Marty Wilde was born Leonard Reginald Smith in Greenwich, London, on April 15, 1939.
He was another Larry Parnes discovery - he was spotted, aged 19, performing at the Condor Club, London.
His first record, Honeycomb, was un-noticed, but his next, Endless Sleep, was an instant success. Bad Boy, which he wrote, was another big hit in 1959, although like Billy Fury, Marty never had a number 1.
Most Billy Fury fans associate Marty with the package tour that played at the Birkenhead Essoldo on 1st October, 1958, when in an event that became show business legend, young Ron Wycherley called to play some of his songs for Marty and Larry Parnes...and found himself thrust on stage.
Marty is one of the rock and roll era's great survivors. He has worked all over the world, and in the new millennium, he and his toupée are still going strong.
Below is a link to one of my favourite recordings, Marty's self-penned Bring Back Rock And Roll, and to a corny hit, Why Must I Be A Teenager In Love, which he still performs.
Do visit Marty's excellent web site.
Bring Back Rock And Roll (Real Audio)
Why Must I Be A Teenager In Love? (Real Audio)
