- Reviews:
- Bobby's Debut at the Copacabana
- June, 1961
Thanks to Doug for providing me with these great vintage reviews.
VARIETY
NEW ACTS
BOBBY RYDELL
Songs
55 Min
Copacabana, NY
Don't knock the jukboxes. Occasionally the disk machine will serve as a steping-off point
for a singer like Bobby Rydell, and that helps to cover up for a lot of noise that's
thrown out of the grooves these days.
In an estimation of the long-range value of some of today's rock and roll teenage
favorites, a major record company exec recently said that some of them will be around for
some time to come because they have a "sense of career." Rydell, a bright-eyed
cleancut 19-year-old has that "sense of career" and that should develop
importantly in the variety media in years to come.
Right now he is a teenager's teenager. His style is packed with rhythym and bounce and his
"Nice boy next door" demeanor is quite winning. Even the adults realize
this and it works to his advantage.
Rydell, who has been clicking on the Cameo label for a little over two years, has been
working hard to develop this turn. Break in points at the Three Rivers, Syracuse, and the
Casino Royal, Washington, have given him a "working live" savy that most kids
who come to a recording studio don't have.
Its in the singing department that hes at his best and he pours out plenty of it. His
disclike "Sway," "Wild One" and "Volare" of course, pull big
mitts, but songs like "Ol Man River" and "Mammy" and a
"Gigi" medley get strong reception too. Noel sherman has given him lots of
strong special matierial to work with, especially in a rib of the "good old songs'
"MairzyDoats", "Caledonia," and "Open the Door Richard."
The mixture of teen-pegged stuff and adult handling shows that his manager, Frankie Day,
is steering him in the right direction.
VARIETY
COPACABANA NY
Bobby Rydell, Larry Daniels, Bill Kennedy, Barbara Dodd, Copa Girls,
Paul Shelly and Frank Marti Bands; $5.50 minimum, $6.00 weekends.
Nobody else seems to count at the Copa this season but Bobby Rydell. The fact that the
perennial production numbers were dispensed with for the late show opening night Thursday
(22) because of the overload of tables on the dancing floor, attests to the youngster's
pull.
The promsters will fill up plenty of tables here during Rydell's two-week stay. But the
19-year old has what it takes to build as a performer, with a long-range pull to apeal to
the business-suit crowd as well as the white jacketed end-of-school celebrators.
THE MUSIC REPORTER
RYDELL A SMASH AT NEW YORK COPA OPENING
Bobby Rydell proved himself to be the great talent we all know he is with a sensational
opeining at the Copacabana her in New York on June 22nd...holding the audience spellbound
for 47 minutes he sang his way thru the hearts of a packed room who refused to let him off
stage...Weaving his string of hits through some special material and throwing in a
hilarious impersonation routine, doing takeoffs on Red Skelton's Clem Kadiddlehopper,
Frank Fontaine's John L. C. Savoney and a tribute to Bobby Darin with his BILL BAILEY,
Rydell finally left the stage admist a standing ovation...something rarely given by this
hard-bitten New York crowd...and recieved the same ovation all the way up to his dressing
room from the employees of the club and just about everyone he passed ...a must act to see
if you are anywhere around the city.