Marty Wilde

AFTER more than 50 years in showbusiness, music legend Marty Wilde is still rocking and will be performing at the Alban Arena, in St Albans, on Saturday as part of his Born To Rock ‘n’ Roll tour.

A Teenager In Love, Donna, Sea of Love and Jezebel are just a few of the hits that established Marty – dad to Codicote pop singer Kim Wilde – as the UK’s leading rock ‘n’ roll singer of the late 50s and early 60s.

Audiences are still enjoying Marty Wilde and The Wildcats live on stage today belting out Endless Sleep, Dream Lover, Bad Boy, Rubber Ball and many more.

Marty Wilde has always been the rock stars’ rock star. His contemporary, Cliff Richard, said of him: “I always thought in those days there was actually only one ‘cool cat’ – and that was Marty.”

Justin Hayward, of The Moody Blues, called him “one of the true British rock heroes” while Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant said: “Marty Wilde was one of possibly two or three singers in the UK who actually could capture the American art.”

Born Reginald Leonard Smith, in Greenwich, London, Marty was discovered, at just 19, by rock ’n’ roll entrepreneur Larry Parnes while performing at the Condor Club, London.

His big break came with the advent of the UK’s first rock’n’roll TV show, Six-Five Special. Marty then became one of the stars of Jack Good’s new ITV programme Oh Boy!

His hit recording Bad Boy established Marty as a successful songwriter.

He went on to write a number of hits, including Lulu’s I’m A Tiger, Ice In The Sun for Status Quo and Jesamine for The Casuals.

He also wrote Kids In America and a string of other successes for his daughter Kim Wilde.

Tickets cost £20 and £19. Call the Alban Arena box office on 01727 844488 or book online at www.alban-arena.co.uk – click on link above right.