Sad news again. Another little piece of my childhood has gone, with the departure of the lovely Annie Nightingale for the rave tent in Fabulon.
Famously, she became the first female DJ to appear on BBC Radio 1 (in 1970) - and she was still there more than 50 years later (her most recent show went out in December)!
Her Sunday Afternoon Request Show (that was on straight after the Top 40 in the 70s/80s) was essential listening when I was young, and it was after she took over hosting duties on The Old Grey Whistle Test on BBC 2 television (and the show's music changed to more contemporary stuff) that I first discovered two of my lifelong passions, Blondie [see here] and Gary Numan/Tubeway Army!
With her eternal love for new and diverse styles of music - everything from X-Ray Spex to the Chemical Brothers to Skrillex - even at her venerable age she was always ahead of the game. Every generation of Radio 1 listener (and every lover of music) owes her a great debt of gratitude...
RIP, Anne Avril Nightingale (1st April 1940 - 11th January 2024)
...et dire que le BBC était à une époque contre la musique rock 'n roll.
ReplyDeleteAnne Nightengale, elle est maintenant un rossignol pour Fabulon.
*d'Anjou
The BBC has a strange history of prudishness and a dubious stance of "protecting the establishment's morals", hence why it's known as "Auntie Beeb" - Annie ignored all of that, and we loved her for it! Jx
DeleteSorry to hear this, a lot of the great DJ's are gone, can't say I like any of the new ones and rarely listen to Radio anymore due to it.
ReplyDeleteI can't comment on the state of US radio - probably too shouty for delicate British tastes, no doubt 😂. Over here, we have more than our fair share of trash, but the BBC still has the best - basically because among its myriad channels, it covers just about all musical tastes... Jx
DeleteShe must have been incredible to succeed and survive in the industry all those years.
ReplyDeleteShe truly was - a unique and irrepressible woman, and a role-model (and mentor) for all who came after her. The tributes pouring in from the likes of Jo Wiley, Lauren Laverne, Annie Mac and Zoe Ball are a testament to that. Jx
DeleteShe was truly passionate about music. Genuine passion can take you a long way - she will always be a great role model.
ReplyDeleteSx
She remained true to that passion for music for five decades. Truly remarkable! Jx
DeleteShe was fab an icon and a role model and a gardener. Very sad news indeed
ReplyDeleteI didn't know she was a gardener? She struck me more as someone who would sit and drink a whisky and soda on the veranda, not digging in bulbs. Jx
DeleteI remember her!
ReplyDeleteShe was around for a long time... Jx
Delete