The Oct. 17 concert continues a tradition spanning more than two decades in the resort forever linked to Rydell and his enduring “Wildwood Days.”
WILDWOOD, N.J. — More than six decades after Bobby Rydell helped immortalize the Wildwoods in song, the foundation bearing his name is taking over one of the resort's longest-running celebrations of the music of his era.
The Wildwoods Oldies Spectacular returns Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. in the Starlight Ballroom at the Wildwoods Convention Center, but this year's show marks a significant change.
For the first time, the Bobby Rydell Foundation is producing the concert.
The show, which has been part of the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce's Oldies Weekend for more than two decades, will feature The Chiclettes, Jay Siegel & The Tokens, Clyde McPhatter's Drifters and The Trammps, with Tommy Cono serving as host.
For a resort with a musical history stretching from the big-band era through the birth of rock 'n' roll and doo-wop, putting the show in the hands of the Rydell Foundation carries particular significance.
Rydell and Wildwood Became Inseparable
Rydell, the Philadelphia-born teen idol whose hits included “Wild One,” “Volare” and “Forget Him,” developed a close connection to the Wildwoods long before recording the song that would permanently link his name with the resort.
The Wildwoods became his summer home as his career was taking off, and in 1963 he recorded “Wildwood Days.”
The upbeat song became so closely associated with the resort that the Wildwoods now consider it their anthem.
Rydell's connection remains visible throughout town. A large mural honoring him and “Wildwood Days” stands at Roberts Avenue and the Boardwalk, part of a series recognizing performers who played important roles in Wildwood's music history.
Rydell died in 2022 at age 79, but the foundation established in his name has continued working to preserve his musical legacy.
The nonprofit also supports music education programs and scholarships for students pursuing careers in music and raises money for organ-donation organizations.
Now that mission is becoming directly connected with one of Wildwood's established musical traditions.
A New Chapter for a Long-Running Show
The Bobby Rydell Foundation describes the 2026 Oldies Spectacular as the beginning of a “new chapter” for an event that has been part of Wildwood's fall calendar for more than 20 years.
And it comes during a particularly active year for the foundation in the resort.
Just one week before the Oldies Spectacular, the foundation will present the first Wildwood Days Festival on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Byrne Plaza.
That free event is designed around the nostalgia of Wildwood's musical and Boardwalk history.
The foundation is also producing the Wildwoods Holiday Spectacular at the Convention Center in December.
Taken together, the events are giving the Bobby Rydell Foundation an increasingly visible role in preserving and celebrating a part of Wildwood culture that stretches back generations.
Wildwood's Place in Music History
Rydell is only one part of that story.
Long before the Wildwoods became synonymous with doo-wop architecture and 1950s nostalgia, the resort was a regular stop for some of America's biggest entertainers.
Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Count Basie and Guy Lombardo were among the names associated with Wildwood during the big-band era.
Later came performers including Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Tony Bennett and others.
Wildwood also lays claim to several moments that became part of early rock 'n' roll history.
Bill Haley & His Comets performed “Rock Around the Clock” at Wildwood's HofBrau Hotel in 1954, while Chubby Checker has his own connection to the resort through performances of “The Twist.”
Like Rydell, both Haley and Checker are commemorated with murals around Wildwood.
Dick Clark also brought “American Bandstand” to Wildwood during the show's heyday — including appearances at the Starlight Ballroom, the same name now used for the room where this year's Oldies Spectacular will be held.
That history helps explain why an oldies concert in Wildwood is about more than nostalgia.
For decades, the music was part of the resort's identity.
Generations of Familiar Music
This year's performers represent several different chapters of that era.
Jay Siegel is associated with The Tokens, whose recording of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” became one of the best-known pop hits of the early 1960s.
The Drifters name traces back to the influential vocal group originally formed with Clyde McPhatter, while The Trammps became synonymous with the Philadelphia disco sound of the 1970s.
The Chiclettes perform a tribute to female artists across several generations, with music associated with performers ranging from The Supremes and Lesley Gore to Aretha Franklin and Donna Summer.
Together, the lineup stretches from doo-wop and early rock through soul, Motown and disco.
Keeping the Music Going
The Wildwoods Oldies Spectacular will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Wildwoods Convention Center, 4501 Boardwalk.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, with additional information available from the Bobby Rydell Foundation and the Wildwoods.
But this year's concert also represents something more than another night of oldies performances.
More than 60 years after Rydell sang about summer nights in Wildwood, the organization carrying his name is helping ensure that the music associated with those years continues to have a home at the Jersey Shore.
And in Wildwood, it's hard to imagine a more fitting place for it.
About the Author
Ava Hart
Ava Hart is a pop culture junkie and loves to share what's happening in Hollywood and what trends are taking the world by storm.
