Robbie Vincent
Encyclopedia
Robbie Vincent is an English radio broadcaster and DJ whose catch phrase for many years was "If it moves, Funk it"
He started life as a journalist
although Robbie Vincent's broadcasting career began as one of the pioneers on BBC Radio London in early 1974 during the miners' strike and Three-day week
hosting a new style of phone-in show called Late Night London playing "devils advocate" with the telephone callers. People would call in to the station with their problems or comments. The programme was broadcast late in the evening in the London area and was probably one of the first radio 'phone-ins' in the UK.
Later hosting a BBC Radio London soul show on Saturday lunchtimes playing artistes such as Evelyn 'Champagne' King & Crown Heights Affair
. His 1980 signature song was "Get it" by The Dramatics
. Robbie would invite guest DJs, such as Chris Hill, Tom Holland, DJ Froggy
, Sean French
etc. to play their favourite three records that came in 'hot off the press' that week. The shows were considered essential listening to the Capital's soul music fans. He would also be a DJ at the infamous 'Caister Soul Weekender' events (the first event was called '1st National Soul Weekender' in April 1979) in the late 1970s/early 80s with the original DJ line up alongside Chris Hill
, Greg Edwards (presenter of Soul Spectrum on Saturday afternoons on London's Capital Radio
), Chris Brown, Jeff Young, Tom Holland and DJ Froggy
. He also presented a 'soul and disco' show on BBC Radio 1
briefly in 1977 between 5.30 and 6.30 pm on Saturday evenings.
In the early 80s, he was credited with launching the career of US jazz funk combo, Maze
with Frankie Beverly
, in the UK, and was one of the few radio presenters in the UK to have interviewed Marvin Gaye
.
in 1983 to present the very popular Sunday evening 'Soul shows' between 9 and 11 pm which were also carried on FM as well as the 275/285 metres medium wave transmitters. He presented these until 1989, playing Jazz-Funk
with artistes like Rick James
, The Fatback Band, Brass Construction
, Funkadelic
, The Crusaders
, Ronnie Laws
and Eddie Henderson (musician)
. He would often present the shows with a romantic slant using phrases towards records such as 'this one has a government meltability warning' and 'open the fridge door and make sure it's packed with ice' with additional jingles such as 'jazz, jazz, jazz, jazz, jazz' (recorded by Adrian Edmondson
), 'make it saxy' or 'Robbie Vincent play that jazz!!' and 'Hear the Robbie Vincent Show, that's where the Soul sounds best!'.
In 1989 he moved to work for LBC
(London Broadcasting) radio. His night-time phone-in show was one of the highest rated programmes on the station. In 1995 Robbie Vincent was voted Independent radio personality of the year at the annual Variety Club awards.
After a spell at Kiss FM
, from Feb 1998 he hosted the breakfast show on London's Jazz FM
although left Jazz FM
when the management changed at the end of 2002.
In 2006 he has occasionally been a guest presenter on Tony Monson's 10am to 1pm weekday show on Solar Radio in the UK. He has carried out joint presentations of the show on several occasions where he brought in all the music.
More recently, he could be seen and heard at London's Clapham Grand soul nightclub. He DJ'd there along with other top names such as Chris Hill
and DJ Froggy
.
Vincent returned to the airwaves on October 12, 2008 and presented a three hour show called 'Sunday Morning Soul' on Sundays for the relaunched Jazz FM service on DAB, Sky, Freesat and the Internet.
He started life as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
although Robbie Vincent's broadcasting career began as one of the pioneers on BBC Radio London in early 1974 during the miners' strike and Three-day week
Three-Day Week
The Three-Day Week was one of several measures introduced in the United Kingdom by the Conservative Government 1970–1974 to conserve electricity, the production of which was severely limited due to industrial action by coal miners...
hosting a new style of phone-in show called Late Night London playing "devils advocate" with the telephone callers. People would call in to the station with their problems or comments. The programme was broadcast late in the evening in the London area and was probably one of the first radio 'phone-ins' in the UK.
Later hosting a BBC Radio London soul show on Saturday lunchtimes playing artistes such as Evelyn 'Champagne' King & Crown Heights Affair
Crown Heights Affair
Crown Heights Affair was an American R&B / funk / disco group from New York, founded in the early 1970s.-Career:Originally known as Ben Iverson and the Nue Dey Express on Britne Records, founded by then bassist Donnie Linton, the group took their new name from a district of their native Brooklyn,...
. His 1980 signature song was "Get it" by The Dramatics
The Dramatics
The Dramatics are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962. They are best known for their 1970s hit songs "In the Rain" and "Whatcha See is Whatcha Get", both of which were #1 R&B and Top 10 Pop hits.-Career:The Dramatics originally formed in 1962 recording as the...
. Robbie would invite guest DJs, such as Chris Hill, Tom Holland, DJ Froggy
DJ Froggy
Steven Howlett aka DJ Froggy was an English DJ who worked as a 'beatmixer DJ' on the British Club music scene in the 1970s and 1980s.- Early years :...
, Sean French
Sean French
Sean French may refer to:* Sean French, one half of the writing duo known as Nicci French* Seán French , Irish Fianna Fáil politician, Teachta Dála 1927–1932* Seán French , Irish Fianna Fáil politician, Teachta Dála 1967–1982...
etc. to play their favourite three records that came in 'hot off the press' that week. The shows were considered essential listening to the Capital's soul music fans. He would also be a DJ at the infamous 'Caister Soul Weekender' events (the first event was called '1st National Soul Weekender' in April 1979) in the late 1970s/early 80s with the original DJ line up alongside Chris Hill
Chris Hill
Chris Hill is a British disc jockey. He worked at the club Lacy Lady in Ilford, as well as at the Goldmine Canvey Island. He was the head of the 'Soul Mafia' in London and the South East of England into the early 1980s. In 1975 he released a "break-in" novelty record, in the style of Dickie...
, Greg Edwards (presenter of Soul Spectrum on Saturday afternoons on London's Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
), Chris Brown, Jeff Young, Tom Holland and DJ Froggy
DJ Froggy
Steven Howlett aka DJ Froggy was an English DJ who worked as a 'beatmixer DJ' on the British Club music scene in the 1970s and 1980s.- Early years :...
. He also presented a 'soul and disco' show on BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
briefly in 1977 between 5.30 and 6.30 pm on Saturday evenings.
In the early 80s, he was credited with launching the career of US jazz funk combo, Maze
Maze (band)
Maze a soul / quiet storm band, also known alternately as Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and Frankie Beverly and Maze, was established in San Francisco, California in the early 1970s.-Career:...
with Frankie Beverly
Frankie Beverly
Frankie Beverly is an American singer, musician, songwriter, and producer, known primarily for his recordings with the soul and funk band, Maze.-Early life and career:...
, in the UK, and was one of the few radio presenters in the UK to have interviewed Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
.
BBC Radio 1 Soul show
Robbie moved to BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
in 1983 to present the very popular Sunday evening 'Soul shows' between 9 and 11 pm which were also carried on FM as well as the 275/285 metres medium wave transmitters. He presented these until 1989, playing Jazz-Funk
Jazz-funk
Jazz-funk is a sub-genre of jazz music characterized by a strong back beat , electrified sounds, and often, the presence of the first electronic analog synthesizers...
with artistes like Rick James
Rick James
James Ambrose Johnson, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. James was a popular performer in the late 1970s and 1980s, scoring four number-one hits on the U.S. R&B charts performing in the genres of funk and R&B...
, The Fatback Band, Brass Construction
Brass Construction
Brass Construction was an American funk group formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1968. They were originally known as Dynamic Soul, and went on to record a string of hit singles and albums through to 1985.-Career:...
, Funkadelic
Funkadelic
Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:...
, The Crusaders
The Crusaders
The Crusaders are an American music group popular in the early 1970s known for their amalgamated jazz, pop and soul sound. Since 1961, more than forty albums have been credited to the group , 19 of which were recorded under the name "The Jazz Crusaders" .-History:In 1960, following the demise of a...
, Ronnie Laws
Ronnie Laws
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Laws is an American jazz, blues and funk saxophonist. He is the younger brother of jazz flautist Hubert Laws.-Biography:...
and Eddie Henderson (musician)
Eddie Henderson (musician)
Eddie Henderson is an American jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player. Henderson's influences include Booker Little, Clifford Brown, Woody Shaw and Miles Davis.-Family influence and early music history:...
. He would often present the shows with a romantic slant using phrases towards records such as 'this one has a government meltability warning' and 'open the fridge door and make sure it's packed with ice' with additional jingles such as 'jazz, jazz, jazz, jazz, jazz' (recorded by Adrian Edmondson
Adrian Edmondson
Adrian Charles "Ade" Edmondson is an English comedian. He is probably best known for his comedic roles in the television series The Young Ones and Bottom , for which he also wrote together with his long-time collaboration partner Rik Mayall.-Early life:Edmondson, the second of four children, was...
), 'make it saxy' or 'Robbie Vincent play that jazz!!' and 'Hear the Robbie Vincent Show, that's where the Soul sounds best!'.
Television work
During the 1980s Robbie Vincent was also seen on British TV screens when he co-hosted BBC TV's 'Hospital Watch' and 'Go for It'.London Broadcasting (LBC) and Kiss FM
In 1981, Robbie became manager of UK Soul Funk band, Second Image, securing record deals with Polydor and then in 1984, MCA Records. He acted as their sole personal manager until the band split in 1986.In 1989 he moved to work for LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
(London Broadcasting) radio. His night-time phone-in show was one of the highest rated programmes on the station. In 1995 Robbie Vincent was voted Independent radio personality of the year at the annual Variety Club awards.
After a spell at Kiss FM
Kiss 100 London
Kiss is a UK radio station broadcasting on FM and Digital Radio, specialising in hip hop, R&B, urban and electronic dance music. It also broadcasts on DAB Digital Radio around the UK & nationally on Freeview, Sky and TalkTalk TV...
, from Feb 1998 he hosted the breakfast show on London's Jazz FM
Jazz FM
Jazz FM may refer to:*Jazz FM , a digital jazz radio station in the United Kingdom.*102.2 Jazz FM, a defunct radio station based in London, England.*100.4 Jazz FM, a defunct radio station based in Manchester, England....
although left Jazz FM
Jazz FM
Jazz FM may refer to:*Jazz FM , a digital jazz radio station in the United Kingdom.*102.2 Jazz FM, a defunct radio station based in London, England.*100.4 Jazz FM, a defunct radio station based in Manchester, England....
when the management changed at the end of 2002.
Recent activities
Vincent spent most of 2003 travelling and during late December and early January 2004 presented five daytime shows on 94.9 BBC Radio London.In 2006 he has occasionally been a guest presenter on Tony Monson's 10am to 1pm weekday show on Solar Radio in the UK. He has carried out joint presentations of the show on several occasions where he brought in all the music.
More recently, he could be seen and heard at London's Clapham Grand soul nightclub. He DJ'd there along with other top names such as Chris Hill
Chris Hill
Chris Hill is a British disc jockey. He worked at the club Lacy Lady in Ilford, as well as at the Goldmine Canvey Island. He was the head of the 'Soul Mafia' in London and the South East of England into the early 1980s. In 1975 he released a "break-in" novelty record, in the style of Dickie...
and DJ Froggy
DJ Froggy
Steven Howlett aka DJ Froggy was an English DJ who worked as a 'beatmixer DJ' on the British Club music scene in the 1970s and 1980s.- Early years :...
.
Vincent returned to the airwaves on October 12, 2008 and presented a three hour show called 'Sunday Morning Soul' on Sundays for the relaunched Jazz FM service on DAB, Sky, Freesat and the Internet.
Sources
- Robbie Vincent returns to BBC London 94.9FM November 2003
- Robbie Vincent biography from Radio Rewind