DJ Top Tens


PY and Mary:
Groovin' on down to the Top Ten DJs		 Mr Peter Young of Pease Pottage didn't know what he was starting when he wrote:

Just for fun, here's my Top Ten DJ chart. The considerations being:

1. Entertainment value
2. The influence they had on me, either musically or in terms of style.

Why don't you ask your viewers to do the same? Could be quite interesting. Love, Pknee Y xxx
1.
Jack Jackson
2.
Kenny Everett
3.
 Alan Freeman
4.
 Dave Cash
5.
 Emperor Rosko
6.
 Mike Raven
7.
 Ray Moore
8.
 Paul Gambaccini
9.
 Robert W. Morgan
10.
 B. Mitchell Reed/Wolfman Jack


Since this page appeared on December 16th, 2001, the Radio London website has received many personal takes on the theme of DJ charts. Ian St James, who appeared as a Christmas star (or was it a panto horse?) on Big L '97 sums it up quite well: "There are more that deserve a mention, but, just like trying to name my top ten fave songs, I could probably end up with a top 50 that would change every day!"
Here are the 'DJ Charts' received so far, with the newest additions at the top. The page was last updated January, 2003.
BOB GLEN'S SELECTION
1.
Vince 'Rusty' Allen (Where are you now?) Radio 270
2.
Tony Allen (Are you related? I don't think so.)
3.
 Mike (Mikey Mo) Hayes (We know where you are) Radio 270
4.
 Johnnie Walker, BBC R2, (You said you would never work for them,what went wrong?)
5.
 Gary Philipson, (You wanna hear him on Century F M, he is a broadcasting genius)
6.
 Tony Prince (Your Royal Ruler)
7.
 The late great Daffy Don Allen, (A true legend)
8.
 Larry Dean (Swingin' Radio England)
9.
 Charlie Wolf (Laser 558/Atlantic 252)
10.
 Dave Sinclair (Radio 270)

ROB GERRITSEN'S FAVE RAVERS FROM SEA
This list refers to my appreciation while these people were at sea – only #8 and #10 I can still hear/see regularly, but they are not deejays any more.
1.
Keith Skues
2.
Tony Withers/Windsor
3.
 Paul 'Too much' Noble
4.
 Andy Archer
5.
 Simon Dee
6.
 Alan West
7.
 Emperor Rosko
8.
 Johnny Jason
9.
 Mike Allen
10.
 Henk van Dorp

Trevor Bailey's Selection – "The list spans my listening career and is roughly in chronological order, rather than order of preference or merit."
1.
 Jack Jackson – for his innovative use of comic drop-ins on his show (and does anyone else remember his TV show where he appeared with a pussycat?)*
2.
Kenny Everett – influenced by Jackson but carried the zaniness to new extremes
3.
 Dave Cash – much more than just Kenny's side kick
4.
 Roger Scott – the supremely professional. Can anyone living in London during Roger's Capital radio years forget "The Three o'clock Thrill" and the original "Cruisin'"?**
5.
 Johnnie Walker – for still playing great music and for keeping "Cruisin'" going
6.
 Charlie Wolf –for the Laser 558 "Euroseige" shows and the Atlantic 252 breakfast show.
7.
 Holly Michaels – and Jessie Brandon, for having great voices for radio. (Janice Long this is how it should be done)
8.
 Wolfman Jack – the legend whose shows were syndicated on Capital in the 70s and were a real ear-opener
9.
 Casey Kasem – OK so he looked a bit naff on TV presenting America's Top Ten in those pullovers, but on AFN in the 70's he was the consummate professional, counting down the American Top 40
10.
 Paul Gambaccini –always manages the perfect talkover, never crashes the vocal

Webmaster notes: #1:*Yes! #4:** No!


Steve Young's 'Pirates of 66/7' list

1.

Mike Ahern. A true communicator, always positive, always fun to listen to

2.

Kenny Everett. An amazing guy. Quick with a quip. A barrel of laughs

3.

 Keith (Keefers) Hampshire. Professional, upbeat, knowledgeable. A real "nice guy"

4.

 The Emperor. He's number four, let's dance some more. The geeta with the heeta he was our leader!

5.

 DLT. The Dinner Spinner. 'Pass the pickles, mate!' One loveable, huggable guy

6.

 John Peel. He blew my mind when he did his show at the midnight hour, same time as me. Actually I think he blew me right out of the water!

7.

 Roger Day. Smooth, upbeat... a real bright spark. From Radio England to Radio Caroline in one smooth move

8.

 Johnnie Walker. Dedicated to the ones he loved.. and they loved him right back. A good friend, a true believer in the cause of free radio

9.

 Ron O'Quinn. Rockin' Ronnie...he was the smooth walkin', fast talkin' spirit of America who became the persona of Swingin' Radio England

10.

 Steve Young... the Curly Headed Kid in the Third Row. Gee... if I don't vote for me, who will????

 

Steve: "Hmmmm.... you're putting me to the test on this one. I'm limiting my choices to a selection of pirate deejays from the 1966-67 era who shared the airwaves with me at that time. Okay... here's my top ten music men (not in any particular order)."

Alan Hardy's Top Ten
These are in no particular order of greatness or influence, although may be 'chronological' in my 'development'.......

1.

Jack Jackson. His use of comedy drop-ins has influenced me to this day

2.

Alan Freeman. He was probably one of the first DJs that I took notice of, with his professional, bright, succinct style of presentation. He's a legend. I met him back in the 60s. When I asked him for his top tip, he said "If you haven't got anything to say, shut up!". Can't say I followed his advice though!

3.

 Tony Blackburn. A DJ who gets much stick, but he's a professional and one of the few remaining DJs with that positive, happy, entertainment approach. When hearing him on Caroline, he was the first person that I felt was on my wavelength, of a similar age, who was broadcasting to me.

4.

 Jack Spector. The first American DJ I ever heard, playing American jingles and basing his show on the US top 40 hits of the day. Listening back to his Caroline programmes, his style of presentation, use of jingles and comedy drop-ins, programme format and personal presentation still holds up today.

5.

 Emperor Rosko. Although influenced by other US DJs, in Britain, Rosko was a revolution. All those jingles, all those big band brassy beds, all the shouting, all that soul music! Yet he knew the British audience and respected that we were different to American audiences. He was creative too. I remember that when he was sitting in on the 9-12 evening show on Caroline, he once or twice made up stories by cutting up phrases and sentences from different records and stitching them together!

6.

 Kenny Everett. The master of creativity: whether the off-the-wall straight presentation of 'Kenny and Cash', or his hard work in pre-producing recorded material, or his amazing characters in the early days of Radio 1. A genius.

7.

 Johnnie Walker. One of the few presenters who broadcast with that personal delivery, giving you the feeling that this was a lad having fun on the radio - irreverent and doing it for you. On Caroline he also influenced me with his love of soul music

8.

 Mike Raven. The UK's original Blues and Soul radio presenter. Not so much a "DJ", but a major influence in getting soul aired on British radio. Mike was probably the first DJ to make me go out the next morning a buy a record after I heard it on the radio - Go Now by Bessie Banks

9.

 Barry Aldiss. The first DJ I remember noticing. Although I heard many other people on Luxembourg, many were the 'personalities' of the time, playing their records in London. 'BA the DJ' had a nickname and was actually out there presenting shows live. And he always sounded like he was smiling!

10.

 David Jacobs. A great voice, and at one point – as far as the Light Programme was concerned – he had his finger on the pulse! He had a sense of humour too

 

Alan at the golden mike, during his week on the 9.00 to 12.00 slot on Big L 2001

"If you had the time, you could compile an all-time Top Ten (of everybody's entries), but adding up all the entries and working out who got the most nominations. (I know - a great idea, but...). Actually, if you did get a lot of entries and wanted to compile a 'total top 10' list, I'd be happy to do the sifting for you. I think it'd be a very interesting exercise."

Webmaster chorus: Alan, you get the job!


Chris Dannatt's 'Impressions on My Life in no particular order' "I could never do a 'Top 10', as many of these jocks have made an impression on my life for different reasons."
1.
Jimmy Savile - Ever the showman
2.
Tony Blackburn – Never forgot how he got his start in the business. Still on the radio, and telling the same jokes all these years later!
3.
 Emperor Rosko – the ONLY American DJ
4.
 Tony Windsor – The ultimate personality jock
5.
 Roger Day – inspired me in the post-MOA days on Caroline and again from RNI
6.
 Kenny Everett/Jack Jackson/Adrian Juste – for making radio FUN to listen to
7.
 Rob Out/Tineke/Joost De Draaier/Lex Harding/Stan Haag/Tom Collins - Brilliant '68 - Veronica days
8.
 Chris Cary/Robbie Dale for some fantastic vibrant Irish Piracy
9.
 Tony Allan – Met him and watched him working at WLCB/Viking 105 in Wicklow, 1987
10.
 Trevor James/Nick Richards/Neil Gates/Carl Kingston/Peter Clarke and a dozen others from Caroline 80-87
11. Charlie Wolfe - for his Breakfast Show on Atlantic 252
12. Jessie Brandon/Tommy Rivers/Dave Chaney/etc... Never more than a minute away from Laser 558
13. Paul Heiney (ex-BBC Radio Humberside, now occasionally on Radio 4) - had it not been for him taking the time to show me how to edit tape and spool carts in 1972, I would not have been prompted so hard to get into this business. I owe my start on the radio ladder to Paul!


Ian St James: "Still out here and doin' it on the Breakfast Show at 106 CTFM Canterbury (along with Caroline jocks Nigel Harris and Johnny Lewis)
1.
Roger Scott (the Capital/R1 one)
2.
Cuddly Ken
3.
 Johnnie Walker
4.
 Rosko
5.
 Peter Young
6.
 Fluff Freeman
7.
 Noel Edmonds
8.
 Kid Jensen (pre-Heart 106.2)
9.
 Jack Jackson
10.
 Howard Stern



Hans Knot's Top of the Pops
1.
 Paul Kaye as he was very relaxed and enjoyable
2.
Larry Dean as he opened my ears to American Radio
3.
 Wolfman Jack as he runs now Heaven Radio
4.
 Tom Mulder aka Klaas Vaak as he did everything Tony Blackburn did in a better way and more more more!
5.
 Steve England as he proved to be more than a deejay
6.
 Yes, Crispian Jackson St John. What a voice!
7.
 Marc Jacobs, as it was me who took him into hospital radio in 1973 and he evolved into a very good jock
8.
 Dr Don Rose, the late doctor was always enjoyable
9.
 Tony Allan, intelligent, good voice and always open for the listener
10.
 Dr Demento, one-time Laser jock, but hot in the USA due to his weird programmes

Colin Wilkins's Sixties Offshore Selection
1.
 Kenny Everett
2.
Don Allen
3.
 Johnnie Walker
4.
 Bob Stewart
5.
 Mike Ahern
6.
 Jerry Leighton
7.
 Paul Kaye
8.
 Ugli Ray Teret
9.
 Dave Dennis
10.
 Tony Blackburn

Dynamite Dave Simpson's Superheroes
1.
 Johnnie Walker – for the many hours of great radio since '66
2.
Jack Spector –a brilliant sense of humour, a very 'full' show
3.
 Paul Kaye –the most listenable DJ, could never tire of him
4.
 Declan Mehan (Nova) – the best Breakfast Show I have ever enjoyed.
5.
 Tom Collins – made offshore radio sound 'offshore'
6.
 Blake Williams – just sounded great
7.
 Tony Allan – goes without saying
8.
 Mark Roman – real radio for real people; so relaxed and natural
9.
 Holly Michaels – Holly and Jessie Brandon were the first female DJs I ever enjoyed listening to
10.
 Wolfman Jack – cruisin' just ain't cruisin' without Jack

Paul de Haan's Hot Shots
1.
 Don Allan – great humour and timing, Mr Caroline North till the end. Never got used to landlubber radio. Sadly missed.
2.
Dan Ingram – NY humour, superb reading of commercial script we sadly miss on today's commercial radio. Stayed with 77WABC from the beginning in 1962 as the best Top 40 format radio station ever until 1982. Deserves to be at no 2. He mentioned NY kneepushers on April 1st 1967 as the honour group of the day
3.
 Robert W Morgan – Boss Jock on US West Coast stations. He 'Morganized' his listeners; good morning became 'good Morgan' and the morning show was called the 'Morgan Show'. Called programme directors 'useless types' live on air. Right he was!
4.
 Keith Skues – When you can say "Skues me" instead of excuse me, or say, "On the news it's Keith Skues", or when asked where horses come from, answer, "Horses come from Horsestralia" (Big L May 67). Number 4 is the right place to be!
5.
 Simon Barrett – Caroline 70s and 80s. Another true marine broadcaster who refused to work for those awful ILR stations. Wrote a great book about events on the Mi Amigo in 1976
6.
 TW – Tony 'Hello' Windsor. Could not handle the Big L studio, but nobody noticed and he got away with it. Superb voice and returned Radio 355 back into the great Britain Radio sound, although we missed the jingles
7.
 Bob Noakes – Very relaxed, good knowledge of all types of music, never wanted to be a deejay but became one of Caroline's best jocks in the 70s
8.
 Johnnie Walker – still a maverick on BBC Radio Two and during one of Caroline's RSLs from the Ross suggested to start the engines and take the ship to where she belongs
9.
 Andy Archer – the only marine broadcaster who worked for Caroline in the 60s, 70s and 80s
10.
 Peter Chicago – when you play Barbara Streisand on Caroline and wonder why a girl likes Dxing, you must be at ten

Raoul Verolleman's Watery Wireless Winners
1.
 Emperor Rosko
2.
Kenny Everett
3.
 Tony Allan
4.
 Johnnie Walker
5.
 Roger Twiggy Day
6.
 Mike Raven
7.
 Spangles Muldoon
8.
 Tony Prince
9.
 Duncan Johnson
10.
 Colin Nicol