Bobby Rydell passes on

Another major music figure of the early sixties has died, this time the 'wild one' himself Bobby Rydell at the age of 79. Bobby won a talent show in his home town of Philadelphia in 1950 and appeared on 'Paul Whiteman's TV Teen Club' before signing a record deal with Cameo records. His first hit was 'Kissin' Time' in 1959 and he followed this up with a string of pop hits including 'We Got Love', 'Wild One' (his biggest hit reaching the number four position in the UK), 'Swinging School' (said to be an infleunce on Lennon and McCartney when writing 'She Loves You'), a cover of 'Volare', 'Sway', 'Good Time Baby', 'That Old Black Magic', 'I've Got Bonnie', 'I'll Never Dance Again', 'Forget Him', 'The Cha Cha Cha', 'Wildwood Days' and 'Butterfly Baby'. He recorded several duets with fellow Cameo Parkway artist Chubby Checker and appeared in the movie version of 'Bye Bye Baby' with Ann Margret and Dick Van Dyke. In 1964 he signed for Capitol but by this time the British invasion had taken its toll on American solo acts and a later move to Reprise failed to bring him any significant hits. In later years he toured with fellow Philadelphians Frankie Avalon and Fabian under the name of the Golden Boys. Bobby's hits were well produced and his distinctive voice helped make them highly commercial yet he suffered from being accused by hardcore rock fans of being one of the 'Bobbies' who helped to kill original rock and roll. Despite that he made his mark and it's no coincidence that the high school in 'Grease' was named Rydell High. Bobby's records made regular appearances in my personal top ten in the early sixties with 'Good Time Baby', 'That Old Black Magic', 'I've Got Bonnie' and 'I'll Never Dance Again' making the top three. RIP.

Another recent death is that of New Orleans club owner and performer Chris Owens at the age of 89. Chris was a NOLA legend whose club on Bourbon Street was something of a landmark with its eye-catching photos of Chris in full flow. I remember seeing Chris at my first Jazzfest in 1989 (see photo).