Marty Wilde

Marty Wilde (born Reginald Leonard Smith on April 15 1939 in South London) is a British singer, who was among the first generation of British stars to imitate American rock'n'roll. Most of his hits were covers of US succes

Marty Wilde (born Reginald Leonard Smith on April 15 1939 in South London) is a British singer, who was among the first generation of British stars to imitate American rock'n'roll. Most of his hits were covers of US successes ("Endless Sleep" was originally by Jody Reynolds, "Donna" by Ritchie Valens, "A Teenager In Love" by Dion and the Belmonts, "Sea Of Love" by Phil Phillips).

He had no chart success of his own after 1962, but enjoyed success in the late 1960s as a songwriter (of The Casuals' "Jesamine", Lulu's "I'm A Tiger" and even Status Quo's "Ice In The Sun") and as writer and producer of 1980s hit records by his daughter Kim Wilde. Son Ricki Wilde also gained notice in the music industry.