"Rydell High School" in the movie musical, Grease (1978), is named in his honor.
Bandleader Paul Whiteman, with whose band he worked, renamed him Rydell because he couldn't pronounce Ridarelli.
Discovered as a youth by Paul Whiteman and his local "Teen Club" amateur TV show, staying as a regular with the program for three years.
Honored by the City of Philadelphia when the 2400 block of South 11th St. was named Bobby Rydell Boulevard. The event was celebrated with a parade, a string band and Bobby arriving in a 1950 pink Cadillac. The mayor attended along with thousands of people. A huge block party followed dedication ceremonies.
In 2000, he put out his first album in over two decades, comprised of remakes of old hits.
In the 1980s he teamed with fellow Philadelphians Frankie Avalon and Fabian to tour as "The Golden Boys of Bandstand" which included a TV special.
Inducted into Philadelphia's prestigious "Walk of Fame" where he was one of the first 10 inductees to have a star on Broad Street.
Played drums by age six and, at 15, was a drummer for a Philly rock-and-roll combo group called "Rocco and His Saints" that also featured Frankie Avalon on trumpet.
Since 1985, he has toured on-and-off in the "Now and Then" nostalgia show with fellow former Philly teen idols Fabian and Frankie Avalon.
The "British Invasion" of 1964 may have hampered his career as a 'Teen Idol", but he did have modest chart success with his cover of "World Without Love (Please lock me away)" (1964). He later rerecorded "Sway" (1976) with a disco flavor.
Three major labels turned him down until he was signed up by Cameo-Parkway. He scored 19 'Top 30' hits from 1959 through 1964, including "Kissin' Time" (#11), "Volare" (#4), "Sway" (#4), "Swingin' School" (#5), "Wild One" (#2), and "Forget Him" (#4).
Unsold pilot: Starred with Dennis Crosby and Lindsay Crosby in "Swingin' Together", in which they played a struggling '60s rock group. [1963]