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Registered Charity No 1068428
About me Hi, I’m Jim Wood. I’ve been a presenter at Radio Halton for almost 18 years I first got a taste for radio after spending lots of time listening to Radio Caroline plus Radio 1 and Luxembourg (signal permitting). In fact my uncle's record was the first record played on Tony Blackburn's show as Radio 1 opened back in 1967. Now I wonder if you can work out who that is? I met Tony Blackburn and Stuart Henry in 1967. They both advised me that the best way into radio is to get involved as a volunteer at a Hospital radio station. Fast forward a few years and I was living in New York. I ended up working for WMHT TV in Schenectady. It’s a non commercial TV network, broadcasting some BBC shows plus shows of public interest. I sandwiched that with a spot presenting a radio show on WRPI Troy NY, a student station where I specialised in Rock and Prog. Another couple of slots came my way in Toronto including AM radio When I moved to Halton I started publishing The Bridge Music and Arts magazine. This was to give exposure to local bands and artists. The Bridge was very successful in the 90s, part-funded by Halton Arts Unit. It was available at the library and other places such as Frailers totally free. I wrote a large part of the magazine and interviewed many bands who visited the area such as Mick Abrahams and Blodwyn Pig. I have a long history writing about music in various magazines even back to 1968. I have had the dubious distinction of meeting most of my musical idols. Some of the anecdotes are occasionally featured on my "Back to the Sixties show every Wednesday from 10 am till 12 Midday. The 60s is my passion so why not spend a couple of hours listening in. I can't guarantee to physically take you back to the 60's but I can help to bring back lots of memories. I play loads of memorable titles and several that you have either never heard of before or forgotten. Feel free to ring me up on the Freephone on the wards (it won't cost you a penny and you don't have to dial a number) or Ext 3524 for a request or dedication. Let me know what was the first 45rpm you bought. Or even that embarrassing LP etc your relatives bought for you. Did you have a favourite pair of Hipsters or jeans? Did your mother forbid you to wear heavy Mascara like Dusty's? Let us know what your Mum and Dad thought about you wearing a Mini Skirt. Who was your favourite group and did you ever meet them especially The Beatles? Did you play in a local group in the 60s and especially let me know if you made a record? Did you have a favourite TV show in the 60s Ready Steady Go or comedy - even drama? Just pick up that phone - I promise not to bite. This is not another GOLD show so have a listen. The Sixties never sounded so good. Here’s a link to my Friends Reunited Blog where you can read some amusing/bonkers tales about me. http://mojoman1954.myfriendsreunited.com/home/ I’m always keen to hear from any local community groups. So if you are involved with a local group and want to tell us about your activities etc Just get in touch and I’ll arrange for you to come and talk to me about it On Air. You can contact me by phone or email me at Jim@radiohalton.org
Review of Dennis Locorriere
at The
Brindley 10/10/09 After months of waiting and staring at our concert tickets in anticipation, Dennis Locorriere, the “Voice of Dr Hook”, finally arrived at the Brindley. And no he is not the guy with the eye patch Ray Sawyer .A mistake that many people make. We had last seen him at Winsford Civic Centre 4 or 5 years ago. That was a great show lasting over 2 hours. However, as anyone who has visited both venues will know, the Brindley is far superior for vision and acoustics, in fact for me in every way! Dennis bounded onstage to a capacity crowd of very keen fans .He always seems to be on the move throughout his performances and so full of energy and enthusiasm that the audience can’t help but be carried along with him. He is a great raconteur and so we heard lots of about his life and music. One story, between songs, involved a guest appearance with his friend Elvis Costello when they were both living in Nashville Tennessee. Scattered throughout the concert were many tales of his days with the great Dr Hook. He played many of the hits from that time including The Millionaire, Sharing the Night Together, Cookie and Lila and When You’re In Love with a Beautiful Woman. We were encouraged to join in but most just preferred to hear him. He also delved into the Dr Hook archives playing some of the rarer songs that were new to many and certainly seemed to please the an enthusiastic crowd. There were lots of wonderful stories about the late Shel Silverstein who wrote many Dr Hook hits and collaborated with Dennis on others. It was obvious that he held Shel in very high esteem and feels that he influenced his life both professionally and privately. I was pleased to hear him also focus on his solo material including “Shine Son”, a marvellous tribute to his son Jess. During his performance of “The Heat” he reprised the Beatles “Here comes the Sun” and, later, in another number their “Norwegian Wood”. His guitar playing is superb, and believe me, I’ve been fortunate to see some of the best in the business! Overall Dennis truly had the audience in the palm of his hand. It’s a testament to his enthusiasm and energy that he seems to be in constant motion all over the stage whilst singing and playing and he certainly succeeded in weaving a spell over the Brindley audience. We were also fortunate to have a preview of some material from his new album due out next Spring. That’s certainly going to be on my “to buy” list. It was very interesting to hear how Dennis’s writing and performing styles have matured now he has hit the big 60. He assured us that he still felt as he had 20 years ago and he certainly does not look his age, in fact he looks better than when we last saw him. Dennis treated an ecstatic crowd to an encore of three songs including, one of my favourites, a blistering version of the Dr Hook hit “Queen of the Silver Dollar” taken from the Sloppy Seconds album. He thanked us all for being such a great audience on his first visit to this marvelous theatre. After the show I caught up with him for an autograph and photo. He noticed that I had the rare “Pleasure and Pain” Dr Hook box set so I got an autograph with a cartoon showing a shared memory from the last time I’d seen him. We shook hands and I gave him a Radio Halton pen, which he assures me he will treasure.
Review
of Carthy and Swarbrick at The Brindley
23/9/09 This week saw a visit to the Brindley Theatre by two of my all time Folk idols namely Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick. Dave formerly of Fairport Convention, Swarb as he is affectionately known, has been a huge influence on fiddle players in the UK and across the world. It was largely down to Dave Swarbrick that Fairport Convention made the now classic "Leige and Leaf" album featuring vocals by the much missed Sandy Denny. I had the pleasure of meeting Sandy a few times, firstly in 1968 and it was a joy to be in her company Martin Carthy's influence has also spread far and wide influencing Bob Dylan who credits him in the Freewheelin' album sleeve notes. Also Paul Simon who came to know Martin in the UK folk clubs when he visited in the early 60s during the Folk revival. Martin was a mentor to bands such as Steeleye Span whom he was a member of for some time and guided Fairport Convention in their early years plus his help and support with The Albion Band. The list goes on and on. Martin Carthy is also the husband of Norma Waterson and father to Eliza Carthy Swarb and Carthy have had a very long professional association together. In recent years Dave has been seriously ill. In 1999 The Telegraph produced his obituary whilst he was in hospital with a chest infection!! In 2004 he underwent a double lung transplant. Thankfully we still have him to produce great Folk music though
"Hospital radio is a fantastic service with volunteers giving their time free to entertain patients with music. When I have been in hospital which is quite considerable I have been very glad of it. As a musician you don't tend to realise the therapeutic effect it can have until you are receiving it yourself. Without having music and great friends around me in hospital I would have been climbing the walls. Keep up the good work." Later in the evening I had chance to meet Martin Carthy as you can see in the photos. I thanked him for the great evening of Traditional folk. He said well you could not have bought better seats than in the middle of the front row. Martin has previously played the Brindley and said that it's "a fantastic theatre to play with warm and appreciative audiences" It was a highly enjoyable evening and I look forward to their return to The Brindley
Registered Charity No 1068428 |
At
the interval I had chance to talk to Dave. We shared some fond memories of a
place called Kings Heath in Birmingham where we both used to live plus
reminiscing about some former mutual contacts. When I told him that I was from
Radio Halton his reaction was as follows