Leyton as a singer is best known for his hit song "Johnny Remember Me" (written by Geoff Goddard and produced by Joe Meek),[2] which reached number one in the UK Singles Chart in August 1961 despite being banned by the BBC for its death references.

In 2009, he also had a small role in the film Telstar, a biopic based on Joe Meek's life in which Leyton himself was portrayed by Callum Dixon.

He played himself in the 1962 Dick Lester film It's Trad, Dad!, performing his latest single "Lonely City" in a radio studio.

He also appeared in Guns at Batasi in 1964, Every Day's a Holiday (aka Seaside Swingers in the United States) and Von Ryan's Express starring Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard in 1965.

From 1966 to 1967, Leyton played the lead role as Special Operations Executive (SOE) Royal Navy Lieutenant Nicholas Gage, an expert in demolitions, in Jericho, an American TV series about espionage in the Second World War.

In the 1990s, Leyton began performing in the Solid Gold Rock'n'Roll Show, appearing with artists such as Marty Wilde and Joe Brown.

Leyton also topped the bill at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, along with 1960s stars Jess Conrad and Craig Douglas, at a concert named '60s Icons'.

Leyton continues to tour the UK and Scandinavia performing his hits (sometimes backed by the Rapiers)[12][13][14] and can boast an internet following with his official website.