Teen Idols of the 50s and 60s Then and Now: 7 Are Still With Us

They sang Venus, Tiger, Runaround Sue, Johnny Angel and The Twist, and teenagers covered their bedroom walls with their pictures. Of the fifteen teen idols in this video, seven are still with us in 2026: Paul Petersen (81), Fabian (83), Chubby Checker (85), Frankie Avalon (86), Dion (87), Connie Stevens (88) and Bobby Vinton (91). Where they came from, the songs and films that made them famous, and how their stories went on: Bobby Darin, Ricky Nelson, Annette Funicello, Bobby Vee, Tab Hunter, Bobby Rydell, James Darren and Shelley Fabares, and the seven idols still here today. Ages are as of October 2026. In memory of Shelley Fabares (1944–2026). Every date and fact in this video was checked against reliable sources (AP, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, CBS, NBC, NPR, Wikipedia). CHAPTERS 0:00 Seven are still with us 0:55 American Bandstand and the Hot 100 1:33 Bobby Darin (1936–1973) 3:03 Ricky Nelson (1940–1985) 4:34 Annette Funicello (1942–2013) 6:04 Bobby Vee (1943–2016) 7:14 Tab Hunter (1931–2018) 8:28 Bobby Rydell (1942–2022) 9:44 James Darren (1936–2024) 10:54 Shelley Fabares (1944–2026) 12:04 The seven still with us 12:18 Paul Petersen (81) 13:09 Fabian (83) 14:13 Chubby Checker (85) 15:20 Frankie Avalon (86) 16:26 Dion (87) 17:33 Connie Stevens (88) 18:29 Bobby Vinton (91) 19:41 Forever young CREDITS Photos: Wikimedia Commons. Public domain studio, network, record-label, magazine and press publicity photos, U.S. government photos and Nationaal Archief / Anefo photos (CC0), plus: Ricky Nelson (1963), Annette Funicello (1965), Tab Hunter (1956): Los Angeles Times photographic archive, UCLA Library, CC BY 4.0 Bobby Vee (2002): John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com, CC BY-SA 2.0 Tab Hunter (2008, 2010): Greg Hernandez, CC BY 2.0 Bobby Rydell (1998): Alan C. Teeple, CC BY-SA 3.0 James Darren (2015): Rob DiCaterino, CC BY 2.0 Shelley Fabares (1993): Alan Light, CC BY 2.0 Paul Petersen (2015): Gazebo, CC BY-SA 3.0 Fabian (1983): Lonnie Lee / Starlite International Pty Ltd, CC BY 4.0 Chubby Checker (2008): Phil Konstantin, CC BY-SA 3.0 Chubby Checker (2010): Greg Hernandez, CC BY 2.0 Frankie Avalon: John Mathew Smith & www.celebrity-photos.com, CC BY-SA 2.0 Dion (2006): Ed Kaz, CC BY 2.5 Connie Stevens (2007): Ford Motor Company, CC BY 2.0 Bobby Vinton: Marioriera, CC BY-SA 3.0 Bobby Vee (1962, 1964), Chubby Checker (1964): Anefo / Nationaal Archief, CC0 Some black-and-white photos were colorized and enhanced for this video. Footage (public domain / Creative Commons): Public domain film trailers via Internet Archive: Here Come the Nelsons (1952), Gidget (1959), Because They're Young (1960), Twist All Night (1961), Hell Is for Heroes (1962), Panic in Year Zero! (1962), Beach Party (1963), Bikini Beach (1964), Beach Blanket Bingo (1965) Public domain film via Wikimedia Commons: Rock, Rock, Rock! (1956) Universal Newsreel (National Archives, public domain): the Beatles arrive in the United States, February 1964 Prelinger Archives (Internet Archive, public domain): Teenage Road-e-o (1957), New Stars in Stereo (RCA Victor), A Visit to Wurlitzer Rock-Ola jukebox: Holger.Ellgaard, CC BY-SA 3.0; Seeburg 201 jukebox: Evan0512, CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) Music: original score created for Music Legends Then & Now. #ThenAndNow #TeenIdols #Oldies