The Search For Big L's Chuck Blair

Since Ray Anderson's decision to recreate Big L in 1997, attempts have been made to contact every surviving DJ who ever broadcast on Radio London in the Sixties.

Until January 2000, not one single clue had reached us as to the whereabouts of Chuck Blair, despite numerous Net searches and letters to newspapers. We believed Chuck's real name to beCharles Richardson, and that he was Swedish by birth, but grew up in Swampscott, Massachusetts. A one-time professional footballer, Chuck had enjoyed a distinguished career in Radio and TV in both Canada and America before coming to the UK in 1966. He became Programme Controller for Swinging Radio England, then transferred to Radio London.

None of the DJs that we had managed to contact who were aboard the Laissez-faire or the Galaxy with Chuck, had been able to supply any leads as to his current whereabouts. It was rumoured that Chuck, who would by now have been in his sixties, was working in South Africa.

While on board the Galaxy, Chuck was living in Milton Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK. He was on the Youth Service Committee of the town's youth club, and a member of Harpenden Conservative Club. His fan club secretary for the Herts area was Trish Perry. Despite his having been so active in the Harpenden community, letters published in local papers in that area failed to reveal anyone who remembered Chuck from those days.

To try and jog a few more memories, I retyped below the information contained in a detailed CV that I received in 1967 from Chuck's Fan Club Secretary. The scanned document beside it details a newly-formed National Fan Club, where members could "Be a National Honey-Bunny or Rough Rabbit"!

CHUCK BLAIR 1967

BIRTHPLACE: Boras, Sweden. Chuck's family moved to Swampscott, Mass., when he was three years old.
AGE: 31
RELIGION: Methodist
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
Caucasian, light brown hair, hazel eyes
Weight: 14 stone. Height: 5ft 10ins Build: Stocky. No physical handicaps.

Present address: Harpenden, Hertfordshire, UK.

EDUCATION: Tracy Grammar School (diploma), Lynn Classical High School (diploma), University of Maryland (BSc. degree), Northeast School of Broadcasting (cert.), NY School of Theatrical Arts (cert.), Emerson College of Drama and Broadcasting (post-grad degree).

MEDIA EXPERIENCE: Began broadcasting aged 17, for Armed Forces radio.
Announcer: WKVT, WKIX, WHAV(Mass), WBZ, WMEX.
WSJR, (anncr, PD, Gen. man), CKBC (Canada)
(anncr, Ad man, Prod. man).
CBS Network NY (advertising, production).
WBZ radio and TV (TV compere, anncr, sales and advertising).
Radio England (anncr, Gen. man), Radio London (staff anncr).

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Appeared in several off-Broadway productions, including 'Stalag 17', 'The Caine Mutiny' and a self-penned three-act play; was on TV coast-to-coast hosting teen pop show 'Where the Action Is'; awarded '8th best announcer East' by Billboard mag; award by BSA for voluntary youth service work, Johnson & Johnson Advertising Award 1964; Gillette Advertising Award UK 1967.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & PERSONAL
Plays piano (professionally), bass, vibes and drums. Speaks Swedish, Danish, Norwegian and Italian. Has had several short stories published and has written many articles for British magazines. On the Youth Service Committee of Harpenden Youth Club. Member of Harpenden Conservative Club. Friends have nicknamed him 'Chuckles', because of his consistent smiling and friendliness.

HOBBIES
Dogs, bridge and cooking exotic foods.

MUSICAL TASTES
Beatles, Beach Boys, Four Seasons.

Below is an enlarged section, showing a personal message from Chuck, who was keen to recruit me as Fan Club Sec for the Bucks Honey-Bunny Corps! You will also note that he was planning to join Caroline. Anyone able to throw any light on that??

Before this page had even been posted on the Radio London website,
we received news of Chuck from his stepson, Carleton!

The incredible story of how we found Chuck	Chuck's final show on Big L
Feedback from our story about finding Chuck	Seventies photographs taken by Chuck's family
Chuck shares his 'will' with Big L listeners