Paul Gambaccini
Encyclopedia
Paul Matthew Gambaccini (born April 2, 1949, New York) (nickname
d 'The Professor of Pop') is a radio and television presenter in the United Kingdom. He has dual United States and British nationality, having become a British citizen in 2005.
Gambaccini studied at Dartmouth College
, where he obtained a degree in history and at University College, Oxford
where he obtained a degree in politics, philosophy and economics. Having left Oxford, Gambaccini was considering further study in law at Harvard or Yale
but had the opportunity of writing for Rolling Stone
magazine as British correspondent. He attributes his broadcasting career to this post and especially an interview in 1973 with Elton John
which brought him to the attention of BBC Radio producer John Walters who arranged for him to present on BBC Radio 1
. He has since returned to Oxford
as the News International
Visiting Professor of Broadcast Media, where he delivered a series of lectures in January and February 2009. In February 2010 he was invited by the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University Andrew Hamilton
to deliver the inaugural LGBT lecture Out on Monday to the university's LGBT staff and students.
, alongside similar tips from radio programming talent at major commercial stations across the U.S.
"The Great Gambo", as he was later known, then started broadcasting in the UK on BBC Radio 1 in 1973, as a music reporter. He is known as a presenter of various US chart shows and presented the first of these in 1975. He was the only presenter of the Billboard US Top 30 singles chart in the UK every Saturday afternoon in the mid to late 1970s on Radio 1. The show continued until 1986 when he moved to independent radio. In 1990 he returned to Radio 1 but was sacrificed by controller Matthew Bannister
in 1993. In 1992, Gambaccini became a founding presenter on the UK's classical music station Classic FM
, where he presented the weekly Classical CD Chart. He left for BBC Radio 3
in 1995, where he presented an hour-long morning programme, in a slot formerly used for Composer of the Week. Gambaccini increased the audience, but came under attack as an example of the reforms that the controller was trying to introduce, but which did not go down well with the existing audience. Some listeners welcomed his presence, according to Radio 3 controller Nicholas Kenyon
, as their musical tastes had developed from Radio 1's content. He returned to Classic FM in 1997.
Alongside his work in music radio, he contributed regularly to BBC Radio 4
's long running arts programme Kaleidoscope until it ended in 1998, and had worked in this role on TV-am
. In 1998, he joined BBC Radio 2
, where he created his weekly America's Greatest Hits show. At the same time, in 2002, he quit Classic FM
, to present a weekly chart show on London's Jazz FM
until 2004. He was also a contributor to the London station LBC
when it was taken over by Chrysalis.
He has worked widely in British radio and television, mainly related to music, film, and the arts. He narrated the BBC Radio adaptation
of Espedair Street
, the Iain Banks
novel. He co-edited the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles
from 1977 to 1996. He has presented the annual Ivor Novello Awards since 1990, the Music Industry Trust's Man of the Year Dinner since 1999 and the Sony Radio Academy Awards since 2000.
From 24 March 2008, he took over as chairman of the Radio 4
music quiz Counterpoint
from Edward Seckerson and in August 2008, he returned to Classic FM, to present 'Paul Gambaccini's Hall of Heroes' series, on Sunday evenings between 9 and 10.
Gambaccini currently presents his weekly America's Greatest Hits show on BBC Radio 2
on Saturday from 8pm to 10pm and contributes to various publications. He lives in the Southbank area of London.
Gambaccini also briefly appeared on "L", the 1978 Godley and Creme album, during the first track, "The sporting life", as the "bad Samaritan" voices.
. He is patron of the London Gay Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, he won an episode of celebrity Mastermind
, with his chosen beneficiary charity being Stonewall
.
in 1996. He was nominated as Music Broadcaster of the Year in the Sony Radio Academy Awards in 2000, 2002 and 2003, winning in 2003.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d 'The Professor of Pop') is a radio and television presenter in the United Kingdom. He has dual United States and British nationality, having become a British citizen in 2005.
Gambaccini studied at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, where he obtained a degree in history and at University College, Oxford
University College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
where he obtained a degree in politics, philosophy and economics. Having left Oxford, Gambaccini was considering further study in law at Harvard or Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
but had the opportunity of writing for Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine as British correspondent. He attributes his broadcasting career to this post and especially an interview in 1973 with Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
which brought him to the attention of BBC Radio producer John Walters who arranged for him to present on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
. He has since returned to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
as the News International
News International
News International Ltd is the United Kingdom newspaper publishing division of News Corporation. Until June 2002, it was called News International plc....
Visiting Professor of Broadcast Media, where he delivered a series of lectures in January and February 2009. In February 2010 he was invited by the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University Andrew Hamilton
Andrew D. Hamilton
Andrew David Hamilton is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford.-Early life:He was a pupil at the Royal Grammar School, Guildford and studied chemistry at the University of Exeter. After studying for a master’s degree at the University of British Columbia he received his PhD from...
to deliver the inaugural LGBT lecture Out on Monday to the university's LGBT staff and students.
Broadcasting career
Gambaccini's broadcasting career commenced at WDCR-AM (WDCR (defunct)), a former student-operated Top 40 station in Hanover, New Hampshire, owned by Dartmouth College, which was one of the most influential college stations on the air in America during that era. His talent for broadcasting was clearly in evidence in those days since he served as WDCR's music director. Gambaccini may have first achieved wider prominence when his tips for playlisted songs likely to see greater chart action were published in the May 11, 1968 issue of the international trade publication Billboard (magazine)Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
, alongside similar tips from radio programming talent at major commercial stations across the U.S.
"The Great Gambo", as he was later known, then started broadcasting in the UK on BBC Radio 1 in 1973, as a music reporter. He is known as a presenter of various US chart shows and presented the first of these in 1975. He was the only presenter of the Billboard US Top 30 singles chart in the UK every Saturday afternoon in the mid to late 1970s on Radio 1. The show continued until 1986 when he moved to independent radio. In 1990 he returned to Radio 1 but was sacrificed by controller Matthew Bannister
Matthew Bannister
Richard Matthew Bannister is a British media executive and broadcaster. After attending King Edward VII School , he graduated in law at the University of Nottingham in 1978, and joined BBC Radio Nottingham as a trainee reporter and subsequently the presenter of its speech-based breakfast show,...
in 1993. In 1992, Gambaccini became a founding presenter on the UK's classical music station Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
, where he presented the weekly Classical CD Chart. He left for BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
in 1995, where he presented an hour-long morning programme, in a slot formerly used for Composer of the Week. Gambaccini increased the audience, but came under attack as an example of the reforms that the controller was trying to introduce, but which did not go down well with the existing audience. Some listeners welcomed his presence, according to Radio 3 controller Nicholas Kenyon
Nicholas Kenyon
Sir Nicholas Roger Kenyon CBE is an English music administrator, editor and writer on music. He was responsible for the BBC Proms 1996-2007 following which he was appointed Managing Director of the Barbican Centre, Europe's largest multi-arts centre.-Education and career:After attending St Bede's...
, as their musical tastes had developed from Radio 1's content. He returned to Classic FM in 1997.
Alongside his work in music radio, he contributed regularly to BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
's long running arts programme Kaleidoscope until it ended in 1998, and had worked in this role on TV-am
TV-am
TV-am was a breakfast television station that broadcast to the United Kingdom from 1 February 1983 to 31 December 1992. It made history by being the first national operator of a commercial television franchise at breakfast-time , and broadcast every day of the week for most or all of the period...
. In 1998, he joined BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, where he created his weekly America's Greatest Hits show. At the same time, in 2002, he quit Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
, to present a weekly chart show on London's Jazz FM
102.2 Jazz FM
102.2 Jazz FM was a local jazz and soul music station for London run by GMG Radio. The station was based and broadcast from Castlereagh Street in London to around 15.5 million people within the broadcasting area...
until 2004. He was also a contributor to the London station LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
when it was taken over by Chrysalis.
He has worked widely in British radio and television, mainly related to music, film, and the arts. He narrated the BBC Radio adaptation
Espedair Street (radio)
Espedair Street was a four part BBC radio adaptation of the Iain Banks novel Espedair Street broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 1998. The dramatisation was by Joe Dunlop and it was produced by Dave Batchelor...
of Espedair Street
Espedair Street
-Plot introduction:The book tells the story of the rise to fame of Dan Weir , a bass guitar player in a rock and roll band called Frozen Gold, and of his struggles to be happy now that he is rich and famous.-Plot summary:...
, the Iain Banks
Iain Banks
Iain Banks is a Scottish writer. He writes mainstream fiction under the name Iain Banks, and science fiction as Iain M. Banks, including the initial of his adopted middle name Menzies...
novel. He co-edited the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles
Guinness Book of British Hit Singles
British Hit Singles & Albums was a music reference book published in the United Kingdom by HiT Entertainment's "Guinness World Records". It listed all the singles and albums featured in the Top 75 Charts in UK, as compiled by the editors of British Hit Singles & Albums...
from 1977 to 1996. He has presented the annual Ivor Novello Awards since 1990, the Music Industry Trust's Man of the Year Dinner since 1999 and the Sony Radio Academy Awards since 2000.
From 24 March 2008, he took over as chairman of the Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
music quiz Counterpoint
Counterpoint (radio)
Counterpoint is a BBC Radio 4 quiz. Questions are about music, from classical, jazz, pop, musicals, and all other forms of music. It was originally hosted by Ned Sherrin...
from Edward Seckerson and in August 2008, he returned to Classic FM, to present 'Paul Gambaccini's Hall of Heroes' series, on Sunday evenings between 9 and 10.
Gambaccini currently presents his weekly America's Greatest Hits show on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
on Saturday from 8pm to 10pm and contributes to various publications. He lives in the Southbank area of London.
Gambaccini also briefly appeared on "L", the 1978 Godley and Creme album, during the first track, "The sporting life", as the "bad Samaritan" voices.
Charity work
He came out as homosexual during the 1980s and has been a supporter of homosexual-related charities. In 1995, he was named 'Philanthropist of the Year' by the National Charity Fundraisers for his work on behalf of the Terrence Higgins TrustTerrence Higgins Trust
Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns on various issues related to AIDS and HIV. In particular, the charity aims to reduce the spread of HIV and promote good sexual health ; to provide services on a national and local level to people with, affected by, or at risk of...
. He is patron of the London Gay Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, he won an episode of celebrity Mastermind
Mastermind (TV series)
Mastermind is a British quiz show, well known for its challenging questions, intimidating setting and air of seriousness.Devised by Bill Wright, the basic format of Mastermind has never changed — four and in later contests five contestants face two rounds, one on a specialised subject of the...
, with his chosen beneficiary charity being Stonewall
Stonewall (UK)
Stonewall is a lesbian, gay and bisexual rights charity in the United Kingdom named after the Stonewall Inn of Stonewall riots fame. Now the largest gay equality organization not only in the UK but in Europe, it was formed in 1989 by political activists and others lobbying against section 28 of the...
.
Awards
Gambaccini received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio award from the Radio AcademyRadio Academy
The Radio Academy is a registered charity that is dedicated to 'the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production'....
in 1996. He was nominated as Music Broadcaster of the Year in the Sony Radio Academy Awards in 2000, 2002 and 2003, winning in 2003.