The legendary broadcaster, Tony Blackburn is 80 this week and has been broadcasting for 59 years. He’s done so odd and strange things in his life and is generally a very private and shy man as I found out when I worked with him in the late 70s and early 80s.

After he left the pirate radio ship he stepped ashore to the BBC and famously opened Radio 1 in 1967 and on and off has been at the BBC since then even reinventing himself when he won the first I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here in 2002.

He still has shows on Radio 2 and BBC London as well as shows on various local radio stations.

This is an interesting clip. Happy birthday Tony.

Matthew Wilder may have been a UK one hit wonder, but there’s more to him than just Break My Stride.

Matthew is 70 years old this week, but after his only hit, he went on a write hits for other artists as well as film music and character voices. His most well know Disney-related film was Mulan of which he also provided the singing voice for the character Ling.

In 1990, he co-wrote Natalie Cole’s hit Wilden Women Do, Vanessa-Mae’s 1998 hit Reflection and Natalie Imbruglia’s 2002 offering Beauty on the Fire. As a producer, his biggest success was with No Doubt producing all their UK hits including the 1997 chart-topper Don’t Speak.

He was also had songs recorded by Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Puff Daddy, Selena Gomez, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Cliff, Christina Aquilera and Bette Midler.

Let’s remember and enjoy his only UK hit single

As a tribute to the legendary guitarist who passed away last week at the age 78. RIP Jeff.

Classic Alas Smith & Jones.

Hank was born in 1923 and died on January 1st 1953 – he didn’t even reach his 30th birthday, but, like Buddy Holly, what a legacy he left.

He was raised in Alabama and learned guitar from a blues singer called Rufus Payne in exchange for food or money. He was married twice but his health suffered due to chronic back pain and he turned to alcohol and drug abuse.

He influenced so many artist especially country singers like Charley Pride, Jerry Lee Lewis and George Jones and held in such high esteem in his brief career that he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame in 1999.

He recorded the original versions of Hey Good Looking, Your Cheatin’ Heart and Take These Chains From My Heart. Let remember Hey Good Looking from 1951,

If you need a break from the family….