Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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WILDE, Marty and Kim

Marty (b Reginald Smith, 15 April 1939, Blackheath, London) was a UK pop star and sex idol who had 14 hits '58-62 with covers of American hits: 'Endless Sleep' (Jody Reynolds, d 7 November 2008 aged 75), 'Donna' (Ritchie Valens), 'Rubber Ball' (Bobby Vee), etc. 'Bad Boy' was his only USA chart entry (top 50 in 1960). In the 1970s with Mickie Most he tried to launch his son Ricky as a successor, but had more luck with his pretty daughter Kim (b November 1960, London): Ricky produced the hits, mother Joyce managed her; increasingly Marty and Ricky wrote the songs. LPs on EMI/Rak included Kim Wilde '81, Select '82, Catch As Catch Can '83; switched to MCA '84 with Teases And Dares '84, Serenade and Another Step '86. First hit 'Kids In America' '81 was no. 2 UK (no. 1 USA). The singles soon slid out of the top 40; then 'Rage To Love' made the top 20 '85 (remixed by Dave Edmunds), 'You Keep Me Hangin' On' '86 back up to no. 2.

Kim appeared in a West End production of the Who's Tommy '96, met Hal Fowler in the cast, married him and moved to the country to start a family and take up horticulture. She has published books about gardening and won a silver medal at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2005.