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The Ricky Wilde article
continues…
"One morning in assembly Mr. Furlong was playing a record and then suddenly he stopped it and we heard I'm An Astronaut coming out…Ricky went all red, he blushed," recalls Nigel. "Then Mr. Furlong said that the four people who were good and the most helpful would get Ricky's record. I didn't get a copy, but then Mr. Fulmer came up and said I could have a record, 'not for being good, but for being helpful'! "
Ricky himself takes the same light-hearted boyish attitude to life that Nigel also does. They're happy fighting around on the lawn of the Wilde's prettily thatched home, or cycling through the country lanes. Ricky has gained his cycling proficiency badge, and plans to take the test again this year with his new Chopper bike.
"But don't look at that badge," he grins cheekily. Then pointing to a picture of himself, cut out and made into a badge, he adds: "This is the best one. "
The living room of the Wilde's home reflects the musical influence that has been introduced into Kim and Ricky. Marty's silver disc for Teenager In Love hangs on a wall, and a microphone stands close to an expensive stereo system. Ricky's mother, Joyce, was also a singer with the Vernons Girls.
"I don't know, though," says Ricky. "If it's important to me to be a singer…I don't know at my age if it's going to be a proper job because my voice might go. I like being a singer, but dad doesn't think it's the best job I could have. He says if I want to do it, great, but I mustn't show off, and I must realize there are phoneys around. "
Ricky is also aware of the strains that being a singer can bring. His parents are currently touring Australia, and Ricky and Kim are being looked after by family friends.
"It's disappointing when dad goes away for six weeks, but they have to go, and you have to take that kind of thing. I've got quite used to it. I got my best teddy bear back yesterday from when I left it in Durban, South Africa. "
Experiment
Ricky's first record, I'm An Astronaut, was written by Marty Wilde, and given to Ricky to record almost an experiment. Then April Love followed -"I like that best," says Ricky. Though neither have hit the charts, yet, Ricky has already found himsely in the middle of frantic girl fans.
"It's quite exciting for me," says Ricky. "I was making an appearance at Harlequin record shop in Oxford Street. I only expected a hundred girls to turn up, but there were about 400. What 600?" says Rick as his publicity man puts him straight. "Wow! I didn't know that. I had two bodyguards to help me, ano both the buckles on my white jacket were ripped off! "
When Ricky was visiting Amsterdam to broadcast on radio, he found himself on the same plane as Donny Osmond. "He asked me for my autograph for his sister Marie," he says. And did you get Donny's autograph, I wonder. "Well no," grins Rick. "That put me one up didn't it! But I like Donny's singing and I think he's ever so nice. "
Don't mistake Ricky Wilde's bravado for arrogance. In fact during our conversation I discovered that Nigel hadn't heard his friend's latest record -which indicates that Ricky doesn't yet have a great preoccupation with his own importance.
An album is currently being planned for Ricky and there is the possibility that he will be appearing on Top Of The Pops soon and may start working on some live dates. He is still continuing with his piano lessons, and guitar practice -with help from dad -but his main consideration at the moment is his two girl friends, Alison and Emma…and, top of all things, football and fun and games with Nigel.
Face pulling is going on as Nigel leaves with us in the car; and then Ricky's running like mad to beat us as we pull away up the lane, past the grazing cows.
Here's hoping Ricky manages to stay just as natural as the Tewin countryside, as the showbiz machine grinds on.
RECORD MIRROR MARCH 31 1973
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