Peter Young is the sound of Jazz FM, Saturdays from 3pm.
A hugely popular broadcaster, PY has spent many years at Jazz FM playing Northern Soul as part of the legendary ‘Soul Cellar’. It was always his ambition to be involved in music and he bought his first soul record at the age of 12. It was ‘Fingertips’ by Little Stevie Wonder.
Tune in to The Peter Young Show for a hot selection of Jazz, Blues, R‘n’B, Soul and Gospel – old and new. Become a fan of PY on Facebook.
Looking for PY's playlists? Visit his programme page.
Interview With Peter Young
1. What's your favourite Jazz FM programme and why?
Bob Sinfield – because I can learn from it and he makes me laugh!
2. What's the first record you bought and where did you buy it?
‘Fingertips’ by Little Stevie Wonder on the Oriole label. Bought from Edgware Electrics in 1963.
3. What's the most embarrassing song on your iPod/in your collection?
I don’t own an iPod, horrible things. Unless there’s a record or CD to identify with, it’s all pretty soulless and clinical. In my collection? Probably ‘I’ve Never Seen A Straight Banana’, a 1960 megaflop by Professor Jimmy Edwards.
4. In your opinion, what's the greatest album of all time and why?
‘Kind Of Blue’ by Miles Davis. The closest thing to perfection on every level. Musically, emotionally and spiritually. Oooh, get him!
5. What's the best gig you've been to?
Tania Maria at The Festival Hall.
6. What's your favourite music venue?
The Festival Hall.
7. Jazz is...
A feeling.
8. In your opinion, who's the most inspirational radio presenter of all time?
It would have to be the late, great, Alan ‘Fluff’ Freeman. He made everything he played sound exciting.
9. What's your most embarrassing moment in broadcasting?
Calling another presenter a very rude name without realising the microphone was still on!
10. What's your favourite film and why?
‘Carry On Constable’. A lot of my favourite comedians in one film.
11. Who would you invite to your fantasy dinner party?
All my favourite actresses: Liz Fraser, Dilys Laye, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, June Whitfield, Raquel Welch, Kate Winslet and Bob Sinfield!
Dear Peter,
Thank You so much for Your fine tribute to the late great Norman General Johnson. I have been listeneing to Your show from what was Capital radio to the present day at Jazz fm. All I can say is thank for always playing such great music.
ALL THE BEST
PAUL
Hi PY,
As you’ve just been playing some Anita Baker (takes me way back to the 80s!) I just wondered if you’d ever heard, or played anything by Gill Manly. I saw her back in the Summer at Margate’s Big Sky Jazz event. She might, at first impressions, be a rather unlikely jazz candidate, but she did an Anita Baker track which I thought was performed with great class. Gill, I think, looked not too dissimilar to Jo Brand, and she actually had quite a wicked sense of humour to go with her act.
Perhaps you could play something by the above artist on your show some time; possible event the Anita cover if you find it quick to complete your present Anita section!
Cheers for now,
Martin Porter, Maidstone, Kent
PS Good to see you’re including a spooky section after 5pm today. It’ll set me up for Halloween!
Dear Peter
Really enjoy listening to your programme each Saturday. Rediscovered Jazz FM a few months ago. I missed it a lot after the old station became Smooth Radio/Smooth FM. They play some decent stuff, but it’s not the same. I’m so glad to be able to listen to all the old names. The only thing missing to make my happiness complete is a revival of ‘Jazz Me Blues’ hosted by the incredibly knowledgeable Paul Jones. Keep up the good work!
Best regards
Gaynor Beeley (Miss)
Hello Peter I hoped you had a great festive season. I wonder if you can play a special request please. The song is called “I’m Weak For You” by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes which came from the album “Black & Blue” as a tribute to it’s former member Bernard Wilson who sadly passed away on Boxing Day the same day as Teena Marie. Thank you.
Hello Steve,
Thanks for your good wishes – likewise. I will try to include something from Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes in this week’s show.
All the best
PY.
Hello Peter
Love the show and long may it and you continue
Can you let me know what album the Quincey Jones,Killer Joe track came from
Also where can I get your playlists these days
All the very best to you
Hello Mick,
Thanks for your kind words. ‘Killer Joe’ is from the album ‘Walking In Space’, and no doubt also available on a ‘Best Of’.
Re playlists. They are available right here. Click on ‘Presenters’ at the top of the home page. On the right hand side there is a list of all the shows. Click on my name and all the info is there. If you need further information about any track, contact me at: peter.young@jazzfm.com
Cheers,
PY.
Peter,
Do you ever DJ at any London venues?
Regards,
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary,
I am currently not doing live any appearances, but never say never! I was doing Ronnie’s Bar, but found all the travelling involved after my Saturday show rather a challenge. These days after the radio show, I like to come home and relax with a cup of cocoa!
Thanks for your interest. If anything comes along I’ll mention it on the show.
Best wishes
PY.
With Reference to Quincy Jones’s Killer Joe, what about the version on Q’s Jool Joint with a stunning version of Let the Good Times Roll.
I really enjoy your shows and sometimes your imitated voices of other people I suppose with your mouth twisted. Some home work: Can research and play Paul Anka and Odia Coats I Believe There Is Nothing Stronger Than Our Love. My love for JazzFM I suppose.
I used to own this record in Zimbabwe I dont think I can ever get it again. You do get records like that, please get this one. I have recordings of your some of your programmes. When you get to 90 years will there be a slot for you there at Jazz FM?
Hi Max,
Thanks for your message. I don’t have the Paul Anka record in my collection, but will see if I can track it down. Don’t know whether it’s suitable for the show. Yes I’m a frustrated impressionist, you’re quite right.
All the best
PY
Hi there Peter
Great show this afternoon – just as good as your first show on the old fm 21 years ago – (I know ‘cos I wuz there!) so happy ‘coming of age’ to you.
I think ‘Planet PY’ is like the proverbial fine wine – constantly improving with age.
Thanks for 21 years of saniity in a world of radio mayhem – keep on keeping on!
Best wishes
Howard
(Your listener in Tadley)
Hi PY
Really enjoying the show just south of Salvador brazil, off to Carnival in a moment, Yeee haaaa!!!
Keep up the good work
Regards
Chris.
Hi Pete,
Listening to your Keith Fordyce tribute on Listen Again. Didn’t see RSG as much as I would have liked, almost always being called out to tea in the kitchen at that time early on Friday evening. Do remember seeing James Brown on there – for the first half of one of the shows, I think. I WAS TRANSFIXED ! It was like he’d arrived from another planet. What WAS going on here ? One of the most memorable things I’ve ever seen on TV. Astonishing …
Memories of The Who ( Ready Steady Who !) and, curiously, The Dennisons whose drummer pulled a face at the camera, I remember. He pulled a few more as Jack Sugden on Emmerdale, particularly when of his prize milkers dropped dead or something equally agriculturally challenging.
A great show and I do remember Keith Fordyce well, though it was Cathy who got most of the attention, I think. Lovely selection, sir. Otis now, as the kids come back into my classroom. Poor souls never enjoyed anything remotely as good as RSG or the music they featured.
Keep up the great funky work across the WHOLE nation now!
Hello Peter,
Thanks for the message. I wholeheartedly agree, we won’t see anything remotely as good as RSG again. The influence it had on a wide-eyed, near teenager was substantial to put it mildly. Shaped my musical taste 100%. The George Harrison comment to Cathy McGowan about liking Motown, in particular Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye and The Miracles and also The Impressions set me off on the soulful path!
All the best and thanks for listening.
PY.
Hi Peter
I have been a fan of yours since my early teens listening to you on Capital Radio though to Smooth FM times. Found out that you are on Jazz FM, DAB from a fellow musician. I have been playing guitar for a while and I really really like your choice of soul music. So I am going out to buy a Pure Evoke 3 dab radio so that I can tune into to you!!
Keep up the excellent DJ work. You have a strong and loyal fanbase.
Kind regards
Godfrey DaCosta
.
Thanks Godfrey,
I hope you enjoy the DAB set. As you’ve been listening for so long, you should have been given a free one, or at least a long service medal! Best of luck with the guitar playing. Glad you like the music.
Cheers
PY
Hi Peter,
Great show on Jazz FM…glad your’e still working…unlike Jon Scragg
I remember you from Radio Mercury in 1984, I started as a journalist there and took over from you for a short time on the soul and disco show on saturday nights.
Mainly had a career in radio journalism ….last working for Smooth radio in Birmingham.
The quality of radio from the 80′s lives on at Jazz FM!!!!
Martin Dawe
Hello Martin,
Hopefully there are good things to come.
Thanks for the message. I remember you from those days. Seems like a liftetime ago. Poor Jon is unwell I believe. Worked with him for quite a few years at the original Jazz FM. Smooth Radio? Sorry to hear that. I also had to suffer that for a while
Very best wishes
PY.
Hi, Peter.
Great show on Saturday. I often tune in, although I’m not a huge jazz fan. I especially liked the song by Aaron Tesser. (I was walking on the beach when the track was playing)
I used to listen to The Capital Countdown in the 70s. i couldn’t wait for Saturday mornings and I used to lake up to your show. What was particularly good was that you played a few of the songs which were bubbling under the week’s Top 40.
Even back then, I remember you used to play the more jazzy/funky tunes, which I really liked. a lot of them didn’t get anywhere in the charts, but I taped them anyway back then, as one did in those days!
One of my favorite tracks of all time, if not THE favorite, is ‘do Nothing Till You Hear From Me’ by Graham Parker & The Rumour – off the Max album. You played it in 1977 and your comment afterwards was ‘Big, fat and brassy’. I Managed to track down the CD eventually, but nobody has put it on You Tube as yet. I would love you to play it again for me, if you can locate it!
Thanks for playing such good music.
XX Helen listening in the South of France
Thanks Helen, have replied via email.
All the best,
PY.