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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZRYDELL, Bobby(b Bobby Ridarelli, 26 April '42, Philadelphia PA) USA teen idol of early '60s. Encouraged by his parents to sing in restaurants etc; at age nine made it to TV with Paul Whiteman, who suggested a name change; impersonating e.g. Milton Berle and Louis Prima his appeal faded and he turned to rock'n'roll as singer/drummer with Rocco and the Saints (incl. Frankie Avalon); cut flop singles for Chancellor. Dukes bassist Frankie Day spotted him '58, took over management, formed Vekko label, but "Fatty Fatty' failed to hit; had him signed to local Cameo, who invested in singing and dancing lessons; result was no. 11 hit with third release "Kissin' Time' '59. 26 Hot 100 entries through '64 incl. top tens "We Got Love', "Wild One' (at no. 2 his biggest), "Swingin' School' (from film Because They're Young), "Volare', all '59-60; then "The Cha-Cha-Cha' '62, "Forget Him' '64. Some lesser hits were rocked up standards like "That Old Black Magic' ('42 song by Johnny Mercer/ Harold Arlen); also scored Xmas "Jingle Bell Rock' duet with Chubby Checker. He co-starred with Ann-Margaret in Bye Bye Birdie '63, switched to Capitol and had two more singles scrape into Hot 100 '64-5, but was washed away with the rest of the teen idols by the British Invasion, though he had a fresher voice than most. Toured revival circuit, remade '60 hit "Sway' '76 in disco style. |