Born:
Kim Smith on November 18, 1960 in Chiswick, Middlesex, England
Overview:
Though many music fans probably know of Kim Wilde only to the extent that her two spotlight singles of the '80s made waves on the pop charts, she actually built a more than respectable solo career that lasted nearly two whole relevant decades in her native U.K. American audiences responded less enthusiastically to Wilde's initially new wave-tinged pop, but the singer has also retained a constant cult following there that remains minimally recognized. Here's a look at the prolific and often inventive career of a full-fledged European star who should have enjoyed greater U.S. success.
Early Years:
Born somewhat into the world of pop music as the first child of '50s rock and roll performer Marty Wilde, the young Kim Smith nevertheless enjoyed a relatively normal upbringing, moving to nearby Hertfordshire as a pre-teen. Not until she reached age 20 did Kim Wilde jump directly into the music business, but when she did so she became a phenomenon almost instantly. Signed quickly to RAK Records, Wilde released her debut single "Kids in America" in early 1981. Immediate large-scale success soon followed in the U.K., even though, ironically, the tune became only a modest hit in the U.S.
Post-Debut Struggles:
Perhaps unavoidably, Wilde soon had to deal with the expectations that can plague an instant superstar. Although her self-titled debut album did very well to coincide with her debut single (which has always remained one of her signature songs), Wilde did not initially tour much in support of her recordings. Perhaps as a result, her immediate follow-up singles and albums sold a bit less well in the U.K., doing most of their hitmaking damage in other western European countries instead. By 1984, Wilde's search for wider success led her to change record companies, as she jumped from RAK to RCA Records.
Breakthrough in America - "You Keep Me Hangin' On":
Subsequent releases seemed to further entrench Wilde as a European star, as her U.K. sales continued to flag. Ironically, a cover tune from 1986's Another Step proved to be Wilde's ticket to renewed success in her homeland and, of course, sought-after hit status in America. Her remake of The Supremes' Motown hit "You Keep Me Hangin' On" hit number one in the U.S. and number two in the U.K., providing her career with a shot in the arm that the rest of the album's tracks (largely written herself) could not match.
'90s Success, Motherhood & Continuing Pursuits:
This latest run of success allowed Wilde to continue exploring her singer-songwriter aspirations, as 1988's Close became her most successful LP yet on the strength of her collaboration with her brother, Ricky. Following continued positive results in the '90s, Wilde exited the business for a time because of label problems and later a desire to start a family. Nevertheless, Wilde returned exuberantly to music in 2001, and in the decade or so since has maintained an active music career even while branching off into a side career in landscape gardening. She remains an '80s icon even if the bulk of her musical output continues to stay relatively unheard.
