RYDELL NEVER STOPPED SINGING
By: Tim Ryan/Star Bulletin
A woman poses a question on the Internet: "Is Bobby Rydell still alive? And where is he buried?"
Shocking news to the teen idol of the '50's and '60's who performs at the Blaisdell Arena Saturday night. Rydell, of pompadour fame, never stopped performing.
"Wait a sec, I'll pinch myself to see if I'm dead," Rydell says, laughing in a telephone interview. "Ouch! Guess the ticker is still ticking."
Born Robert Louis Ridarelli, in Philadelphia, Rydell probably was the most musically talented of the clean-cut idols, ending up with some 30 hits - "Wild One," "Volare," "The Cha Cha Cha," and "Kissin' Time" among them.
"I always wanted to be an entertainer," said the 55-year-old grandfather. "I love comedy and even as a young kid I'd watch television, then imitate everyone I saw."
Rydell first performed as a drummer at age 7; at 9 he debuted on Paul Whiteman's "Teen Club" amateur television show. He was the show's drummer for three years. Then there was the South Philadelphia regional influence.
"Fabian (Forte) lived a half block from me and Frankie (Avalon) was a block and a half away," Rydell said of the threesome he now tours with as "The Golden Boys of Bandstand."
True, performers from the south and southwest played the main role in the rise of rock during the 1950's, but "South Philly" produced more than a few early stars. Their numbers also included Mario Lanza, Joey Bishop and Lola Falona.
Rydell still lives just a few miles outside South Philadelphia with his wife of 29 years. He performs with Fabian and Avalon dozens of times each year and at least that much solo. "I love it, I love the audiences," Rydell said.
Rydell first performed in Hawaii in 1960 at the old Civic Auditorium with Chubby Checker and Dodie Stevens. Ticket prices were $1.45; the program 25 cents. He returned four years later to open the HIC - now the Blaisdell Arena - headlining 10 acts, including Teddy Randazzo.
Rydell calls Hawaii "Heaven on earth" and always stays at the former Kahala Hilton, "one of my favorite places in the world." When he married his long time sweetheart, Camille, the couple honeymooned for a week at a private Diamond Head beach house arranged by promoter, Tom Moffatt. The fare was $100 per day, including a 24-hour maid. It was magnificent, with a private beach, private pool and seven bedrooms. We slept in every one of them," Rydell said. I would bet my wife got pregnant in there in the house, or the beach or the pool. And I owe it all to Uncle Tom."
Rydell's ambition in the '60's was to be an all-round entertainer, so he branched into films, co-starring in the Dick Van Dyke and Ann-Margret film "Bye Bye Birdie." Then he moved successfully into the cabaret circuit. "There's not one thing in my career that I haven't done except a Broadway show, which would be the ultimate," Rydell said.
The arrival of the British groups in 1964 ended his days on the charts.
"Like anything else in life you go through peaks and valleys. Thank God I was blessed with some talent and talent is a constant. I kept working, maybe for a while it wasn't the greatest work in the world, but it paid the bills."
Just how important is Rydell to the beginning of rock? The high school in the hit '70's musical "Grease" is named after him, Rydell High School.
But he's also known for being a nice guy. He repeatedly talks about the importance of his family and his first manager, Frankie Day, who is in Hawaii for Saturday's concert.
"My family has always been the base for my values," he said. "I was brought up with warmth and to respect and love people."
"Sure the audience come to hear me sing hit records, but they also hear a lot about my family. That hits home with everyone. It puts us on the same level and it's what Bobby Rydell is all about."
One time teen idol is as busy as ever
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Honolulu, Hawaii
February 12, 1998
