|
I started in Radio in Australia in 1971, where I went as a £10 tourist…..in 1973, I was back, auditioned for Capital Radio, failed and ended up on the re-launched
Radio Caroline for the next couple of years. I then went legit and found myself in Newcastle at Metro Radio, after which I went and hosted the Rock show at Radio Orwell in Ipswich, where Caroline was blasting in, so I went back, but times,
personnel had changed and I think it was after that, that I joined Radio City on the 10pm - 2am slot, known as 'Downtown' for 4 very happy years. Okay, so the hours weren't exactly sociable, however, we had a load of dedicated listeners, who were not only into the music, of the laid-back variety, but turned the show into a very successful request programme, with the 'Peaceful Hour' at midnight very much the highlight. As far as the music goes, it was mostly mellow soul, people like Marvin Gaye, The Emotions, Michael Jackson, Minnie Ripperton, Heatwave, Earth, Wind & Fire, etc.
My best buddies at City were Phil Easton, who did a marvellous Rock Show, 'The Great Easton Express' and Kevin Curtis, who was on overnight. Through Phil, I was very involved in the annual Battle of the Bands, which I enjoyed immensely, being an old rocker at heart, despite the smoochy material I used to play!...and yes, I was able to choose what I wanted to play, which was something I'd previously only been able to do on Caroline.
The Roadshows were brilliant fun and usually well attended, I particularly liked
being on with Mark Joenz, who had a whacky sense of humour, a cheeky chappie, if ever there was one! Other favourite places, which come to mind are the Grapes Pub, a famous City watering hole and the restaurant at the top of the Post Office Tower, (which I believe is where City now reside?)...where many a splendid lunch was
consumed, mostly paid for by the various record companies….those were the days!!
Some time after leaving City, I got into TV, as an Announcer and went up to
Grampian TV in Aberdeen, very cold, but great people. Then by then married and based in Wiltshire, stints at Thames, Central, TVS, and YTV, before fronting the start of BSB, the forerunner to Sky and when BSB collapsed, eventually finding a home here at The World Service, where I've been for some 10 years on and off, so I've really gone the full circle and will probably be put out to grass in time...and no, not all of the above was planned by any means, most of it came about by pure chance!
There you are, a few recollections to be going along with......cheers, JJ.
|
|
