I was born in Walthamstow and grew up in Leyton and
Leytonstone, Essex came much later. My parents always had music playing in the household or had the radio on constantly and I was of the generation when Top of the Pops on a Thursday night was a big event. Well, perhaps I didn’t get out much now I think about it….? Anyway, music was a big deal in our home.
It was Mum who got my love of soul music underway by constantly playing her Barry White, Gladys Knight, Hot Chocolate, Real Thing and Al Green records till they wore out. By the time I was old enough to go out and about with my friends it was the east and north London scene I checked out first with the old Green Man pub in Leytonstone High Rd. first and then various other pubs in Leyton and Walthamstow where a DJ was playing the latest stuff, the Charleston in Stratford then on to Elton’s (now Opera) and the old Ritzy Tottenham. Then we went further afield – The Lyceum in the Strand when Greg Edwards & Steve Walsh were the main men, Ronnie Scotts and other assorted clubs large and small in London’s West End.
Then – Essex! Zero 6, the Epping Forest Country Club, ToTS & Kings were all on the menu. No binge drinking or drugs were necessary for a good night out, just great music, a laugh with your mates and hoping to meet the (next) girl of your dreams, even if it was just for one night – happy days!
I moved to Essex in 94 and since then I’ve been busy presenting in hospital and community radio stations and I’m thrilled to be part of the Zero Radio set-up playing some of this great feel-good music.
My show Soul Inspired is about recapturing that feeling of excitement, the soundtrack to your getting ready to go out with your friends to check out the latest venue, or that hot date you’ve been looking forward to all week and the great music you listened to along the way. Or, fast forward to today, getting your dinner ready, having a glass of wine or if it’s sunny, firing up the barbecue, ready for your Saturday night.
If it’s a classic or half forgotten gem from the sixties to eighties then chances are you’ll hear it on this show.
Soul Inspired Playlists - 17th July 2010
Omar - This is Not a Love Song
Donna Gardner - Future
Lonnie Liston Smith - Never too Late
Narada Michael Warden - Divine Emotions (12")
Armenta - I Wanna Be With You (12")
Roxy 5000 ft. Omar & Shawn Lee - When Love Takes Over
Crown Heights Affair - Far Out (12")
Johnny Matthis – Gone, Gone, Gone (12")
Dennis Taylor - Want
Crown Heights Affair - Dreaming a Dream (12")
Players Association - Turn the Music Up (12")
The Velvelettes - Really Saying Something
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons - Beggin
Chairman of the Board - Give me Just a Little More Time
Crown Heights Affair - Galaxy of Love (12")
Michael Jackson - The Lady in My Life
Don Blackman - Holding You, Loving You
Stevie Wonder - Do Like You
Crown Heights Affair - You Gave Me Love (12")
Loves
His wife Paula and young son Matthew, Jack Daniels (the house drink for Zero DJ’s?) Spurs, Leyton Orient, good food, sleeping, history, England and Aston Martin cars (one day I’ll buy one that doesn’t have the word ‘Corgi’ attached to it, one day….)
Hates
Insincerity, Indie Rock and that whole ‘it’s better than your taste in music’ snobbery that goes with it, litter, graffiti, benefit cheats and anything else that I can agree with in the Daily Mail this week….oh and not forgetting – Arsenal FC!
