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Brian Matthew

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For other people with similar names, seeBrian Matthews.

Brian Matthew
Born(1928-09-17)17 September 1928
Coventry,Warwickshire,England
Died8 April 2017(2017-04-08)(aged 88)
London, England
Spouse
Pamela Wickington
​
(m.1951)​
Children1
Career
Previous show(s)Saturday Club,Easy Beat,Thank Your Lucky Stars,Round Midnight(1978–1990),Sounds of the 60s(1990–2017)

Brian Matthew(17 September 1928 – 8 April 2017)[1][2]was an English broadcaster who worked for theBBCfor 63 years from 1954 until 2017. He was the host ofSaturday Club,among other programmes, and began presentingSounds of the 60sin March 1990, often employing the same vocabulary and the same measured delivery he had used in previous decades.

In January 2017, after a short break from the programme after suffering a fall at home, the BBC announced, against Matthew's wishes, that he would not be returning to the programme and that he would be replaced. He was succeeded byTony Blackburn.Matthew later died ofpneumoniaon 8 April 2017, aged 88.

Early life

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Matthew was born on 17 September 1928 inCoventry,Warwickshire,the son of musical parents. His father was a conductor of the Coventry Silver Band and his mother a professional singer.[3][4]He was educated at the city'sBablake School.[4]

Career

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Matthew first broadcast inGermanyin 1948, and trained as an actor atRADAbefore joining theBBCin 1954. On theBBC Light Programme,as a staff announcer, he introduced numerous programmes includingTake It From HereandSaturday Club[5](originally calledSaturday Skiffle Club,starting in 1957 and changing to its more familiar name in 1958) andEasy Beat(starting in 1960).[4]Also starting in the 1960s he had a regular show onRadio Luxembourg.At the time, airtime forpop musiconBBC Radiowas limited, and the demand for it among young people meant the shows attracted large audiences. Virtually all the big names of the era, includingthe Beatles,appeared on the shows. Matthew's voice is present on the Beatles'Live at the BBCandOn Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2CD compilations, as well as other BBC session compilations from bands such asLed Zeppelin,Cream,andthe Who.On television, he was the presenter ofThank Your Lucky Stars(ITV,1961–66).[4]

The influence ofEasy Beaton radio declined owing to the rise ofoffshore radioafter 1964. WhenBBC Radio 1,BBC Radio 2,BBC Radio 3andBBC Radio 4launched in 1967,Easy Beatwas dropped, andSaturday Clubwas taken over by another presenter,Keith Skues(formerly of the "pirate"Radio London), before it too was axed in 1969. Matthew celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first edition ofSaturday Clubin a special edition ofSounds of the 60son 4 October 2008, by featuring some recordings from some of the shows and entertaining listeners with some reminiscences.[6]In 1972, he narratedThe Beatles Story,a 12-part documentary series on BBC Radio 1 and 2,[7]which has been repeated onBBC Radio 6 Music.[8]

In 1973, Matthew fronted a new radio series entitledMy Top 12,which lasted for an hour on weekend afternoons on Radio 1.[9][10]The programme was later presented byBob HarrisandNoel Edmonds.Guests in 1974 includedRod Stewart,Joni MitchellandNeil Diamond.[11]

Later, Matthew was the presenter ofBBC Radio 2's arts magazineRound Midnight,from 1978 to 1990.[10]From 1990 he hostedSounds of the 60s(a programme first presented in 1983 byKeith Fordyce) on the same network on Saturday mornings, playing many of therecordshe initially played onSaturday ClubandEasy Beat.[10]

Matthew announced at the end of his show on 26 August 2006 that owing to ill-health he would be taking several weeks off his Radio 2 show, for the first time in sixteen years.Johnnie Walkerwas the main host in his absence.[12]Sandie Shaw,Joe BrownandSuzi Quatrowere also guest hosts. Matthew returned to the show and the station on 10 February 2007.[12]

Matthew won aSony Gold Awardin 2008: "To celebrate an impressive record of more than 50 years of national and international radio broadcasting. For that lifetime career and in recognition of a truly outstanding contribution to UK radio."[10]On 29 October 2016 Matthew became the oldest regular broadcaster on BBC Radio, followingDesmond Carrington's retirement.[13]

On 26 November 2016,Tim Ricestood in as presenter of the show. Rice announced that he would be sitting in for a few weeks since Matthew was "under the weather".[14]In fact, Matthew had suffered a fall at home and had spent a few weeks in hospital. On 27 January 2017, the BBC announced that he would not return to the station due to ill health.[15]Matthew himself, however, disagreed with the BBC's statement, saying: "That's absolute balderdash. I was ready and willing and able to go back, and they've just said they are going to put the programme in the hands of other people."[16]

The BBC's off-hand treatment led to an e-petition signed by thousands of "avids" demanding his return but failed. and as a result Matthew presented his final show on 25 February 2017, which was a compilation of his favourite tracks and moments from his time on the show.[13]A week later,Sounds Of The 60sbecame a live show, hosted byTony Blackburn,moving to an earlier slot between 6am and 8am on Saturday mornings. As of April 2017 Blackburn continued to host the show between these times. During Matthew's tenure, the show was pre-recorded.[13]However, a show from January 2015 was broadcast in an early morning repeat slot on 6 March 2017, with new links recorded by Matthew.[10]

Personal life and death

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In 1951, Matthew married Pamela Wickington,[3]with whom he had one child, Christopher, born in 1954.[17][18]They involved themselves in amateur theatre and were prominent members of Chelsfield Players in Kent from 1958 to 1966.[19]He built a theatre in his Chelsfield home and formed his own dramatic society called the Pilgrim Players. During this time he worked with actor brothersArthur WhiteandDavid Jason.[20]

Matthew died ofpneumoniaon 8 April 2017 in London.[21][22]Four days before his death, the BBC had reported that he had died, but later corrected this, saying he was critically ill in hospital.[23]He is survived by his wife and their son.[4]

References

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  1. ^"Brian Matthew: A Tribute".BBC.Retrieved5 April2017.
  2. ^"Brian Matthew: BBC Radio 2 broadcaster dies at 88".BBC News.8 April 2017.Retrieved8 April2017.
  3. ^ab"Brian Matthew".radiorewind.co.uk.
  4. ^abcdeFountain, Nigel (5 April 2017)."Brian Matthew obituary".The Guardian.Retrieved5 April2017.
  5. ^Ball, Kenny(2011).Kenny Ball's and John Bennett's Musical Skylarks: A Medley of Memories.Andrews UK Limited. p. 64.ISBN9781908548191.Retrieved19 November2014.
  6. ^"Sounds of the Sixties".BBC. 4 October 2008.Retrieved5 April2017.
  7. ^Winn, John C. (2009).That Magic Feeling: The Beatles' Recorded Legacy, Volume Two, 1966–1970.Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony. p. 17.ISBN9780307452405.
  8. ^"The Beatles Story".BBC Radio 6 Music.24 October 2010.Retrieved5 April2017.
  9. ^"A Tribute to Brian Matthew".BBC Radio 2.8 April 2017.Retrieved9 April2017.
  10. ^abcde"Obituary: Brian Matthew".BBC News. 8 April 2017.Retrieved9 April2017.
  11. ^"MY TOP 12".Radio Rewind.
  12. ^abLeigh, Spencer (8 April 2017)."Brian Matthew obituary: BBC Radio 2 'Sounds of the 60s' presenter 'who started all this DJ lark'".The Independent.Retrieved9 April2017.
  13. ^abcMcKee, Ruth (25 February 2017)."Brian Matthew hosts his last Sounds of the 60s: 'That's your lot'".The Guardian.Retrieved9 April2017.
  14. ^"Tim Rice sits in, Sounds of the 60s – BBC Radio 2".BBC.Retrieved10 December2016.
  15. ^"Brian Matthew leaves Sounds of the '60s".radiotoday.co.uk.Retrieved27 January2017.
  16. ^Singh, Anita (27 January 2017)."Radio 2 takes 'horrible' decision to replace Britain's oldest DJ Brian Matthew on Sounds of the 60s".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved31 January2017.
  17. ^"Sounds of the 60s - Matthew & Son - BBC Radio 2".BBC.Retrieved9 April2017.
  18. ^"Brian Matthew".saga.co.uk. 24 August 2015.Retrieved9 April2017.
  19. ^"Our History".Chelsfield Players.Retrieved6 March2022.
  20. ^"Rookery Nook".Chelsfield Players.
  21. ^"Brian Matthew: BBC Radio 2 broadcaster dies at 88".BBC News. 9 April 2017.Retrieved9 April2017.
  22. ^Harley, Nicola (8 April 2017)."Veteran Sounds of the 60s presenter Brian Matthew dies aged 88".The Daily Telegraph.Retrieved9 April2017.
  23. ^"BBC radio broadcaster Brian Matthew 'critically ill but alive'".BBC News. 5 April 2017.Retrieved9 April2017.
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