American singer Bobby Rydell had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his death.
The singer who was considered to be a teen idol in the early 1960s has died on April 5. He was 79. He died due to complications of pneumonia.
The singing legend has gained much recognition for his contribution to rock and roll music. He is also known for featuring in the hit musical film “Bye Bye Birdie” in the year 1963. His most popular songs are “Wild One” and “Volare” (cover).
Let us explore more details about the Philadelphia-born singer including his career, personal life, and more.
Who was Bobby Rydell, the ’60s teen idol?
Rydell made it to Billboard 100 in 1959 with his first song. He was then unstoppable and had a successful career by having 34 top 100 hits. He also achieved 25 million album sales.
Early Life
Bobby Rydell was born Robert Louis Ridarelli in the year 1942 in Philadelphia. He had a deep passion for music when he was very young. He performed in many bands in the Philadelphia area. He used to even perform in several nightclubs at a young age.
Journey towards a successful career
Rydell participated in Paul Whiteman’s TV Teen Club series and emerged as the winner in 1950. He then became a regular in the series. He went on to sign a recording contract with Cameo Records. After a few unsuccessful songs, he finally delivered a superhit song, Kissin’ Time, which topped the charts in 1959.
He then delivered his second blockbuster hit “We Got Love” in 1959. It was his first album which sold more than a million copies and obtained gold disc status. It spent around 4 months on the billboard hot 100 and topped at sixth position.
Rydell had a pleasant voice, stage presence, and nice-guy demeanor. He delivered many super hit singles in his career spanning more than five decades like “Kissin’ Time”, “We Got Love”, “Wild One”, “Swingin’ School”, “Volare”, “Sway”, “Good Time Baby”, “That Old Black Magic”, “Jingle Bell Rock”, “I’ve Got Bonnie”, “The Cha-Cha-Cha”, “Wildwood Days”, among others.
In the year 1985, he collaborated with his old pals, Avalon and Fabian for what they initially thought would be some shows. They called themselves “The Golden Boys of Bandstand”. Their shows were very successful so much so that the trio performed in more than 300 shows across the nation for three years.
Rydell who never felt of himself as a celebrity said in an interview given to The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2003: “I never thought of myself as a celebrity. I was just a guy who went out there and worked. I was not really a rock-and-roll singer. That’s what you had to do to make it. I’m an American Songbook guy.”
Personal Life
Rydell married childhood sweetheart Camille Quattrone Ridarelli in 1968. The couple shared two kids and spent 35 years together until her death in 2003. Ridarelli passed away because of breast cancer.
In 2008, he started dating a well-known cardiac sonographer, Linda Hoffman. They tied the knot in 2009. The couple had been happily married for more than 12 years until Rydell passed away on April 5th, 2022.
Rydell lived in Penn Valley, Pennsylvania for more than five decades in the same house from 1963 to 2013.
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