Greg Edwards (DJ)
| Greg Edwards | |
|---|---|
| File:Greg Edwards DJ Photo.jpg | |
| Born | 24 December 1947 Grenada |
| Other names | The Buck eyed buddy and refugee from across the sea |
| Occupation | Radio Broadcaster and DJ |
Greg Edwards (born 24 December, 1947) is a radio broadcaster and DJ. He is well known as the founder of Capital Radio's 'Soul Spectrum' programme (from 1975 onwards) and for the promotion of PIR records and associated artists when it was formed in 1971.
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Early career
Edwards was born in Grenada and raised in New York although he moved to the UK in 1971 in order to assist in the running of the newly formed Philadelphia International record label which was founded by writer-producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff. He worked as an Executive at CBS records during this time where he held responsibility for the marketing and promotion of soul music. He held responsibility for the promotion of musicians Earth, Wind and Fire, Lou Rawls and Johnny Nash amongst others. He also single-handedly started up the careers, in the UK, of the O'Jays in 1972 and the Three Degrees in 1974.[citation needed]
BBC and Capital Radio
Whilst still working for CBS, Edwards was approached by Dave Price the radio producer at the BBC to stand in for the Emperor Rosko radio show in 1972. Rosko had to return to Los Angeles on leave as his father Joe Pasternak was ill. It is here that his career in radio began, working for BBC Radio 1 on a Saturday 12 - 3pm slot.
It was Edwards's intention to promote soul and jazz music which had very little airplay at that time. He did present two editions of the long-running music show Top of the Pops in March 1974. However, he decided to leave the BBC and work for the new Independent Radio Station set up in October 1973 called Capital Radio. Due to contractual agreements with the BBC he was not able to join Capital until April 1974, some six months after the station had commenced broadcasting. He was responsible for setting up regional promotion offices based in London, the Midlands and Manchester with the purpose of promoting soul, and jazz music around the UK.[citation needed]
It was at Capital Radio that Edwards worked alongside DJs such as the late Kenny Everett, Dave Cash (disc jockey) and Chris Tarrant. His "Soul Spectrum" show (the title was created by Edwards to show the spectrum of black music) which he started in 1975, and was broadcast Saturdays from 5pm - 8pm, proved immensely popular amongst younger listeners who enjoyed soul and jazz music.[citation needed] Indeed, many listeners did not venture out until they had heard the romantic "bathroom call".[citation needed] He often referred to himself on these shows as "The buck eyed buddy and refugee from across the sea".[citation needed] This referred of course to his US origins but was his calling card on Capital Radio.
Edwards was well-known for promoting record labels on his station. He once said, "Buy anything that is issued on the Prelude label". The station even issued a 'soul spectrum playlist' each Saturday which was available from the station in Euston Tower, London.
Lyceum Ballroom Venue - Best disco in town
In the late 1970s and through to the early 1980s Edwards began live broadcasts (which were also broadcast with DJ Jeff Young on Capital Radio's 95.8 MHz FM frequency and 194 metres medium wave) of his show from the Lyceum Ballroom in the Strand, London. These shows were known as "The best disco in town" broadcast every Friday evening.[citation needed] People would travel to this venue from around the UK, many in named groups e.g. 'Brighton Funk Formation'.[citation needed] For those who came from London Greg would get the audience to cheer (and whistle) when their area of London was given a shout i.e. north, south, east and west London.[citation needed] He would be one of the first DJs to play soul and disco records to an audience live on a national radio station in the UK.[citation needed]
He was responsible, along with DJ Robbie Vincent for promoting live bands from this venue, in particular Frankie Beverley and Maze.[citation needed]
Later years - DJ work
The title of his show at Capital Radio coined the Soul Spectrum tag used for a series of soul collection CDs.[citation needed] He left Capital Radio in 1987, worked at Sunset Radio, Manchester from 1990 - 1992 and returned to the airwaves in 1994 with the Bridge on Jazz FM (UK) where he worked until leaving for Capital Gold.[citation needed] He has been a guest DJ at the Caister Soul Weekender events held twice each year. He was one of the DJs at the inaugural 'National Soul Weekender' in 1979.[citation needed]
Current work
Edwards now works as a DJ travelling to venues around the UK on a regular basis including internet radio station Jazz Funk Soul Radio's (JFSR] "Bless the Funk" events held each year organized by Dave Marley. He also currently presents a programme on radio station "Mi Soul" every Sunday 1pm - 3pm called 'Soul Spectrum'.
In 2014, Edwards was rated as number 5 in the magazine Blues and Soul's Poll of The Most Essential Black Music DJs of the past 40 years.[citation needed]
He has lived in Hampshire since 1995. His hobbies include gardening, studying architecture, history and ten-pin bowling.
