Marty Wilde facts for kids

Marty Wilde, whose real name is Reginald Leonard Smith, was born on April 15, 1939. He is an English singer and songwriter. Marty Wilde was one of the first British pop stars to be inspired by American rock and roll music.

He had several hit songs in the 1950s and 1960s. These included "Endless Sleep", "Sea of Love", and "Bad Boy". Later, he also wrote hit songs for other artists. He is the father of famous pop singer Kim Wilde. He helped write many of her hit songs, like "Kids in America", with his son Ricky. Marty Wilde still performs and records music today.

Marty Wilde's Music Journey

Early Life and Start in Music

Marty Wilde was born in Blackheath, London. In 1957, he was performing at a club in London. A music manager named Larry Parnes discovered him there.

Larry Parnes was known for giving his artists new stage names. This is how Reginald Smith became Marty Wilde.

Becoming a Rock and Roll Star

From 1958 to 1959, Marty Wilde was one of the top rock and roll singers in Britain. Other popular singers at that time included Tommy Steele and Cliff Richard. Marty Wilde's band was called The Wildcats.

Many talented musicians played in The Wildcats. Some of them later joined famous bands like the Shadows.

TV Shows and Family Life

Marty Wilde often appeared on popular TV shows. These included the BBC show 6.5 Special and ITV's Oh Boy! and Boy Meets Girls. On these shows, he met Joyce Baker, who was part of the Vernons Girls.

They fell in love and got married. After his marriage, his popularity as a teen idol changed.

New Paths in Entertainment

Marty Wilde started exploring other areas of entertainment. He acted in musicals, like Bye Bye Birdie in London's West End. He also appeared in several films.

He found great success as a songwriter in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He worked with songwriter Ronnie Scott. Together, they wrote "Jesamine" for the Casuals. They also wrote "I'm a Tiger" for Lulu and "Ice in the Sun" for Status Quo.

Later Career and Family Collaborations

Marty Wilde tried to join the glam rock music trend. He released some songs under different names, but they were not very successful. After that, he started working with his son, Ricky Wilde.

Like many artists from his time, Marty Wilde continued to perform. He often joined nostalgia tours across the UK. In 2007, he celebrated 50 years in the music business. He went on a UK tour with his youngest daughter, Roxanne Wilde. He also released a collection of his greatest hits called Born To Rock And Roll. This album included a song he sang with his daughter Kim Wilde.

In recent years, he has continued to tour with other famous artists. In 2020, his album Running Together reached number 75 on the UK Albums Chart. His daughters Kim and Roxanne, and son Ricky, helped with this album. This means Marty Wilde has had success on the UK charts as a singer or songwriter for eight decades!

Marty Wilde's Family

Marty Wilde and his wife, Joyce, have four children. Their names are Kim (born 1960), Ricky (born 1961), Roxanne (born 1979), and Marty Jr (born 1981).

Kim, Ricky, and Roxanne have all worked in the music industry, just like their parents. Marty Jr was a contestant on a golf TV show called The Big Break IV: USA vs. Europe in 2005.

Marty Wilde's Songs

Marty Wilde wrote or helped write many well-known songs. Here are some of them:

• "Bad Boy"
• "Cambodia" - for Kim Wilde
• "Chequered Love" - for Kim Wilde
• "Child Come Away" - for Kim Wilde
• "Ego" - for Kim Wilde
• "Four Letter Word" - for Kim Wilde
• "House of Salome" - for Kim Wilde
• "I'm A Tiger" - for Lulu
• "Ice in the Sun" - for Status Quo
• "Jesamine" - for The Casuals
• "It's Here" - for Kim Wilde
• "Kids in America" - for Kim Wilde
• "Love Blonde" - for Kim Wilde
• "Love in the Natural Way" - for Kim Wilde
• "Never Trust a Stranger" - for Kim Wilde
• "Rage to Love" - for Kim Wilde
• "Schoolgirl" - for Kim Wilde
• "The Second Time" - for Kim Wilde
• "The Touch" - for Kim Wilde
• "View from a Bridge" - for Kim Wilde
• "Water on Glass" - for Kim Wilde
• "Young Heroes" - for Kim Wilde

Marty Wilde in Movies

Marty Wilde has appeared in these films:

• Jet Storm (1959)
• The Hellions (1961)
• What a Crazy World (1963)
• Stardust (1974)

See Also

• List of show business families
• List of Epic Records artists