The genesis of music on the BBC for episode 74...
On 30 April 1923, celebrated conductor Percy Pitt joins the BBC as Musical Advisor/Director/Controller (his job keeps changing), bringing new scope and scale to the nation's favourite music provider. Symphonies! Dance bands! A violinist who's refused a taxi cos the driver doesn't like what he's heard!
In 1955, Johnny Beerling joins the BBC in a world of Housewive's Choice and needle time. In 1967, Johnny journeys to the pirate ships then helps bring Tony Blackburn to the airwaves for the launch of Radio 1. Johnny tells us all about it in part 1 of an exclusive interview.
And in 1969, Alec Reid is a studio manager when a talented young band have a brush with the Beeb - the genesis of Genesis. Oh, and a little thing called the Moon landing.
Plus, what was the first song on the BBC, back in November 1922? We have answers. Several.
Happy listening!
SHOWNOTES:
NEXT EPISODE:
Nearing the end of 'season 5' (though season 6 will follow straight after) will be a special on the centenary of the Radio Times.
Stay subscribed: podfollow.com/bbcentury or wherever you get podcasts.
Thanks for listening!
paulkerensa.com/oldradio
#048 Daimler, 5MG and 2BP: The In-Car Radios of 1923
#047 ”Hark, The Engine’s Failing”: The Closedown of 2MT Writtle
#046 Justin Webb on Leonard Crocombe... and January 1923
#045 2ZY Manchester and 5IT Birmingham Calling... with Jude Montague
#044 Hanso Idzerda and The Dutch Concerts - with Gordon Bathgate
#043 The First Outside Broadcast: A Night at the Opera!
#042 Drops Mic, Drops Callsign
#041 The BBC’s First Female Employee: Isobel Shields
#040 New Year 1923, Magnet House: ”Pandemonium Reigned!”
#039 SPECIAL: The Twelve Airplays of Christmas (with Ben Baker)
#038 SPECIAL: What Marconi Thought of Broadcasting... + 1920s ads
#037 SPECIAL: The Prehistory of the BBC (extended cut)
#036 Out with the Old: The First BBC New Year’s Eve
#035 Reith Begins!
#034 Newcastle‘s Christmas Launch: Let It 5NO, Let It 5NO, Let It 5NO!
#033 The First Couple of Marconi House: December 1922
#032 The Licence Fee Problem... of 1922
#031 The Hunt for BBC Premises, Burrows vs Marconi + Prof Gabriele Balbi
#030 The First BBC Staff: Reith, Burrows, Lewis, Anderson, White (+ David Hamilton)
#029 The First Listings: from Norman Long to Neville Chamberlain
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Irish Songs with Ken Murray
History Obscura
Historycal: Words that Shaped the World
The Rest Is History
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra