Bobby Rydell, Pop Singer and Star of ‘Bye Bye Birdie,’ Dies at 79
thewrap.comconfirmed to Philadelphia’s WPVI-TV. He was 79.According to a statement posted to Rydell’s official Facebook page, the Philadelphia native died at Jefferson Hospital in his hometown from pneumonia complications unrelated to COVID.
He was days away from celebrating his 80th birthday and was scheduled to perform at The Golden Nugget in Atlantic City in June.Typifying the “teen idol” sensation of the 1950s and pre-British invasion the early ’60s, Rydell made a name for himself with his first hit song, 1959’s “Kissin’ Time.” That year, he signed with Cameo/Parkway Records.
Other popular tunes from this era included “We Got Love, “Little Bitty Girl,” “Swingin’ School,” and “Ding-a-Ling.” Hit song “Wild One” reached the No.
2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, while his cover of “Volare” landed at No. 4.In 1963, the same year he released Top 20 hits “Wildwood Days” and “Forget Him,” Rydell landed a lead role in George Sidney’s definitive adaptation of the 1950s satirical musical film “Bye Bye Birdie.” Rydell was cast as Hugo Peabody, the jealous boyfriend of Kim McAfee and a superfan of the Elvis Presley stand-in Conrad Birdie who wins a contest to meet him before he’s drafted to the war.
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