Peter Powell (disc jockey)
Encyclopedia
Peter Powell is a former disc jockey, popular on BBC Radio 1
in the late 1970s and 1980s, who has a second career in talent management.
, a boys' Independent school
in Rutland
in England
. He did not go to university. Powell began his broadcasting career as the first voice on air when BBC Radio Birmingham launched in 1970, and then had a brief spell on Radio 1
in 1972.
He then went to Radio Luxembourg
before rejoining Radio 1
in 1977. Almost immediately after his arrival at the station he made his debut as a Top of the Pops
presenter, joining Radio 1 colleagues on the roster.
In 1980 he took over the weekday afternoon show running from 3.30-5.30pm, before taking over the weekday teatime slot in 1981 from 5-7pm. The show went out from 4.30-7pm in 1982.
His best remembered features are 5 45s at 5.45, Powell played 5 new singles, and the Record Race, in which listeners had to identify songs purely from their intros. Every Tuesday he ran through the new singles chart which had been revealed at lunchtime (until 1987) - the first chance many young listeners got to hear the new Top 40. He also featured the album chart on Wednesday evenings.
A lesser-known fact about Powell's career is that Pete Tong
- now one of Radio 1's longest-serving DJs - made his first appearance on the network on Powell's show in the early 1980s, presenting a dance music
feature. Powell was an early champion of a number of hugely successful mainstream 1980s acts, including Spandau Ballet
, Culture Club
and Duran Duran
who he was the compere of Duran Duran`s charity concert at Aston Villa football ground 1983, and also 3 years later the Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986 which featured George Harrison
.
From 1984 until his departure from the station on 25 September 1988 Powell presented the weekend breakfast show from 8-10am. Throughout his 11-year stay at Radio 1 he became strongly associated with the Radio 1 Roadshow, which he presented each summer, and other outside broadcasts. He was also known for hosting the TV coverage of the annual Montreux
Rock Festival and for his high-profile relationship with fellow Radio 1 DJ Janice Long
.
In 1990, Powell married Anthea Turner
, a TV host who was previously in a relationship with Powell's successor on the teatime show, Bruno Brookes
. He was also her manager. Their marriage broke up in 1998.
Powell continues to work as a manager to many performers in the UK.
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...
in the late 1970s and 1980s, who has a second career in talent management.
Early career
Powell was educated at Uppingham SchoolUppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
, a boys' Independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in Rutland
Rutland
Rutland is a landlocked county in central England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He did not go to university. Powell began his broadcasting career as the first voice on air when BBC Radio Birmingham launched in 1970, and then had a brief spell on 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...
in 1972.
He then went to Radio Luxembourg
Radio Luxembourg (English)
Radio Luxembourg is a commercial broadcaster in many languages from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is nowadays known in most non-English languages as RTL ....
before rejoining 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...
in 1977. Almost immediately after his arrival at the station he made his debut as a Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
presenter, joining Radio 1 colleagues on the roster.
Radio 1 career
Powell began as a weekend presenter on the station, presenting a Sunday Morning show from 10am-1pm, before a move to Saturday mornings in October 1978 again from 10am-1pm.In 1980 he took over the weekday afternoon show running from 3.30-5.30pm, before taking over the weekday teatime slot in 1981 from 5-7pm. The show went out from 4.30-7pm in 1982.
His best remembered features are 5 45s at 5.45, Powell played 5 new singles, and the Record Race, in which listeners had to identify songs purely from their intros. Every Tuesday he ran through the new singles chart which had been revealed at lunchtime (until 1987) - the first chance many young listeners got to hear the new Top 40. He also featured the album chart on Wednesday evenings.
A lesser-known fact about Powell's career is that Pete Tong
Pete Tong
Peter "Pete" Tong is an English DJ who works for BBC Radio 1. He is known worldwide by fans of electronic music for hosting programmes such as Essential Mix and Essential Selection on the radio service, which can be heard through Internet radio streams, for his record label FFRR Records, and for...
- now one of Radio 1's longest-serving DJs - made his first appearance on the network on Powell's show in the early 1980s, presenting a dance music
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
feature. Powell was an early champion of a number of hugely successful mainstream 1980s acts, including Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
, Culture Club
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
and Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
who he was the compere of Duran Duran`s charity concert at Aston Villa football ground 1983, and also 3 years later the Birmingham Heart Beat Charity Concert 1986 which featured George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
.
From 1984 until his departure from the station on 25 September 1988 Powell presented the weekend breakfast show from 8-10am. Throughout his 11-year stay at Radio 1 he became strongly associated with the Radio 1 Roadshow, which he presented each summer, and other outside broadcasts. He was also known for hosting the TV coverage of the annual Montreux
Montreux
Montreux is a municipality in the district of Riviera-Pays-d'Enhaut in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.It is located on Lake Geneva at the foot of the Alps and has a population, , of and nearly 90,000 in the agglomeration.- History :...
Rock Festival and for his high-profile relationship with fellow Radio 1 DJ Janice Long
Janice Long
Janice Long is an English radio broadcaster currently working on BBC Radio 2. Her show is on Sunday to Thursday nights from midnight to 02:00. She is the older sister of TV and radio personality Keith Chegwin.-Early career:...
.
Management
Since leaving the station he has not returned to radio and has concentrated on building his management company (James Grant Media Group) with his business partner Russ Lindsay and other financial activities, which have proved highly successful.In 1990, Powell married Anthea Turner
Anthea Turner
Anthea Millicent Turner is an English television presenter and media personality.-Education:Turner was educated at the independent St. Dominic's High School in Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent....
, a TV host who was previously in a relationship with Powell's successor on the teatime show, Bruno Brookes
Bruno Brookes
Bruno Brookes is a British radio presenter who became prominent in the 1980s.-Early life and career:...
. He was also her manager. Their marriage broke up in 1998.
Powell continues to work as a manager to many performers in the UK.