I am Now broadcasting my own Rock'n'Roll program on two internet stations and have have had Shows on Radio Barnsleys recent RSL on FM.My Program on Northern Broadcasting is available to listen to anytime. It's now in better audio quality as it is for Broadband listeners on Rockabilly Radio.I have twice been a guest on Dell Richardson's Good Rockin' Tonight show on Radio Caroline, answering questions about the Gig Guide and choosing some great tracks to go on air. I previously took up Videography and recorded many of the Annual Skegness Rock n Roll Weekenders which were also very popular and well attended. The Birth of my Son needed parental skills after this period. Around the same time I started up with Geoff Bunting at Birdwell Club as one of the resident RnR DJ's which continued for a long period until deciding to leave the venue. It was also at Birdwell that the idea of setting up a National Gig Guide of RnR came initially from people such as Moggie Dooley and Iain Robertson who were at the time producing listings for the N.E. Midlands & N.West of the UK. Drew Spikes noticed My listings hosted on a couple of Dance Related websites and some similar listings covering the South of the UK elsewhere on the Internet and proposed that he would be prepared to design a website that would combine all the data as a National listing expanding as demand grew. This was the Birth of what has now become an officially recognised benchmark for Gig listings and info covering the UK. with an ever increasing number of visitors over the years
like minded people and to get interviews with various bands and RnR Artists that keep the scene alive for future generations that will take our music forward without it being stereotyped and patronising, keeping it vibrant, interesting and appeal to all intellegent people.
The genre I love is based mainly from the rock n roll 50's period though covering Jump-Blues, Western Swing, Hillbilly, Rockabilly, Doo-Wop, Boogie Woogie, Some swing from the Big Band era, Cat music, Country Hicks, Roots Blues & Rhythm, (R&B), plus current bands and artists whose music reflects and emulates that sound in their own material. My start in the RnR field was during my teens finding that the then current music did not satisfy my musical interest. I first knew a work collegue who was overtly passionate about a former Memphis truck driver, though I preferred a Carl Perkins version of the same song. It was also at this time I was interested in Rockin' instrumentals. My RnR interest grew along with my record collection and this gave rise to the desire to Share the listening enjoyment with like minded people, thus purchasing equipment for the purpose of providing record hops at local pubs in Sheffield. This led to the formation of the Sheffield & District Vintage Rock n Roll Society which was affiliated to the National "VRRAS" led by Neil Foster. Large venues were booked in the South Yorkshire area in order to hold Rock n Roll Events featuring local, National & often, International Bands and artists which were attended by people from across the North and Midlands areas of the UK, numbering over 400 but not less than 300 on each occasion. This lasted for around ten years until the scene started to change.
I am not a great film buff but would like to get hold of good quality 50's Rockin films, the quality of DVD is much better than VHS or older formats.
Tellevision viewing is not esential for me, I am quite busy and ocupy myself in RnR related activities or spend time with my son whenever I can.
Again, it would have to be read on long jorneys, though as I drive around quite a lot I don't get much social reading time.
I don't have hero's as such but have had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Carl Perkins, Sleapy La Beef, Mac Curtis, Johnny Powers, Charlie Gracie, Johnny Preston, Linda Gail Lewis, plus many other RnR names.