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Greg Edwards (born 24 December 1947) is a radio broadcaster and DJ. He is well known as the founder of
Capital Radio Capital London is a radio station owned and operated by the Global media company as part of its national Capital FM Network. As Capital Radio it was launched in the London area in 1973 as one of Britain's first two commercial radio stations. ...
's 'Soul Spectrum' programme (from 1975 onwards) and for the promotion of PIR records and associated artists when it was formed in 1971. He is credited as being a DJ who had a major influence on the promotion of soul and disco music in the UK during the 1970s and 1980s both on radio as well as the club circuit.


Career


Early years

Edwards was born in Grenada and raised in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
although he moved to the UK in 1971 in order to assist in the running of the newly formed
Philadelphia International Philadelphia International Records (PIR) was an American record label based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1971 by songwriting and production duo Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff along with their longtime collaborator Thom Bell. ...
record label which was founded by writer-producers
Kenneth Gamble Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as ...
and
Leon Huff Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production team credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as ...
. He worked as an Executive at
CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...
records during this time, where he was responsible for the marketing and promotion of soul music, with acts such
Earth, Wind and Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million reco ...
, Lou Rawls and
Johnny Nash John Lester Nash Jr. (August 19, 1940October 6, 2020) was an American singer-songwriter, best known in the United States for his 1972 hit " I Can See Clearly Now". Primarily a reggae and pop singer, he was one of the first non-Jamaican artists ...
.


Early BBC work, Capital Radio and "Soul Mafia"

Whilst still working for CBS, Edwards was approached by
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
radio producer Dave Price to stand in for the
Emperor Rosko Michael Joseph Pasternak (born 26 December 1942), known by his stage name Emperor Rosko, is an American presenter of rock music programmes, most widely known for his shows on Radio Caroline and BBC Radio 1 in the UK in the 1960s and early 1970s. ...
radio show in 1972. (Rosko had to return to Los Angeles, as his father
Joe Pasternak Joseph Herman Pasternak (born József Paszternák; September 19, 1901 – September 13, 1991) was a Hungarian-American film producer in Hollywood. Pasternak spent the Hollywood "Golden Age" of musicals at MGM Studios, producing many successfu ...
was ill). It is here that Edwards's radio career began, working for
BBC Radio 1 BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...
on the Saturday noon3pm slot. It was Edwards's intention to promote soul and jazz music which had very little UK airplay at that time. He also presented three editions of the long-running music show
Top of the Pops ''Top of the Pops'' (''TOTP'') is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly between 1January 1964 and 30 July 2006. The programme was the world's longest-running weekly music show. For most o ...
, during March and April 1974. However, he decided to leave the BBC and work for the new Independent Radio Station set up in October 1973, called
Capital Radio Capital London is a radio station owned and operated by the Global media company as part of its national Capital FM Network. As Capital Radio it was launched in the London area in 1973 as one of Britain's first two commercial radio stations. ...
. It was at Capital Radio that Edwards worked alongside DJs including the late
Kenny Everett Kenny Everett (born Maurice James Christopher Cole; 25 December 1944 – 4 April 1995) was an English comedian, radio disc jockey and television presenter. After spells on pirate radio and Radio Luxembourg in the mid-1960s, he was one of the fi ...
, Dave Cash and
Chris Tarrant Christopher John Tarrant, (born 10 October 1946) is an English broadcaster, television personality and former radio DJ. He presented the ITV children's television show '' Tiswas'' from 1974 to 1981, and the game show '' Who Wants to Be a Mil ...
. From the mid-1970s and into the early 1980s he went on to present a Saturday early evening programme on Capital Radio called "Soul Spectrum" from 5-8pm where his infamous 'bathroom call' was announced, playing music for those who were 'getting ready to go out and party on the town'. Edwards was one of a group of DJs who became stars on the club music scene. They were affectionately known as the ‘soul mafia’ with DJs Chris Hill, Jeff Young,
Robbie Vincent Robbie Vincent (born 9 June 1947) is an English radio broadcaster and DJ. As a champion of jazz, funk and soul music in the UK during the late 1970s he made an important contribution both live in clubs and on radio. In 1995 he was voted Independ ...
and the late
DJ Froggy Steven Howlett (8 November 1950 – 28 March 2008), aka DJ Froggy, was an English DJ who worked as a 'beatmixer DJ' on the British club music scene in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He was a member of the ''Soul Mafia'' group of DJs which included ...
(Steve Howlett) among them. Edwards was well known for promoting record labels on his station. He once said, "Buy anything that is issued on the Prelude label". The station even issued a 'soul spectrum playlist' each Saturday which was available from the station, located in
Euston Tower Euston Tower is a skyscraper located on Euston Road in the London Borough of Camden The London Borough of Camden () is a London borough in Inner London. Camden Town Hall, on Euston Road, lies north of Charing Cross. The borough was establish ...
, London.


Lyceum Ballroom - "The Best Disco in Town"

From the late 1970s through to the early 1980s, Edwards was one of a rotation of DJs to present Capital Radio’s “Best Disco in Town”, each Friday night, from the Lyceum Ballroom in the Strand, London. The event was also broadcast live on Capital Radio, from 11pm to midnight with a capacity of 2,000 people. Many fans of his DJ'ing formed groups from various parts of London and the surrounding areas when he called out for those from the areas 'North, East, South and West' London each week. 'The East London Groove Platoon' and 'Croydon Cruise Control' were the names of two such groups.


Later years - DJ work including 'Caister Soul Weekender' and 'Soultasia' appearances

He has been a regular guest DJ at the Caister Soul Weekender, the UK's largest and longest running soul music event which dates back to April, 1979 and held at the Vauxhall Holiday Park in Great Yarmouth. These were held twice each year although due to the Covid-19 outbreak cancelled in 2020 and 2021. In May, 2015 he took part DJ'ing at the 'Happy Days Festival' held at Imber Court, a parkland and recreational facility in
East Molesey Molesey is a district of two twin towns, East Molesey and West Molesey, in the Borough of Elmbridge, Surrey, England, and is situated on the south bank of the River Thames. East and West Molesey share a high street, and there is a second retai ...
, Surrey. More recently he has DJ'd bringing his 'Soul Spectrum' classics to the 'Soultasia' event which featured music from the biggest soul & disco artists of all time. This was held at the
Promenade Park Promenade Park is the premier urban park in Maldon, Essex, England. History The park is Victorian and was opened in 1895 to provide the people of Maldon with a green space. The original park lodge has been converted into Maldon Museum. Maldo ...
,
Maldon Maldon (, locally ) is a town and civil parish on the Blackwater estuary in Essex, England. It is the seat of the Maldon District and starting point of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. It is known for Maldon Sea Salt which is produced ...
, Essex on 24, July 2021 as a "lifetime celebration of soul & disco". He also appeared at the 'Berkshire Soultasia' event held at
Windsor Racecourse Windsor Racecourse, also known as Royal Windsor Racecourse, is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Windsor, Berkshire, England. It is one of only two figure-of-eight courses in the United Kingdom, the other being at Fontwell Park. Des ...
on 13, August 2021.


Current work

Edwards continues to work as a DJ, travelling to venues around the UK on a regular basis. He also has a show on radio station Mi-Soul on Sundays from 1pm to 3pm, called 'Soul Spectrum'. He has lived in
Hampshire Hampshire (, ; abbreviated to Hants) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in western South East England on the coast of the English Channel. Home to two major English cities on its south coast, Southampton and Portsmouth, Hampshire ...
since 1995. His hobbies include gardening, architecture, history and ten-pin bowling.. He has a daughter


References


Mi-Soul Radio Presenter Profiles Greg Edwards

UK Community Eye TV interviews Greg Edwards by Natalie Taylor

George Kay interviews Greg Edwards at Mi-Soul Radio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Greg Living people 1947 births BBC Radio 1 presenters Black British DJs British radio DJs Club DJs English people of Grenadian descent Top of the Pops presenters