(AP Photo/B. Vartan Boyajian, File)

(Philadelphia, Pa.) Singer and teen idol of the early 1960s Bobby Rydell has died at age 79. A spokesperson said in a statement that Rydell died of complications from pneumonia yesterday at a hospital. Rydell got his big break in 1959 on “American Bandstand,” which was broadcast from his hometown of Philadelphia. His first hit, “Kissing Time,” quickly followed and the 17-year-old rocketed to stardom. Between 1959 and 1964, he had a string of nearly three dozen Top 40 hits including “Wild One,” “Volare” and “Wildwood Days.” He also had a major role opposite Ann-Margret in the 1963 film “Bye Bye Birdie.”
Local music legend Jimmie Ross posted about Rydell’s passing on his Facebook page yesterday saying that he is shocked by the passing of his longtime friend Bobby Rydell. Ross stated that him and Rydell recorded a song together called “It Must Be Love”