Whispering Bob's 40 years of radio
'Whispering' Bob Harris, a champion of new music, admired broadcasting figure and former Northampton schoolboy, has celebrated 40 years as a radio DJ.
Mr Harris, now 64, hosted his first show as a Radio One DJ on August 19 1970. Four decades later and he is still helping new acts to break through with both his Radio 2 shows.
The former Northampton school boy, who attended Trinity High School, now Unity College, is most well known for presenting the BBC2 television show, The Old Grey Whistle Test, in the 1970s and 1980s.
The music show helped to introduce new bands to the UK, including rock greats such as The Eagles and Steely Dan.
Speaking exclusively to the Chronicle & Echo, Mr Harris said: "It's wonderful to be celebrating 40 years, I'm feeling absolutely fantastic.
"It's been the busiest week I've had in a long time.
"I'm very lucky to still be right in the middle of everything, I feel very privileged.
"A lot has changed in many ways over the 40 years, technology in particular. We had no digital recording back then, it was all analogue.
"There's a wider range of music styles and many ways for new artists to get their music out.
"But I think radio is more popular now than it has ever been.
"The demise of radio was predicted but it never happened.
"Radio is more energetic now than it ever has been."
In 2007 the veteran DJ received an honorary fellowship from The University of Northampton. A month later he revealed that he was battling prostate cancer and underwent a course of radiotherapy treatment.
Amongst celebrations and hosting the Bob Harris Country show on Radio 2 last night, Mr Harris is looking forward to a special show on Sunday to mark the milestone.
He said: "It's going to be a great show.
"We've got a lot of guests appearing, many who started the same time I did so we will have a lot to reminisce about, it will be quite surreal.
"I hope I can continue doing what I'm doing for a long time. Here's to another 10 years."
Listen to the Bob Harris show on Radio Two between noon and 3am on Sunday.
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