Singer and actor Bobby Rydell, who rose to fame in the 1960s with his single "Wild One" and his appearance in the movie Bye Bye Birdie, has died at age 79, according to TMZ.
Robert Luis Ridarelli was born in Philadelphia on April 26, 1942, and eventually changed his name to Bobby Rydell in the 1950s as he was starting his music career and playing throughout the Philadelphia area.
He signed to Cameo Records and his first big hit, "We Got Love," came in 1959 and reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, as it spent 17 weeks on the charts. He followed that up with "Wild One" in 1960, which spent 16 weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Both songs sold more than a million copies and earned gold status.
In 1963, Rydell released "Wildwood Days," as it peaked at No. 17 on the charts and stayed there for nine weeks, putting a spotlight on the famous New Jersey beach.
Rydell then appeared in Bye Bye Birdie in the same year alongside Dick Van Dyke and Ann-Margret.
The Philadelphia native went on to have 34 different singles crack the Top 100 list throughout the 1960s, and was named one of the top artists of the decade.
Rydell's success even earned him his own street in South Philly nearby where he grew up.
A person close to Rydell told TMZ that he was recently diagnosed with pneumonia, and that is believed to be the cause of death at this time.
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