The Campaign For Real Music
Intelligent Music for Grown-Ups

Radiocafé is proud to present the definitive list of some of the broadcasters, presenters and other individuals who have made a wonderful contribution to the popular music cause.  Sadly, many of these individuals are no longer with us, but their memory will live on for many years to come. We hope you agree that their excellence deserves to be celebrated, as each of them made it to the top of their chosen field and have brought pleasure to so many of us.  If there is anyone who you feel we have missed off this list, or anyone else you would like to add to this list, please let us know.

ALAN DELL
Broadcaster and producer

Vocal fans will remember Alan Dell’s wonderful Sounds Easy and Dance Band Days and Big Band Sounds shows, but Alan has done so much for the cause of good music. A superlative producer who worked with the biggest names.

 

RAY MOORE
Broadcaster

Mornings have never been the same without Ray Moore. His early show on Radio 2 had a huge following, Ray being one of the funniest, yet most professional, broadcasters of all time.  We miss Ray very much.

 

BENNY GREEN
Broadcaster and musician

Jazz man Benny presented one of the most entertaining shows on radio for many years, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of music. Sunday afternoon’s really are not the same without him.

 

DAVID JACOBS CBE DL
Broadcaster

One of the finest broadcasters of all time, who continues the good music cause with one of the most enjoyable shows on air.  He’s had an amazing career which has spanned decades. Surely the greatest living broadcaster?

 

HUBERT GREGG MBE
Broadcaster, singer, songwriter, actor & more!

Hubert Gregg: singer, songwriter, actor, broadcaster - so much talent!  He kept fantastic vintage music alive as he said Thanks for the Memory every week. Very much missed.

 

RUSSELL DAVIES
Broadcaster and journalist

Few people have the knowledge about popular song of Russell, one of our most talented broadcasters and a top music journalist too.  His Radio 2 show remains one of the “must listen to” programmes on air.

 

NEIL RICHARDSON
Composer and arranger

Neil Richardson is one of the country’s finest arrangers.  Working with the BBC Radio Orchestra for many years, he produced some of the all time great arrangements and compositions. 

 

FRANK WAPPAT
Broadcaster and producer

Frank has an encyclopedic knowledge of music, and continues to promote the good music cause with his weekly radio show - a real education in good music. Has a lifetime of great stories to share, too.

 

JOHN FOX
Composer and arranger

John Fox worked with the BBC Radio Orchestra for many years, having arranged for orchestras of over 100 musicians. A prolific composer/arranger, few have contributed so much to good music.  

 

MIKE DUTTON
Founder of Dutton Vocalion records

Mike Dutton should be commended for uncovering and remastering so many great recordings.  His efforts have resulted in the release of many Farnon and other light music CDs on his Vocalion label.  Light music owes much to Mike.

 

STEVE RACE OBE
Broadcaster and pianist

A fantastic pianist, who in the latter part of his career was one of THE voices of radio.  Presented for years the Radio Orchestra Show, his knowledge of music and relaxed manner are very much missed on the airwaves these days.

 

HUMPHREY LYTTLETON
Jazz man and broadcaster

Humphrey Lyttelton presented The Best of Jazz on Radio 2 for an incredible 40 years! A fine trumpeter, who pioneered the cause of traditional and contemporary jazz.  Very much missed.

 

MACLOLM LAYCOCK
Broadcaster

Malcolm took the baton on Radio 2’s Dance Band and Big Band shows when Alan Dell passed away, and has  made the slot his own.  He had the rare ability of making listeners feel he is talking to each one individually. Sadly passed away in November 2009. A huge loss.

SHEILA TRACEY
Musician and broadcaster

Sheila Tracey is a fine trombonist who became one of the country’s finest broadcasters. One of Radio 2’s favourites, sadly we no longer have the privilege to hear her lovely voice on the network, which is a great loss to lovers of good radio!

SIR ALAN KEITH
Broadcaster

Sir Alan presented “Your Hundred Best Tunes” on Radio 2 with style and panache for 44 years, broadcasting well into his nineties. In doing so, he did so much for the cause of great music. Sunday nights have never been the same.

 

BILL RENNELLS
Broadcaster and producer

Bill is one of the stalwarts of radio, and a familiar voice on both local and national radio. As well as his own shows, listeners will recall him as the presenter of shows featuring the BBC Radio Orchestra, in particular String Sound.

CHRIS STUART
Broadcaster and pianist

Chris was one of BBC Radio 2’s most talented and popular presenters yet for no good reason he was dropped by the station. What a loss to radio! Very few have Chris’s level of charm, professionalism and talent.

 

DESMOND CARRINGTON
Broadcaster and actor

Desmond represents everything a good broadcaster should be: charming, knowledgeable, entertaining and professional. We still cannot fathom why the BBC moved his Radio 2 show from a Sunday.

 

NIGEL OGDEN
Broadcaster and organist

Nigel is a fantastic organist, who has furthered the cause of the cinema/theatre organ genre for decades with his legendary show, The Organist Entertains, which continues weekly on BBC Radio 2.

 

MIKE REDWAY
Singer

One of our truly great vocalists who has appeared extensively on radio and TV - Mike’s voice is up there with the very best. Coupled with arranger Neil Richardson, music doesn’t get any better.

Radiocafé
November 2009

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