HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Marty Wilde

Birth of Rock and Roll: The UK Beat: Marty Wilde

Marty Wilde

Born Reginald Leonard Smith on 15 April 1939 in London, Marty Wilde was renamed by impresario, Larry Parnes, in 1957 upon discovering him performing at London's Condor Club. Though his name was fake Wilde was much a songwriter, composing numerously from 'Wild Cat' with Lionel Bart in 1957 to such as 'Kiss Me' in 1964 and 'Bring Back Rock n Roll' in 1970. He is thought to have first recorded in 1957 with a cover of the Bob Merrill composition, 'Honeycomb' b/w 'Wild Cat' (78: Philips PB 750/45: Philips JK 1028). Recording data for Wilde is apparently so sparse that there is no sessionography for him of which I know. Dates on this page broadly refer to releases by year only.

'Honeycomb' Marty Wilde

1957 Philips JK1028

Composition: Bob Merrill

'Wild Cat' Marty Wilde

1957 Philips JK1028

Composition: Lionel Bart / Wilde

'Sing Boy Sing' Marty Wilde

1958 Philips PB804

Composition: Peter Lach / Rod McKuen / Tommy Sands

Though Wilde went unknown in the United States he was among Great Britain's favorite early rockers with his band, the Wildcats. He placed six titles in the Top Ten of the UK Singles Charts during his heydays, his first in July 1958 with 'Endless Sleep' (#4), his last 'Rubber Ball' in Jan 1961 (#9). One of those had been his composition, 'Bad Boy', rising to the #7 spot in December of 1959. Wilde's six top-selling issues:

   Endless Sleep   #4 in July 1958
   Donna   #3 in March 1959
   A Teenager In Love   #2 in June 1959   Top best-selling title overall
   Sea of Love   #3 in Sep 1959
   Bad Boy   #7 in Dec 1959
   Rubber Ball   #9 in Jan 1961

'Endless Sleep' Marty Wilde

1958 Philips PB835

Composition: Dolores Nance / Jody Reynolds

'Donna' Marty Wilde

1959 Philips PB902

Composition: Richie Valens

'Teenager In Love' Marty Wilde Television

1959 Lip sync Venue unknown Philips PB926

Personnel:

Lead guitar: Big Jim Sullivan Rhythm guitar: Tony Belcher

Bass guitar: Brian Locking Drums: Brian Bennett

Composition: Doc Pomus / Mort Shuman

'Sea of Love' Marty Wilde

1959 Philips PB959

Composition: Phillip Baptiste / George Khoury

'Bad Boy' Marty Wilde

1959 Philips PB972

Composition: Wilde

Wikipedia

Marty issued the first of above ten albums in 1959: 'Wilde About Marty' [Discogs].

Marty's status as a teen idol began to fade upon marriage to Joyce Baker, one of the Vernons Girls [VF History / Wikipedia], on 2 December 1959. His daughter, musician, Kim Wilde [Wikipedia], was born on 18 November 1960. Musician, Ricky Wilde [Wikipedia], followed on 6 November 1961. In 1965 Marty and Joyce formed a trio called the Wilde Three with guitarist, Justin Hayward [Wikipedia]. Come Marty's second daughter, musician, Roxanne, on 24 July 1979. Professional golfer, Marty Junior, arrived in 1981.

'Rubber Ball' Marty Wilde w Cliff Richard Television

23 Feb 1961 'Cliff!' television show for ATV

First recorded by Wilde in latter 1960 toward Philips PB1101

Composition: A. Orlowski (Gene Pitney) / Aaron Schroeder

'Jezebel' Marty Wilde

1962 Philips PB1101

Composition: Wayne Shanklin

'Money (That's What I Want)' Marty Wilde Television

4 Jan 1964 ‘The Arthur Haynes Show’

Composition: Berry Gordy / Janie Bradford

Wikipedia

'Kiss Me' Marty Wilde

1964 Columbia DB7285

Composition: Wilde

'I Cried' Marty Wilde w Joyce Wilde and Justin Hayward as the Wilde Three

1965 Decca F.12232

Composition: Frére Manston

'Tragedy' Marty Wilde

1970 From the album 'Rock n Roll' on Philips 6308 010

Composition: Gerald H. Nelson / Fred B. Burch

Wilde has remained musically active to this day. In 2007 he celebrated fifty years in the business at the London Palladium. He released 'Songs for Your Children and Grandchildren' in 2017 featuring a couple titles sung by daughter, Roxanne, as well as Rose Fowler (Kim's daughter). Both Kim and Roxanne contributed to 'Solid Gold Tour 2019' and 'Running Together' in 2020.