Feature

SPIN DOCTORS: PETER YOUNG

Going from a Summer DJing residency at Butlins in Skegness, to being recruited by the BBC to present a highly-respected soul show is a fairly impressive career move. It’s certainly the one that put Peter Young on the map.
Peter’s association with The Beeb came when he was plucked out of his Butlins job by Radio One who’d come to town to present an outside broadcast and wanted him on it. Following a DJing stint at the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam, it wasn’t long before fate saw him back at the BBC, being offered three shows by Radio London upon his return. As he developed his on-air persona, his in-depth passion and knowledge of music shone through, and particularly his love of soul, jazz and rhythm and blues. It was clear that it was in this type of format that he most excelled. The next move was to Capital Radio, where he presented the key drivetime show from the mid 70s, but still got to play his beloved sounds via a Sunday night slot on Capital Gold. He was then ideally poised for the launch of Jazz FM in 1990, which fit his style nicely, and he’s remained there ever since, with the exception only of a two-year period back at the BBC until 2003. Appropriately enough, he can now be heard presenting a weekly soul show, every Saturday from 5 to 8pm.
Words Mark Devlin