Kim Wilde’s first records were written and produced by her father and brother, Marty and Ricky. The three of them have had a great influence on the music world, as this regular series ‘Wilde World’ shows.
The Dutch close harmony group The Buffoons was formed in 1966. The original lineup consisted of Hilco ter Heide, Gerard van Tongeren, Ely van Tongeren, Maarten Assink, Bob Luiten and Benny de Groot. They released their debut single ‘Tomorrow is another day’ (a cover of the Ivy League song) a year later. In 1968 they have their biggest success with their debut album ‘Lookin’ ahead’ and their biggest hit ‘It’s the end’, which peaks at number 4 in the Dutch Top 40. After many line up changes and a period of less success, they score an even bigger hit with a cover of Ritchie Valens’ ‘My girl’, peaking at number 3 in the Dutch Top 40. The band splits up in 1979.
In 1990 Gerard and Ely reform as the Buffoons. In 1997 they release a new album called ‘Through decades’. It features a version of Marty Wilde’s ‘Jezamine’. In 2003, both Gerard and Ely are struck by illness. There are a few attempts at a comeback, but with Gerard, who retires.