Rydell, whose real name was Robert Louis Ridarelli, was a talented musician who became best known for his vocal abilities, but also knew his way around a drum kit. Before making a go of it as a solo singer, Rydell played drums in a band that also featured Frankie Avalon — who went on to have successful acting and music careers in his own right — on trumpet.
Rydell's break as a solo artist came with his 1959 song "Kissin' Time," which he recorded when he was just 17 years old (via AllMusic). He was known for a persona that was a stark contrast to what many would consider a typical rockstar. Rydell had a trio of traits that The New York Times described as a "romantic voice, cute face, and regular-guy personality" which all served him well over his entire career.
The height of that career came in a strange period for rock and pop music. 1959 was the year Elvis was overseas in the military, and the same year Buddy Holly's career came to an abrupt end when he died in a plane crash. The next seismic shift didn't come until the Beatles arrived in America in 1964, and in the interim teen idols like Rydell and Frankie Avalon hit their strides.
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