Jimmy Savile – DJ Originator Or More Smoke And Mirrors?

Just over 12 months ago, on October 29th 2011, the TV and radio personality Sir Jimmy Savile died 2 days before his 85th birthday (he was born on Halloween 1926). He was regarded as one of the great British eccentrics, but there were always rumours about deviant behaviour, although nothing proven. Apart from his contribution to broadcasting, Savile was also said to be the first DJ, not only in Britain, but the World, to use twin-turntables, back in the 1940’s, making him an unlikely icon to DJ’s of the modern era.

By |2025-04-07T10:37:51+00:00November 21, 2012|Books, DJ / Club Culture, Documentaries, Misc, Radio, Read, The Fifties, The Seventies, The Sixties, TV|29 Comments
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Passing It On

Before I headed off on tour I pulled out my recently acquired copy of Bob Dylan's autobiography 'Chronicles: Volume One' (2004), which I'd specifically earmarked for this trip. However, on my connecting flight from Manchester to London I realised that rather than packing it in my hand baggage, as intended, I must have put in my suitcase, so, with my luggage checked through to Hong Kong, when I arrived at Heathrow I went into WH Smith to see if I could find something else to read on the journey. I was really looking forward to the Dylan book, so, when I saw it on the shelf I decided to get another copy, and pass the spare one on somewhere along the way.

By |2025-04-07T10:37:55+00:00February 22, 2012|Books, CD’s / Digital, DJ / Club Culture, DJ Appearances, Read, The Fifties, The Forties, The Sixties, The Thirties|8 Comments
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Confused, Misused And In The Dark

The issue of racism is well and truly back in the news following recent events - the Stephen Lawrence trial, the murder of Anuj Bidve, an Indian student in Salford, the ‘My Tram Experience’ YouTube clip, the Suffolk ‘gollywog in the window’ case, the Diane Abbott ‘divide and rule’ tweet, and, of course, a whole series of football related incidents, which have blown-up to a level that few could have envisaged when I made my ‘Racism In English Football’ post just a few months ago, at the end of October

By |2025-04-07T10:37:56+00:00January 13, 2012|Black Culture, DVD, The Eighties, The Fifties, The Seventies, The Sixties, Video|23 Comments
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Eve Arnold

The acclaimed American photographer, Eve Arnold, died last week at the grand old age of 99. Best known for her photographs of Marilyn Monroe (taken over a 10 year period), especially those on the set of her final film, ‘The Misfits’ (1961), she had unrivalled access to the movie icon with her shots, often candid, capturing the human side of the Hollywood legend.

By |2025-04-07T10:37:56+00:00January 10, 2012|Black Culture, Fashion, Photography, RIP, The Fifties, The Sixties|2 Comments
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Sir Jimmy Savile

Seminal British Disc-Jockey Sir Jimmy Savile died today, two days before his 85th birthday. Leeds born Savile claimed to be the first DJ to use two turntables, in the late 40’s. Although this remains disputed, there’s no doubt that Savile was a pioneer when it came to playing records in dance halls, most notably in his home city and across the Pennines in Manchester.

By |2025-04-07T10:37:56+00:00October 29, 2011|Manchester, Radio, RIP, The Eighties, The Fifties, The Forties, The Nineties, The Seventies, The Sixties, TV|10 Comments
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Three From Seven

‘Seven Samurai’ (1954), directed by Akira Kurosawa, is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest films ever made. Set in Japan in 1587, it’s the story of a village of poor farmers who hire seven ronin (masterless samurai) to protect them from bandits who will return after the harvest to steal their crops. Kurasawa, widely regarded as Japan’s greatest director, would go on to make other essential movies, including ‘Throne Of Blood’ (1957), ‘Yojimbo’ (1961), and ‘Ran’ (1985), but ‘Seven Samurai’ remained his defining work.

By |2025-04-07T10:37:58+00:00August 31, 2011|DVD, Film, See, The Fifties, Video|2 Comments
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Jerry Leiber & Nick Ashford‏

Two black music greats died this week. To name but some of the songs they co-wrote with their partners: ‘Ain't No Mountain High Enough’, ‘Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing’, ‘California Soul’, ‘Don’t Cost You Nothing’, ‘Hound Dog’, ‘I’m Every Woman’, ‘Is That All There Is?’, ‘It Seems To Hang On’, ‘Jailhouse Rock’, ‘Kansas City’, ‘On Broadway’, ‘Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)’, ‘Spanish Harlem’, ‘Stand By Me’, ‘Surrender’, ‘There Goes My Baby’, ‘Yakety Yak’, ‘You're All I Need To Get By’

By |2025-04-07T10:37:58+00:00August 24, 2011|Black Culture, Records, RIP, The Fifties, The Seventies, The Sixties|1 Comment
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Elizabeth Taylor

Having suffered ill health for some time, screen goddess Elizabeth Taylor died last week, aged 79. Born in London in 1932 (of American parents), Taylor was a true Hollywood icon, a legendary violet-eyed beauty who was also a fine actress. Having become a child star, due to her appearances in ‘Lassie Come Home’ (1943) and the following year’s ‘National Velvet’ (her co-stars being a dog and a horse respectively), her reputation was further enhanced via roles in films including ‘Little Women’ (1949), ‘Father Of The Bride’ (1950), ‘A Place In The Sun’ (1951) and ‘Giant’ (1956), where she appeared alongside James Dean and Rock Hudson.

By |2025-04-07T10:37:59+00:00March 28, 2011|Film, Read, RIP, The Eighties, The Fifties, The Forties, The Nineties, The Seventies, The Sixties|1 Comment
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