One of his most famous songs may be titled “Forget Him,” but fans of Bobby Rydell are very unlikely to do just that.
The singer, actor and 1960s teen idol visited The Vault last week to hold a Q&A with fans and sign copies of his autobiography. Rydell talked to the crowd with a warm familiarity like they were old friends reminiscing about good memories.
Almost every table was packed with longtime fans eager to hear stories and get autographs for his autobiography, “Bobby Rydell: Teen Idol on the Rocks: A Tale of Second Chances.”
Born in 1942, Rydell was only 17 when his first big hit, “Kissin’ Time,” was played on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand” Rydell referred to Clark as the “the nicest person” and “an absolute perfectionist.”
After the show helped Rydell gain traction, he followed up with “Wild One,” which peaked at №2 on the U.S. Billboard charts, where it remains as the highest-charting hit of his career. Rydell sold more than 25 million records during his career.
“I said, how long is this going to last?” Rydell said of his fame. “A year, two years tops.” It’s 2017, and he’s still performing on stage.
Rydell’s list of hits is so extensive, even he doesn’t seem to have it memorized. A fan asked why he never released a song he previously performed called “Please Don’t Be Mad,” which Rydell called the only doo-wop song he ever recorded.
“It was released, it just never did anything,” Rydell insisted, until the audience pointed out it wasn’t. The song is on the LP “Bobby Sings, Bobby Swings,” which is only available on vinyl.
Rydell responded to every question with quick wit and usually a chuckle-inducing anecdote, but he made sure to point out not all of his life has been easy. He talked about how he succumbed to alcoholism when his childhood sweetheart and first wife, Camille Quattrone, died of breast cancer in 2003.
“There’s a reason the book is titled ‘On the Rocks,’” he explained in a brief moment of seriousness, before returning to his light banter with the audience.
The audience asked about Rydell’s life and his interactions with other celebrities. He recalled stories of working with drummer Buddy Rich, and a missed opportunity where he didn’t take a picture with The Beatles before they got famous.
The event was somewhat a reunion of sorts. Many attendees recounted past experiences they had with Rydell during their childhood. One man revealed they were actually distant relatives, and one woman recalled seeing Rydell playing on the streets of South Philadelphia, where Rydell grew up.
“Next to the movie theater and the ice cream parlor,” Rydell said nostalgically. “I wonder if those places are still there.”
Other hits include “Sway,” “Volare” and “Swingin’ School.” Overall, he had 19 songs chart in the U.S. Billboard Top 40. He also appeared in the 1963 film adaptation of “Bye Bye Birdie” as Hugo Peabody.
Well into his 70s, Rydell is still performing. He will next be in the area July 21, where he will perform with The Golden Boys at the Sugarhouse Casino.
