Bottom 30 (1980) Placing: #20
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Tony Blackburn was born in Guildford, Surrey in 1943 and the family then moved to Dorset in 1948.
He was educated at Millfield Public School in Somerset, and the later at
Bournemouth College, receiving a Business Diploma.
The son of a doctor in Lilliput near Poole, Dorset, he made his first public
appearance with the Ian Ralfini Dance Orchestra at the Bournemouth Pavilion while
at College, and later appeared with various bands in hotels (including the Johnny Howard Band).
Having completed his education, Tony read in the music press that disc jockeys were
wanted by a pirate radio station. He applied, got the job, and made his first radio
appearance on 28th July 1964 on Radio Caroline South. In 1966, he joined Radio
London and introduced the first ever soul programme in the UK.
His soul programme and consequent weekly club nights called 'Soul Nights' became
so popular it eventually took over Capitals 'Best Disco In Town Nights'. 6000
people were regularly turning up including Stevie Wonder on one occasion who
wanted to thank Tony for introducing the UK to soul music. It could be said that
Tony commercialised soul music and in the process reinvented Radio London.
Tony joined the BBC Light Programme in August 1967 and made his first broadcast on
the "Midday Spin" programme. When BBC Radio One commenced broadcasting on 30th
September 1967, Tony presented the daily "Breakfast Show", and was the first disc
jockey on the new network. He hosted the "Breakfast Show" until 1974 when he took
over the morning show for several years, followed by Junior Choice. He remained
with Radio One until 1984. Tony then spent some time at BBC Radio London, before
leaving to join Capital Radio on 2nd July 1988 to launch their new Capital Gold
station where he presented his soul shows until December 2002.
Tony is a legend of the airwaves and has become a household name through his
DJ-ing, TV Shows, and he inspired the cult of the radio DJ. His passion for
Soul music has been the main underlying factor in most of his shows. From the days
spent with his assistant 'Dave Pearce', now mostly heard on Radio 1, when they
used to go to New York together to bring back the latest music to him having the
first legal soul show in the UK, which also introduced the raunchy phone call slot.
Tony has thirty-six awards including, in 1989, the "Gold Award for Outstanding
Contribution to Radio". He was also awarded the "Best Breakfast Show"
(Contemporary Music) by Sony Radio Awards in 1993 and "The Radio Academy Music
and Media Award" for outstanding contribution to Music and Radio in 1997.
He released 3 records with Fontana records in 1965/66. He has written 200 songs,
but only had one published.
Tony also co-presents ITV's prime-time show, Animals Do the Funniest Things,
which attracted over 7 million viewers on its last showing. Tony has made
numerous other television appearances over the years, including the hosting of his
own show "Time For Blackburn" in 1969. He is well remembered for compering BBC's
world famous "Top Of The Pops" from the late 1960's to throughout the 1970's.
He continues to make regular guest appearances on a wide range of television shows.
Tony's television appearance in 'I'm a Celebrity ... Get me Out of Here!' in 2002
was a huge success - he was crowned King of the Jungle.
Tony is still a big attraction on the DJ circuit, having toured many of the Rank
Clubs around England in '99, challenging local radio DJs and Kiss 100's Bam Bam in
a battle of the DJs. Tony continues to make many personal appearances with his
trademark 70s and 80s show, including his annual trek to one of Ibiza's top
clubs - proving that he's the original.
Thanks to David Noades for information and pictures
Links ...
Fan-page with streamed audio
Another good site
Offshore Echoes site
