Part of the Philadelphia music scene which also spawned Frankie Avalon and Fabian, Rydell was undoubtedly the most talented of the teen idols. After a number of song hits, including "Wild One" and "Volare", he starred in Bye Bye Birdie (1963) before hitting the nightclub circuit. He still appears regularly on "oldies" shows, although he hasn't had...
Mr. Rock 'n Roll: The Alan Freed Story, That Lady from Peking, Marco Polo Junior Versus the Red Dragon, Bye Bye Birdie, Marco Polo Jr., Hits from the 50s & 60s: Vol. 2
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Fact
1
Bought a house for his parents in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.
2
Touring Australia at the Crown Casino Melbourne and various RSL clubs in NSW and Queensland. [September 2007]
3
The "British Invasion" of 1964 may have hampered his career as a 'Teen Idol", but he did have modest chart success with his cover of "World Without Love (Please lock me away)" (1964). He later rerecorded "Sway" (1976) with a disco flavor.
4
In the 1980s he teamed with fellow Philadelphians Frankie Avalon and Fabian to tour as "The Golden Boys of Bandstand" which included a TV special.
5
Inducted into Philadelphia's prestigious "Walk of Fame" where he was one of the first 10 inductees to have a star on Broad Street.
6
Honored by the City of Philadelphia when the 2400 block of South 11th St. was named Bobby Rydell Boulevard. The event was celebrated with a parade, a string band and Bobby arriving in a 1950 pink Cadillac. The mayor attended along with thousands of people. A huge block party followed dedication ceremonies.
7
In 2000, he put out his first album in over two decades, comprised of remakes of old hits.
8
Since 1985, he has toured on-and-off in the "Now and Then" nostalgia show with fellow former Philly teen idols Fabian and Frankie Avalon.
9
Three major labels turned him down until he was signed up by Cameo-Parkway. He scored 19 'Top 30' hits from 1959 through 1964, including "Kissin' Time" (#11), "Volare" (#4), "Sway" (#4), "Swingin' School" (#5), "Wild One" (#2), and "Forget Him" (#4).
10
Discovered as a youth by Paul Whiteman and his local "Teen Club" amateur TV show, staying as a regular with the program for three years.
11
Played drums by age six and, at 15, was a drummer for a Philly rock-and-roll combo group called "Rocco and His Saints" that also featured Frankie Avalon on trumpet.
12
Bandleader Paul Whiteman, with whose band he worked, renamed him Rydell because he couldn't pronounce Ridarelli.
13
"Rydell High School" in the movie musical, Grease (1978), is named in his honor.
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970)
2000
TV Movie documentary performer: "A Lot of Livin' To Do"
Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing.
1997
TV Movie performer: "Volare"
Vamp
1986
performer: "Volare"
The Hollywood Knights
1980
performer: "Volare"
Good Old Days Part II
1978
TV Special performer: "Volare"
Hollywood a Go Go
1965
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Fanfare
1965
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Shindig!
1964
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Joey Bishop Show
1963
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Bye Bye Birdie
1963
performer: "We Love You, Conrad" "We Hate You, Conrad", "The Telephone Song", "One Boy", "A Lot of Living to Do", "Everything Is Rosie/Everything Is Hugo"
The Jack Benny Program
1961
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Make Room for Daddy
1960
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Because They're Young
1960
performer: "Swingin' School"
The Dick Clark Show
1959
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Wildwood Days
2008
Documentary
Himself
Mornings with Kerri-Anne
2007
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Biography
2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970)
2000
TV Movie documentary
Himself (uncredited)
My Two Dads
1990
TV Series
Himself
The New Hollywood Squares
1987-1988
TV Series
Himself / Guest Appearance / Himself - Guest
The 3th Annual American Cinema Awards
1986
TV Special
Himself
Liberty Weekend
1986
TV Special documentary
Himself
The 13th Annual American Music Awards
1986
TV Special
Himself
American Bandstand's 33 1/3 Celebration
1985
TV Special
Himself
Good Time Rock 'n' Roll
1985
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Good Old Days Part II
1978
TV Special
Himself
Sha Na Na
1977-1978
TV Series
Himself
American Bandstand's 25th Anniversary
1977
TV Special
Himself
The Wolfman Jack Show
1976
TV Series
Himself
The Mike Douglas Show
1963-1976
TV Series
Himself - Vocalist / Himself - Co-Host / Actor / ...
Musical Chairs
1975
TV Series
Himself
In Concert
1973
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1965-1972
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
New American Bandstand 1965
1960-1970
TV Series
Himself
It's Happening
1968
TV Series
Himself
The Woody Woodbury Show
1968
TV Series
Himself
The Joey Bishop Show
1967-1968
TV Series
Himself
Two of a Kind
1967
TV Series
Himself
Malibu U.
1967
TV Series
Himself
The Hollywood Squares
1967
TV Series
Himself
Where the Action Is
1965-1967
TV Series
Himself
The Milton Berle Show
1966
TV Series
Himself
The Dating Game
1966
TV Series
Himself
Hullabaloo
1966
TV Series
Himself
Hollywood a Go Go
1965
TV Series
Himself - Singer
Fanfare
1965
TV Series
Himself
Shivaree
1965
TV Series
Himself
Shindig!
1964
TV Series
Himself - Singer
To Tell the Truth
1964
TV Series
Himself - Guest Panelist
The Ed Sullivan Show
1962-1964
TV Series
Himself - Singer
The Joey Bishop Show
1963
TV Series
Himself
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1962-1963
TV Series
Himself
Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium