A Seagull Takes Flight

Geplaatst 24 juli 20232 jr.

Populair bericht

Vandaag ook al weer 50 jaar geleden!

'' Then on 24th July 1973 another station was launched as the night-time rock music was put into programme format and Radio Seagull was born.

Back in 1970 a company owned by record producer Jimmy Miller and pop manager Tony Secunda had hired airtime from Monaco's Radio Monte Carlo and started broadcasting late night free-form “hippy” programmes across Europe under the name of Radio Geronimo. These programmes were an erratic but interesting mix of rock with some jazz and classical music, presented with a deliberately laid-back and informal style. The project won a loyal audience, estimated as 350,000. Although it made no money, Radio Monte Carlo spotted the potential for a progressive music station and decided to drop Geronimo and replace it with programmes of their own.

Geronimo was forced to close, to be replaced by Radio Monte Carlo International. A few years later some of the former Geronimo staffers, still believing in the concept of free-form album-based radio, linked up with Radio Caroline's founder Ronan O'Rahilly to create Radio Seagull.

The first show from the new station began at 8pm on 24th July 1973. After that, regular programmes ran each night from 9pm to 5am (later 6am). Combining the adventurous musical policy of Geronimo with the personality of Caroline gave some fascinating (if occasionally self-indulgent) results.

Normally operating at 50 kilowatts, Seagull had a superb signal and, although the free-form programmes received a mixed reception from some old Caroline fans, the station did pick up a following. Andy Archer was in charge, assisted by Norman Barrington, DJ/engineers Dick Palmer, Bob Noakes and Peter Chicago, with Geronimo stalwarts Barry Everitt and Hugh Nolan. Tony Allan rejoined the ship in September.''

https://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/car74.htm

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