Friday, March 26, 2021

Marty Wilde MBE - Discography

MARTY WILDE [MBE]

England in the late 1950s had its share of rock & roll stars -- Cliff Richard was the most successful and was still at it in 2004, some 46 years later, with a knighthood to show for it on top of everything else; and the late Billy Fury is still revered by those aware of the music. In between them, chronologically, stands Marty Wilde. Born Reginald Leonard Smith in Blackheath on April 15, 1939, he grew up in Greenwich, in southeast London. The son of a professional soldier, he lived in various parts of England throughout his childhood. He reached the middle of his teen years living in London, just at the point that Lonnie Donegan, playing in a jazz band run by Chris Barber, had jump-started the entire skiffle boom with "Rock Island Line" which, in turn, fostered the beginnings of a rock & roll boom in England -- an aspiring singer, Smith was a natural prospect as he was already proficient on the ukulele and simply switched to guitar. By 1957, in the wake of Tommy Steele's sudden rise to stardom, London was filling up with would-be rock & rollers, including the 17-year-old Smith, who was performing at the Condor Club in Soho one night -- for a pound a night plus a meal -- where he was spotted by Larry Parnes. 

6 comments:

Hector Castillo said...

thank YOU!

Aussie said...

Ozzieguy this is my kind of music beautiful music thank you Ozzieguy for Marty Wilde

LOFC said...

Thanks for some rare Marty! Still rocking now.

Ozzieguy said...

Very welcome Hector.

Ozzieguy said...

Hi Aussie, yes he is very good and I also like his music obviously :-)
Glad that you are enjoying.

Ozzieguy said...

Hello LOFC
You are very welcome my friend, and yes he is still rockin'.
Love his music.
Regards
OG