Famed actor and musician Bobby Rydell has died of pneumonia at the age of 79, mere weeks away from his 80th birthday. Rydell’s longtime friend and radio icon Jerry Blavat broke the news of Rydell’s death.

Rydell rose to fame as a singer in the 1960s with famous songs such as "Wild One," "We Got Love," and his cover of "Volare." Through the years, Rydell created hit songs that landed in various spots in the Billboard Top 100, toured the globe, and even influenced The Beatles.

Rydell’s best-known cinematic credit was "Bye Bye Birdie" in 1963, and he was known as the man who, “told the best stories, did the best impersonations, and was the nicest guy." His legacy will be felt every time "Grease" is performed, as the musical's Rydell High School is named after him.