From South Philly To Stardom, Bobby Rydell Shares Story In New Book
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Entertainer Bobby Rydell has been performing for six decades now and is still going strong.
Now, a tell-all autobiography about the former teen idol from South Philadelphia is out.
He was born Robert Ridarelli in 1942. He grew up in South Philadelphia and became a Rock n Roll teen idol in the late 50's and 1960's. He was a regular on American Bandstand
Rydell says he was very fortunate to work with some of the giants in the business like George Burns in Vegas:
"And when I was done, I would just stand in the wings every night and watch him. I just wanted to see how he would deliver a line,what his timing was."
He says he knew he had to be honest and tell all in the book, not just the good old days, but the difficult times too.
Like the loss of his first wife, Camille, after 36 years and the turbulent relationship with his mother.
He also talks about his alcoholism and the lifesaving double transplant in 2012.
"And I really didn't think I was going to make it," he says. "The good man upstairs said 'nahhh I'm going to keep you around a couple more years at least'."
The book is Bobby Rydell: Teen Idol On The Rocks: A Tale of Second Chances.
