Gary Crowley
Encyclopedia
Gary Crowley is an English
broadcaster and DJ.
When he was at school (Rutherford school, Penfold st, Marylebone, London) in the late Seventies Crowley started a punk fanzine titled The Modern World, interviewing some of the most important bands of the day including the Sex Pistols
, the Clash
and the Jam
.
After leaving school he took up a junior position at the Decca
record label. A short time later he moved jobs to take over from Danny Baker
as the telephone receptionist for the NME
at their offices in Carnaby Street
. At the time the weekly music paper was at the very centre of the punk explosion under the editorship of Neil Spencer and featured writers such as Julie Burchill
, Tony Parsons
and Nick Kent
.
Crowley's next employment was with Clive Banks' independent plugging and publishing company and through connections there he was offered a job as a DJ on London's independent commercial station Capital Radio
. At the age of 19 he became UK radio's youngest DJ.
TV presenting soon followed, with a Saturday morning children's show on ITV
called Fun Factory and as the presenter for the Runaround spin-off Poparound which ran in 1985 and 1986.
His TV career continued through the Nineties with the popular 'post-pub' music show The Beat ran on ITV
from 1991–94 and in 2008 Gary Crowley presented on Rockworld TV
.
Crowley's DJ broadcasting career began with his Capital Radio
break and continued with an influential show called Magic Box on BBC Radio London.
In 1997 Crowley left what was then Greater London Radio to join up as the star presenter on London's first indie station XFM
, the product of a team including NME journalist Steve Lamacq
, programme controller Sammy Jacobs, record industry mogul Chris Parry
and also featured Ricky Gervais
as "head of speech".
XFM's launch date was set for 1 September 1997, with Crowley the first deejay to broadcast on the station. The day before launch, Diana, Princess of Wales
died. The broadcast test tape was discontinued and XFM’s management considered delaying the launch. But a week of promotional live events meant that financially it had to go ahead as planned.
So it was that at midday 1 September 1997 Gary Crowley opened a new radio station with the words "Welcome to XFM, broadcasting on 104.9. We find ourselves starting a radio station today in circumstances we wouldn’t have wished, following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. As a mark of respect to someone we saw as someone going her own way… we wish to dedicate the activities of our launch day to her memory."
Crowley continued to present a mid-morning show until his old employers (and XFM rival) Capital Radio bought the station. He was offered an overnight "graveyard shift
" show and decided to quit and return to the BBC, on what was now BBC London 94.9
, where he continues to broadcast a two hour weekly show on Saturday evenings. In addition, Gary can often be found on BBC 6music filling in for other presenters.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
broadcaster and DJ.
When he was at school (Rutherford school, Penfold st, Marylebone, London) in the late Seventies Crowley started a punk fanzine titled The Modern World, interviewing some of the most important bands of the day including the Sex Pistols
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...
, the Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
and the Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
.
After leaving school he took up a junior position at the Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
record label. A short time later he moved jobs to take over from Danny Baker
Danny Baker
Danny Baker is an English comedy writer, journalist, radio DJ and screenwriter. Since the late 1970s, he has worked for a wide range of publications and broadcasters including NME, LWT, the BBC, and Talk Radio....
as the telephone receptionist for the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
at their offices in Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street
Carnaby Street is a pedestrianised shopping street in London, United Kingdom, located in the Soho district, near Oxford Street and Regent Street. It is home to numerous fashion and lifestyle retailers, including a large number of independent fashion boutiques...
. At the time the weekly music paper was at the very centre of the punk explosion under the editorship of Neil Spencer and featured writers such as Julie Burchill
Julie Burchill
Julie Burchill is an English writer and journalist. Beginning as a writer for the New Musical Express at the age of 17, she has written for newspapers such as The Sunday Times and The Guardian. She is a self-declared "militant feminist". She has several times been involved in legal action...
, Tony Parsons
Tony Parsons (British journalist)
Tony Parsons is a British journalist broadcaster and author. He began his career as a music journalist on the NME, writing about punk music. Later, he wrote for The Daily Telegraph, before going on to write his current column for the Daily Mirror...
and Nick Kent
Nick Kent
Nick Kent is a British rock critic and musician.-Career:Along with writers including Paul Morley, Charles Shaar Murray and Danny Baker, Nick Kent is seen as one of the most important and influential UK music journalists of the 1970s. He wrote for the British music publication New Musical Express,...
.
Crowley's next employment was with Clive Banks' independent plugging and publishing company and through connections there he was offered a job as a DJ on London's independent commercial station Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
. At the age of 19 he became UK radio's youngest DJ.
TV presenting soon followed, with a Saturday morning children's show on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
called Fun Factory and as the presenter for the Runaround spin-off Poparound which ran in 1985 and 1986.
His TV career continued through the Nineties with the popular 'post-pub' music show The Beat ran on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
from 1991–94 and in 2008 Gary Crowley presented on Rockworld TV
Rockworld TV
Rockworld TV was a British television channel which featured rock music, and was aimed to highlight "underground" lifestyles and artists.It broadcasted on Sky Digital ch. 378, and also streamed content online...
.
Crowley's DJ broadcasting career began with his Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
break and continued with an influential show called Magic Box on BBC Radio London.
In 1997 Crowley left what was then Greater London Radio to join up as the star presenter on London's first indie station XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
, the product of a team including NME journalist Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq
Steve Lamacq , sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo or "The Cat" is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations BBC 6 Music and BBC Radio 2.-Early career:He was born in Basingstoke, Hampshire...
, programme controller Sammy Jacobs, record industry mogul Chris Parry
Chris Parry
Chris Parry was a theatrical lighting designer. He worked on several Broadway and West End productions and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design three times, winning for The Who's Tommy...
and also featured Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
as "head of speech".
XFM's launch date was set for 1 September 1997, with Crowley the first deejay to broadcast on the station. The day before launch, Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
died. The broadcast test tape was discontinued and XFM’s management considered delaying the launch. But a week of promotional live events meant that financially it had to go ahead as planned.
So it was that at midday 1 September 1997 Gary Crowley opened a new radio station with the words "Welcome to XFM, broadcasting on 104.9. We find ourselves starting a radio station today in circumstances we wouldn’t have wished, following the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. As a mark of respect to someone we saw as someone going her own way… we wish to dedicate the activities of our launch day to her memory."
Crowley continued to present a mid-morning show until his old employers (and XFM rival) Capital Radio bought the station. He was offered an overnight "graveyard shift
Graveyard shift
A graveyard shift means a shift of work running through the early hours of the morning, especially one from midnight until 8 am. See shift work.Graveyard shift may also refer to:In movies, television, and video games:...
" show and decided to quit and return to the BBC, on what was now BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
, where he continues to broadcast a two hour weekly show on Saturday evenings. In addition, Gary can often be found on BBC 6music filling in for other presenters.
External links
- http://www.myspace.com/garycrowley