Alan Freeman: Difference between revisions
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Freeman originally wanted to be a singer, but decided his voice was not strong enough. He gained work as an announcer radio station 3KZ in Melbourne, and by the early [[1950]]s had combined his roles of presenter, reader of commercials, and singer of various song selections. |
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Freeman was best known for presenting the [[BBC Radio 1]] Rock Show (initially from [[1973]] to [[1978]], and later from [[1989]] to [[1993]]) and ''[[Pick of the Pops]]'', which he first hosted for the [[BBC]] (originally on the [[BBC Light Programme|Light Programme]]) in [[1961]] and, apart from brief interruptions in [[1962]] and [[1963]], continued to present until [[1972]], later reviving it on Radio 1 ([[1989]]-[[1992]]) and Radio 2 ([[1997]]-[[2000]]). |
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In [[1957]] he took a holiday to [[Great Britain]] and stayed, starting out as a summer relief disc jockey on [[Radio Luxembourg]]. |
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In [[1961]] he moved to the [[BBC Light Programme]] as presenter of the ''"Records Around Five"'' show, which was introduced by his signature tune ''"At The Sign Of The Swinging Cymbal."'' In September [[1961]] he introduced ''"[[Pick Of The Pops]]"'' as part of a Saturday evening show ''"Trad Tavern"''. ''"Pick Of The Pops"'' became a permanent show in its own right in [[1962]], with Freeman fronting it until [[1972]]. |
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Freeman then moved to presenting the [[BBC Radio 1]] Rock Show until [[1978]], and later from [[1989]] to [[1993]]. He also revived ''"Pick of the Pops"'' on Radio 1 from [[1989]] thru [[1992]], and then [[Radio 2]] from [[1997]] thru [[2000]]. |
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Freeman presented late-evening programmes on [[Radio Luxembourg]] in the [[1960s]] and early [[1970s]]. He also worked for [[Capital Radio]] from [[1979]] to [[1988]], reviving both ''Pick of the Pops'' and ''The Rock Show'', and for [[Capital Gold]] (''Pick of The Pops Take Two'') and [[Virgin Radio]] (''The Rock Show'') in the [[1990s]]. |
Freeman presented late-evening programmes on [[Radio Luxembourg]] in the [[1960s]] and early [[1970s]]. He also worked for [[Capital Radio]] from [[1979]] to [[1988]], reviving both ''Pick of the Pops'' and ''The Rock Show'', and for [[Capital Gold]] (''Pick of The Pops Take Two'') and [[Virgin Radio]] (''The Rock Show'') in the [[1990s]]. |
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Freeman's distinctive presenting style included the frequent use of classical music stings between records, and many memorable catchphrases such as 'Alright, pop pickers? Al''right''!' and 'Not 'arf!'. His style has been much parodied, and he was the model for [[Harry Enfield]]'s popular character '[[Smashie and Nicey|Dave Nice]]', although he contributed to the [[satire]] himself in good grace by appearing on Enfield's show. For all Freeman's supposed [[clichés]] and [[archetype]]s in his broadcasting style, he has always been regarded as a true original by his fellow broadcasters - when he appeared on [[John Peel]]'s ''[[This Is Your Life]]'', Peel said he was 'the greatest out-and-out disc jockey of them all'. |
Freeman's distinctive presenting style included the frequent use of classical music stings between records, and many memorable catchphrases such as 'Alright, pop pickers? Al''right''!' and 'Not 'arf!'. His style has been much parodied, and he was the model for [[Harry Enfield]]'s popular character '[[Smashie and Nicey|Dave Nice]]', although he contributed to the [[satire]] himself in good grace by appearing on Enfield's show. For all Freeman's supposed [[clichés]] and [[archetype]]s in his broadcasting style, he has always been regarded as a true original by his fellow broadcasters - when he appeared on [[John Peel]]'s ''[[This Is Your Life]]'', Peel said he was 'the greatest out-and-out disc jockey of them all'. |
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In December [[1993]] Freeman presented the ''Alternative Chart Show'' on a trial RSL broadcast by [[XFM]] in London. |
In December [[1993]] Freeman presented the ''Alternative Chart Show'' on a trial RSL broadcast by [[XFM]] in London. |
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==Later life== |
==Later life== |
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Revision as of 01:57, 28 November 2006
Alan 'Fluff' Freeman CBE (born July 6, 1927, Melbourne, Australia, died 27 November, 2006 London, England) was a well-known disc jockey and radio personality in the United Kingdom.
Career
Freeman originally wanted to be a singer, but decided his voice was not strong enough. He gained work as an announcer radio station 3KZ in Melbourne, and by the early 1950s had combined his roles of presenter, reader of commercials, and singer of various song selections.
In 1957 he took a holiday to Great Britain and stayed, starting out as a summer relief disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg.
In 1961 he moved to the BBC Light Programme as presenter of the "Records Around Five" show, which was introduced by his signature tune "At The Sign Of The Swinging Cymbal." In September 1961 he introduced "Pick Of The Pops" as part of a Saturday evening show "Trad Tavern". "Pick Of The Pops" became a permanent show in its own right in 1962, with Freeman fronting it until 1972.
Freeman then moved to presenting the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show until 1978, and later from 1989 to 1993. He also revived "Pick of the Pops" on Radio 1 from 1989 thru 1992, and then Radio 2 from 1997 thru 2000.
Freeman presented late-evening programmes on Radio Luxembourg in the 1960s and early 1970s. He also worked for Capital Radio from 1979 to 1988, reviving both Pick of the Pops and The Rock Show, and for Capital Gold (Pick of The Pops Take Two) and Virgin Radio (The Rock Show) in the 1990s.
Freeman's distinctive presenting style included the frequent use of classical music stings between records, and many memorable catchphrases such as 'Alright, pop pickers? Alright!' and 'Not 'arf!'. His style has been much parodied, and he was the model for Harry Enfield's popular character 'Dave Nice', although he contributed to the satire himself in good grace by appearing on Enfield's show. For all Freeman's supposed clichés and archetypes in his broadcasting style, he has always been regarded as a true original by his fellow broadcasters - when he appeared on John Peel's This Is Your Life, Peel said he was 'the greatest out-and-out disc jockey of them all'.
In December 1993 Freeman presented the Alternative Chart Show on a trial RSL broadcast by XFM in London.
Later life
Freeman was awarded the CBE in 1998. In May 2000 he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Sony Radio Academy Awards. He lived as a resident of Brinsworth House, a retirement home for actors and performers run by the Entertainment Artistes Benevolent Fund for the last few years of his life until his death in November 2006.
Personal life
In March 1994 Freeman revealed on breakfast television that he had become celibate in 1981, but had previously been bisexual[1].
Trivia
- Other BBC presenters gave him his nickname "Fluff" early in his career, because of his habit of turning up for his show in woolly jumpers.
- During the 1960s, Freeman briefly attempted an acting career, notably in Dr. Terror's House of Horrors, but his limitations were apparent, and in other films he has played himself. He also played God (albeit a God who sat at a mixing desk and said "Alright?") in two episodes of The Young Ones in 1984.