Bobby Rydell: Teen Idol On The Rocks: A Tale of Second Chances

202 Pages·2016·8.11 MB·English

by  Bobby Rydell

“Bobby—my dear friend. A man for all seasons who shares his gifts with us, and
we are all so grateful.”
—Ann-Margret
“From Philly to Vegas, from Wildwood to Hollywood, and from Cameo to the
Copa, the Bobby Rydell story reads like an Academy Award-winning movie.
Both Sinatras, Sr. and Jr., recognized Robert as the best of the boy singers of his
day. He’s been up and down … over and out, but still remains today at the top of
his profession. You can call him a STAR. I call him my friend.”
—Sid Mark
(Host/producer of nationally syndicated “Sounds of Sinatra”)
“Bobby and I have been friends forever, and I thought I knew everything there
was to know about him—until I read this wonderful book. Great insight into my
friend’s life. Love the book and love you Bobby.”
—James Darren
“A true life story about the ups and downs of one of the most talented people
I’ve known. His tell-all story is honest and revealing to his many fans around the
world. As your friend for 60 years plus, I congratulate you … you’re one hell of
a man. Thanks for sharing your captivating life experiences. Your true friend and
fan.”
—Frankie (Cheech) Avalon
“Teen Idol On The Rocks is a must read for anybody who loves music. Bobby
shows us that we can all come through adversity when you allow love,
friendship, and music into your life. It’s a wonderful book, written by a
wonderful singer.”
—Steve Lawrence
“The first ‘troubadour/singer’ to gain true fame was a guy named Al Jolson,
nearly 100 years ago. Since then, they have come by the decade: Vallee,
Columbo, Crosby, Sinatra, Como, Damone, Boone, Lawrence, Darin, and—in a
different idiom—Frankie Laine, Johnnie Ray, and even Elvis Presley. To be
such an artist takes more sweat, strain, intense devotion, and dedication than
most people can conceive of. But Bobby Rydell is that type of artist. His name
holds an honored place on the list. I’ve had the privilege of knowing Bob for
many decades, so I’d like to say a few facts about Bob as I see him today: His
voice is pure because his heart is pure; he has dedicated himself to a lifetime of
developing, honing, refining, and sharpening his craft to a total state of
excellence that is unparalleled in the music industry; and at the same time, he is
—and always has been—a good and gentle man. I am pleased to call him friend.
Hang in there Bobby!”
—Frank Sinatra, Jr.
“I’ve known Bobby Ridarelli forever, going back to the Paul Whiteman show,
long before he became a superstar. There was no doubt in my mind back then
that it would happen. He had that rare talent, not only as a singer and musician,
but also in his natural flair for comedy. It would be just a matter of time. I’ve
seen him go through the good years, the rough years, the healthy years, and there
is one thing you can say about Bobby: He is truly a survivor. In this book you’ll
hear firsthand about how it all happened. Bobby knows that what keeps us going
in show business is the audience, and his ability to connect with his audience is
second to none.”
—Jerry Blavat (The Geator with the Heator)
“It’s like Bobby is sitting next to you telling his story. Inspirational, vivid,
spirited, and as we all expected, heartwarming. He was, and will always be,
family. Read it and smile.”
—Cousin Brucie Morrow (Broadcaster, Sirius XM)
“The talent of Bobby Darin and Bobby Rydell are absolute equals in my mind,
with an edge toward Rydell. I’ve worked with a lot of comedic talent throughout
my career, and there’s no one funnier than Bobby. His staying power is
incredible! When I watch him on stage, I’m in awe. I tried singing like him once
and I was in traction for two months. It is always an honor to be on the same
stage with him.”
—Fabian Forte
“For the past six decades, Bobby has continued to perform his great hits with the
same energy and youthful sounding voice. But at this stage of his life, the love of
his craft becomes more apparent as he displays his interpretive skills singing the
Great American Songbook. His musicality has always been evident, but now a
sense of wisdom and zest for life shines through, whether he’s swinging a
standard or caressing the lyrics of a ballad. I’ve always been a fan, but more
importantly, I’m proud to have him as a pal.”
—Dennis Bono
(The Dennis Bono Show, Live from South Point Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada)
“I remember first meeting Bobby Rydell on the Caravan of Stars tour—upbeat
guy, electrifying, uplifting, filled the room with energy and joy. Then I heard
him sing!!! Crazy good. Man, this guy’s in the pocket like nobody else—
definitely a great rhythm singer. I said I could be this guy’s friend for sure. Well,
six decades later, I can say we have never had an argument. I attribute that to
him. I still love his company; he’s still got it.”
—Dion DiMucci
“I first met Bobby back in 1960 and I was taken by his kindness and talent. His
new book tells you who he really is and covers his personal trials and triumphs,
his ups and downs, and his victories and failures. It’s a great read!”
—“Little Anthony” Gourdine
(of Little Anthony and the Imperials)

Copyright © 2016 by Bobby Rydell and Allan Slutsky Published by
Doctor Licks Publishing
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
ISBN: 978-0-9973851-0-6
eISBN: 978-0-9973851-1-3
Printed in the United States of America Cover and Interior Design: GKS Creative Back Cover Photo: Clay
Hereth
Back Cover Synopsis: Susan Whitall
Book Production and Project Management: The Cadence Group Editing Credits: Ruth Fecych (principal
editor) and Joanne Slutsky, Sue Whitall, Linda J. Hoffman (Ridarelli), Linda Ferrino (Hoffman), Jim
Gorecki, Sam Slutsky, Rachel Slutsky, and Craig Weiland helped with additional editing.
All photos are from the private collections of Bobby Rydell and Linda Ferrino (Hoffman), except for the
photo on page 153 which came from Joe Nero. Best efforts were made to find the original photographers on
the remaining five-decades-old photos.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information retrieval or storage
system, without the prior written consent of the publisher.
Library of Congress Information is on file with the Publisher.
In memory of:
Camille Ridarelli
Adrio “Ott” Ridarelli
and Julia
Dedicated to the two Lindas in my life:
Linda J. Hoffman (Ridarelli)
and Linda Ferrino (Hoffman)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword
Intro & Vamp
Timpani Roll & Vamp
Verse 1
Chorus 1
Verse 2
Chorus 2
The Bridge
Verse 3
Chorus 3
Coda
A Few More (For The Road)
Discography
On TV
Filmography
Acknowledgments