ROCK 'n' roll pioneer Marty Wilde digs deep into the vaults when he brings his greatest hits back to Witham after last year's sell-out show.

Marty – who turned 80 this year – was present at the birth of rock 'n' roll and has celebrated more than 60 years in showbiz.

He is still bashing out the hits which made him a household name back in the Fifties and Sixties.

The stunning evening of rock memories includes Bad Boy, Jesamine, Teenager in Love, Rubber Ball, Jezabel and Sea of Love.

Marty's career began in 1957 and he became one of the first British singers to play a leading part in the groundbreaking rock ‘n’ roll years.

Born Reg Smith, he was earning £1 a night plus a bowl of spaghetti in a London club when he was spotted by Tommy Steele’s manager Larry Parnes.

When Larry went backstage to find Marty, the youngster had already caught the last bus home to Greenwich.

Fortunately, Larry tracked him down and the rest is rock ‘n’ roll history.

Marty’s chart breakthrough came with the release of Endless Sleep, which reached number four in 1958 and made him a teen idol across Britain.

Donna, written by Ritchie Valens, got to number three, while Teenager in Love was only kept off the top spot by Bobby Darin’s pop classic Dream Lover.

His Born to Rock ‘n’ Roll show with backing band the Wildcats has now achieved cult status attracting new and old fans alike.

The ever youthful Marty is at Witham Public Hall on August 30 at 8pm. Tickets are £22 on 0345 017 8717 or from the visitor information centre at Witham Town Hall.