Trivia

"Rydell High School" in the movie musical, Grease (1978), is named in his honor.

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 the 1980s he teamed with fellow Philadelphians Frankie Avalon and Fabian to tour as "The Golden Boys of Bandstand" which included a TV special.

Bandleader Paul Whiteman, with whose band he worked, renamed him Rydell because he couldn't pronounce Ridarelli.

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.

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.

Bought a house for his parents in Lower Merion, Pennsylvania.

In both the Broadway musical drama Grease and the film Grease, the high school was named "Rydell High" after Rydell.

Touring Australia at the Crown Casino Melbourne and various RSL clubs in NSW and Queensland. (September 2007)

Rydell continued to tour throughout the remainder of his life, often with Frankie Avalon and Fabian; they performed under the name The Golden Boys.

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.

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).

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.

No specific song title is given in The Beatles Anthology, but Bob Spitz writes in The Beatles: The Biography that McCartney originally modeled "She Loves You" on the Rydell "answering song" called "Swingin' School" (and not "Forget Him", as is commonly cited).

In February 1961 he appeared at the Festival du Rock, at the Palais des Sports de Paris in Paris, France.

Inducted into Philadelphia's prestigious "Walk of Fame" where he was one of the first 10 inductees to have a star on Broad Street.

In 2000, he put out his first album in over two decades, comprised of remakes of old hits.

In January 2013, six months after double transplant surgery, Rydell returned to the stage in Las Vegas for a three night engagement to a sold out audience.

Rydell canceled a 2012 Australia tour because his health had deteriorated significantly and he was in need of urgent major surgery. On July 9, 2012, he underwent a double organ transplant to replace his liver and one kidney at Thomas Jefferson University in his hometown of Philadelphia.

Has two children one son: Robert Ridarelli, and one daughter: Jennifer Dulin and five grandchildren.

In the Oscar-winning film Green Book (2018), Rydell is portrayed in the opening scenes by actor Von Lewis.