Rydell loves being a “Golden Boy”

By Robert  DiGiacomo

For At The Shore

“Golden Boys” Frankie Avalon, Fabian (Forte) and Bobby Rydell not only put Philadelphia on the early rock map, but they helped usher in the era of the teen idol.

Starting with Avalon, the three were “discovered” on the streets of South Philadelphia and groomed to be stars, charting dozens of hits, appearing in movies and TV shows, and fueling a teen-focused music craze that continues today.

Despite their accomplishments, Rydell, who appears with Avalon and Fabian this weekend at Harrah’s doesn’t take their longevity for granted.

When we first put this show together back in 1985, my manager, Dick Fox, said, “Let’s put tighter a show with three Italian kids from South Philadelphia who were teen idols” Rydell recalls. “I said “How long can this last?” Oh my God, it’s been 20 years, and people are still coming to see the show because they love us.”

The show offers a nostalgic trip back to the pre-Beatles ear of the late 1950s and the early 1960s when Rydell, Fabian and Avalon were among the first teen idols.

The trio plans to open with their rendition of “American Bandstand”, the theme from Dick Clark’s born-in-Philadelphia rock ‘n’ roll dance show, followed by a solo set for each performer and his hits: Rydell (“Kissin’ Time”, “Sway” and “Volare”); Fabian(“Turn Me Loose”, “Hound Dog Man” “I’m a Man” and “Tiger”) and Avalon (“Cupid”. “Venus” and “Dede Dinah”).

The three will close the show with a tribute to their early rock peers who have died, including Elvis Presley, Bobby Daren, Ricky Nelson and Bill Haley.

Their onstage chemistry can be traced back to their roots in South Philadelphia . Rydell and Fabian grew up a half-block away from each other, while Avalon lived two blocks away, and all attended South Philadelphia High School .

“Frankie was the first guy to make it out of Philly, Fabian was the second, and I was the last one,” Rydell says.

Born Robert Ridarelli, Rydell actually started his career in the early 1950s when he was about 10. He landed an appearance on “Paul Whiteman’s TV-Teen Club where he won a talent contest for his skills as an impressionist.

But Rydell’s talents weren’t limited to asking people laugh-he also was becoming an accomplished drummer. His interest in percussion stemmed from the time his father took him to see the Benny Goodman Orchestra, with Gene Krupa on drums, at the Earle Theater.

“I said to my father, That’s what I want to do-I want to be Gene Krupa” Rydell recalls.

Making the rounds of Philadelphia venues like the CR Club, Rydell also sang when he performed. In early 1959, with Avalon and Fabian already established as rock stars, the 16 year old Rydell signed a contract with Cameo Records, Still, he wasn’t exactly an overnight success.

“I had one, two, three records for Cameo that all bombed” Rydell says.

Then in the summer of 1959, they wrote a song called ‘Kissin’ Time’ that became my first hit. The rest is all history.”

From there, Rydell went on to score 15 Top 20 hits, including three million-sellers.

“My signature song is ‘Volare’-that’s my walk on music and my walk off music, he says. “One of my favorite records was a song called ‘Forget Him’ written by Tony Hatch. I recorded the song in England back in ’62 or’63. That was my last million seller.”

Unlike Avalon, who added to is fame with his string of popular beach movies with Annetter Funicello, and Fabian, who costarred with screen legends John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart, Rydell only had one shot at the big screen: playing Ann-Margret’s boyfriend in the musical, “Bye Bye Birdie”. But he did appear in TV shows like “Make Room for Daddy”, “Combat” and “The Red Skelton Show”.

“I wish I could have done more”, he says of his acting career.

Rydell also stayed close to home despite making it big-he still lives in the Philadelphia suburbs.

“I’ve been a season ticket holder for the Eagles since 1963”, he says proudly. “Frankie Avalon always says to me, ‘Why don’t you move out to the West Coast? I say, ‘Frank, by the time I move out to the West Coast, your property is going to be oceanfront with the mudslides.

“He says, ‘What about in the wintertime when it gets cold?’ I say, ‘I can always turn up the heat.’

“I love it here.”