another thing I was not previously aware of. Just thought he kind of faded away after his run on the pop charts was superseded by the artists of the British invasion, led by the Beatles and Rolling Stones.
Following the passing of his first wife in 2003, Mr. Rydell hit the skids, becoming a dependent alcoholic late in life. The ordeal was described in an autobiography titled "Teen Idol on the Rocks". In an interview he gave credit to his second wife, who survives him, for getting him to sobriety, much as June Carter Cash had done for Johnny.
He also was part of the Broadway musical "Bye Bye Birdie", whose title character was loosely based on Elvis Presley as he was getting ready to go off to join the Army. It was the first real rock 'n roll Broadway musical. He continued to perform almost up to the end of his life, which is something I never really knew up until now. He had a total of 34 Top 100 hits. He also received countless love letters from young women proposing marriage.
Mr. Rydell was part of the South Philly rock 'n roll scene of the time which also included the likes of Frankie Avalon, James Darren and Fabian Forte, the latter of which usually performed under just his first name. These three are still alive as far as I know. Later in his career he began to embrace the swing tunes and American standards, following in the footsteps of Bobby Darin. This is another thing I was not previously aware of. Just thought he kind of faded away after his run on the pop charts was superseded by the artists of the British invasion, led by the Beatles and Rolling Stones.
Following the passing of his first wife in 2003, Mr. Rydell hit the skids, becoming a dependent alcoholic late in life. The ordeal was described in an autobiography titled "Teen Idol on the Rocks". In an interview he gave credit to his second wife, who survives him, for getting him to sobriety, much as June Carter Cash had done for Johnny.