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The 70-something singer spills the details of his turbulent life in his new book “Bobby Rydell ~ Teen Idol on the Rocks: A Tale of Second Chances.”
Rydell will sign copies of his book at at 6 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Greetings, a store located at 271G Livingston St.
Rydell penned the autobiography with the help of Grammy Award winning guitarist, music producer and author Allan Slutsky. It was put out by Doctor Licks Publishing. (Dr. Licks is Slutsky’s pen name.)
Born Robert Louis Ridarelli, the singer overcame his childhood on the rough-and-tumble streets of South Philly and rose to such heights that some have called him the Justin Bieber of the “Camelot” era.
Best known for his hits “Kissin’ Time," “Volare" and "Wild One," the singer’s many talents won him a role in the movie version of the musical comedy, “Bye Bye Birdie,” where he danced and sang as Kim MacAfee’s (Ann-Margret’s) nerdy boyfriend Hugo Peabody.
But he couldn’t stay the pompadoured boy-next-door forever -- eventually, heavy drinking, the loss of his first wife, Camille, to cancer and a major health scare took its toll, the book says. He later remarried.
Despite the dark days, Rydell never stopped working. Even a emergency double organ transplant in 2012 couldn’t keep him down.
He was a fixture on television variety shows and a headliner in casinos from Las Vegas to Atlantic City.
Now a grandfather, Rydell continues to maintain a concert touring schedule that would exhaust men half his age, according to media reports.
For more information on the bookstore, click here or call (201) 784-2665.
For Rydell’s upcoming performances, click here.
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