It was 50 years since success followed the day Marty was performing at the Condor Club in London at the age of just 19 and was seen by Tommy Steele's manager.

No time later he was on the UK's first rock 'n' roll TV show, Six-Five Special, and then became one of the stars of Jack Good's new programme Oh Boy!

"There were only two TV channels back then. There's no doubt TV helped me to break into the business," said Marty.

Marty became the UK's leading rock 'n' roll singer of the late '50s and early '60s and had 13 consecutive hit records in the charts for a total of 117 weeks.

You know you're good when the likes of Cliff Richard heap praise on you. "I always thought in those days there was actually only one cool cat – and that was Marty," he said.

And Marty hasn't stopped since, continually bringing his well-known tracks to audiences around the country, including Worthing.

He's back on August 22 at the Pavilion Theatre with hits like Teenager in Love, Donna, Sea of Love and Jezebel.

"It's a nostalgia show, a celebration of the '50s and early '60s," said Marty. "There's rock 'n' roll, songs I was associated with or had hits with.

"Those were incredible years. In those days a whole new attitude to music came from America.

"It had a very strong, very powerful beat and brought in blues and country elements all mixed up in a big sound.

"Every day there was something fantastic coming out. The songs stood the test of time and are still played today – they are on compilation albums in the charts now.

"Those days didn't carry the heavy emotional handles that this age does.

"It wasn't all plain sailing but there were lots of values that were better than are around today and I take the audience back in time and give them a good evening.

"It's all about sharing. When you get to a certain age, as I am and most of my fans are, you share your feelings – you smile about what you've become and the kind of things you do.

"You feel fine and you don't think about getting older until you try and run fast or something.

"The great thing about age is the knowledge you have acquired."
Marty loves artists who work hard, like Kylie Minogue, who his daughter Roxanne is working with at the moment.

"Kylie is like me. She gives the lot and is going to work hard to please the audience. You should give the audience the material they want and work hard."

Marty, born Reg Smith, puts his love of music down to his father. "Although he didn't play instruments, he was always singing in harmony. I grew up learning harmonies."

Then, at about the age of 11, he was introduced to the ukulele by a local boy. "I was intrigued to see the way he played it and asked my parents if they could get me one.

"There was a ukulele in the pawn shop and my father got it for me. It totally changed my life. it was the best gift I ever had."

Aged 15 and having transferred his skills to the trendy guitar, he started a band called Reg Smith and the Hound Dogs and was spotted at a gig with them.

Highlights of his career include his first hit record with Endless Sleep and daughter Kim's success in the 1908s with Kids In America, which he co-wrote.

"Most of my big thrills have been with song writing," he said. "I wrote a hit song when I was in my teens called Bad Boy, which started me off writing for other people and myself."

These include Lulu's I'm a Tiger, Ice in the Sun for Status Quo and Jesamine for The Casuals.

Marty plans to keep touring for a lot longer yet. "You have to stay as healthy as possible and keep taking the pills! You get mentally tired when you're on the road and have to be very disciplined.

"I've had quite a lot of time off this summer and I'll have something fresh to bring the show.

"I love the shows – they are the important thing to me. They massage the old ego and that's such an important part of our lives. When people still say they care about you, that's lovely."

Marty Wilde is at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing, on August 22, at 7.45pm. Tickets are £16 or £17.50 from 01903 206206 or click here

-------------------------------------
Click here to go back to leisure.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: letters@worthingherald.co.uk