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#Bobby Rydell, teen idol and ‘Volare’ singer, dead at 79

“Bobby Rydell, teen idol and ‘Volare’ singer, dead at 79”

Bobby Rydell, the 1960s teen heartthrob who appeared in the 1963 musical comedy “Bye Bye Birdie,” has died. He was 79.

According to Variety, the cause of death was pneumonia. He passed just weeks before he would have turned 80 on April 26.

The triple-threat from Philadelphia, born Robert Louis Ridarelli, was famous for such hip-swinging rock & roll hits as “Volare” and “Wild One,” and acted alongside Ann-Margret, Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh in the Oscar-nominated “Bye Bye Birdie.”

Ukee Washington of CBS3 in Philly shared the news with social media on Tuesday. “A Philly Music Legend … has passed on. Sending prayers of comfort, strength and love to the family and fans of ⁦Bobby Rydell,” he wrote on Twitter.

The lively shores of nearby Wildwood, New Jersey, were where Rydell was inspired to sing “Wildwood Days.” The hometown hero is now the namesake for several streets around both Philadelphia and Wildwood.

Bobby Rydell was a teen idol who dabbled in music, TV and film in his career.
Bobby Rydell was a teen idol whose career straddled music, TV and film.
Corbis via Getty Images

Bobby Rydell
Bobby Rydell toured with Philadelphia-based group The Golden Boys, alongside Frankie Avalon and Fabian, for most of his decades-long career.
Getty Images
Singers Bobby Vee (from left), Fabian and Bobby Rydell join Dick Clark on the ABC series "Dick Clark Presents the Rock & Roll Years" in 1973.
Singers Bobby Vee (from left), Fabian and Bobby Rydell join Dick Clark on the ABC series “Dick Clark Presents the Rock & Roll Years” in 1973.
Getty Images
Bobby Rydell poses for an undated portrait.
Bobby Rydell poses for an undated portrait.
Corbis via Getty Images

On his way to selling more than 25 million records, he would tour much of his career as part of The Golden Boys stage production, along with fellow Philadelphian teen idols Frankie Avalon and Fabian.

His impact on popular music would be felt for generations, as Paul McCartney reportedly credited Rydell’s “Swinging School” as the inspiration behind the Beatles’ “She Loves You.”

And Rydell High of the film “Grease” — that’s also a nod to Bobby.

In 2012, he underwent a double organ transplant to replace his liver and a kidney and was back on stage within six months.

Rydell’s cause of death was not reported.

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