Saturday 21st May 2011
'Hold Your Head Up'
'God Gave Rock and Roll To You'
ARGENT and THE ZOMBIES

Rod Argent interviewed by Richard Oliff

I just came accross a track by 'Shotty 4HF' which begins by sampling my show intro. Quite amazing....and a tad unnerving. I don't even know what it's called!
http://shotty.co.uk/

Shotty 4HF (Richard Oliff Show Intro.Mix)

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO DOWNLOAD ANY OF THESE PIECES. JUST CUT & PASTE THE FOLLOWING IN ANY REPRODUCTION: ©oliffmedia.com. THANKS. 

For the past 20 years Richard Oliff has been a broadcaster and journalist with both with the BBC and commercial radio. His career began with KCBC in Kettering which later became Connect FM. In 2001 the BBC asked him to present a daily, speech only consumer and current affairs programme, which ran continuously for exactly four years. It was during this time that his radio show had been put forward by the BBC to the Sony Radio Academy and he even broadcast live from the Chelsea Flower Show, working with Alan Titchmarsh and Charlie Dimmock. (this was a 3 hour all speech broadcast in front of a live audience on the banks of the river Thames). Richard returned to Connect FM for two years, successfully ‘rescuing’ one of their flagging shows, but decided to move on again when the station was merged with Lite FM in Cambridgeshire. It was at this time, in 2007, that a call came from HFM in Market Harborough to join their new ‘full-time’ schedule as their Drive Time presenter. He can still be heard presenting his show every weekday on 102.3 HFM. In 2009 his show was voted ‘the most listened-to drive show in Leicestershire’. During his broadcasting career he has been, in addition to his other duties, News Editor and Station Manager. He has also worked for the likes of Rutland Radio, Lite FM and BBC radio Leicester. Since childhood, Richard had always been drawn to the performing arts. It all began in the 60’s, singing in both his church and school choirs. He had a natural aptitude for song writing and playing the drums, entering a recording studio for the first time in 1972 to put both his singing and drumming to good use. His love of acting grew too, and from that time to this Richard has performed music and plays on many stages. He appeared in the Miramax Hollywood movie adaptation of Jane Austin’s Mansfield Park alongside Jonny Lee Miller of Trainspotting fame, Frances O'Connor, Embeth Davidtz who starred in Schindlers List and that brilliant playwright, actor, and Nobel Prize winner, the late Sir Harold Pinter. Prior to the turn of the millennium he released a charity CD in association with Connect FM and Golden Wonder in Market Harborough on behalf of a charity called Kids 2000. Apart from producing and compiling the album, Richard himself contributed three tracks, (on which he sang and played the drums) raising money for local children. It featured artists who all gave their time and talent for free. The only pre-requisite for appearing on the album was they must first have been featured in Richard's Saturday show, then on commercial radio.  One of these tracks has since been used by the BBC to raise even more money for their Children In Need charity. Richards TV appearances have included Blue Peter in the 60’s (for which he won a silver badge for singing one of his own compositions), Songs of Praise in the 60’s, Top of the Pops, Noel Edmunds House Party, working as a presenter for NTV, and more recently a brief appearance on ITV’s News at Ten and Chanel 4's Wedding House. He got through to the second round of the X-Factor at the NEC in Birmingham in 2010! His first book, ‘Fastest to Canada’, was published worldwide in 2004 and his poetry has been published in several global compendiums. He has written concert reviews for the BBC online for such artists as Paul McCartney, The Pretenders, Midge Ure and Talon, and has even written the sleeve note to an album by 60's pop legend John Leyton at the request of the artist. He continues to write a weekly column (every Thursday) for the Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph under the heading ‘Oliff’s Life’. Richard is one of only 100 in the UK in the Independent on Sunday's ‘Happy List’ for 2010-2011, alongside Oscar winner Colin Firth, Paul Merton, Barry Cryer, Ian Hislop, Brian Conley, Jools Holland, Eddie Izzard, Peter Kay Victoria Wood and the Archbishop of York. Throughout his career Richard has met and worked with some of the leading lights in the music, entertainment and political arenas, citing his meeting with Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr a particular high point. Richard was widowed in 1994. Since then he's suffered two 'rebound', unfortunate and disastrous relationships , and has since found happiness with his partner Ros. In 2009 Richard was invited to Buckingham palace by Her Majesty the Queen during the opening of the Lambeth Conference. He continues to raise money for his favourite charitable cause, the Lakelands Day Care Hospice in Corby. 

Here are just some of the folk that Richard's had the pleasure of meeting, interviewing, appearing or working with over the years:

H.R.H The Prince Richard Duke of Gloucester, His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury,  Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, John Leslie Prescott, Baron Prescott, Charles Kennedy, Edwina Currie, Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne, John Selwyn Gummer, Baron Deben, Tim Yeo, Peter Lilley, Duane Eddy, Hayley Mills, composer Carl Davis, Angie McCartney (Paul's stepmother),  Ruth McCartney (Paul's Sister),  Julia Baird (John Lennon's sister), Sir Paul McCartney, Geoff Baker ( Paul McCartney's publicist for 15 years), Ringo Starr, Pete Best (The Beatles),  Tony Bramwell, Bill Harry (founder of Mersey Beat), Gerry Marsden, Elliot Mintz, May Pang, Elaine Paige, Geist (Martin Nethercutt & Marino DeSilva),  Dr. Jude Currivan, Joan Armatrading, Hayley Westenra, Barry Cryer, Mike Ogletree (Simple Minds & Fiction Factory), Neil Innes (The Rutles, Bonzo Dog Band),  Adrian Edmondson (The Young Ones & Bottom), Tom Paxton, Claire Sweeney,  Colin Blunstone (The Zombies), Rod Argent (The Zombies and Argent), Jim Rodford (The Kinks, Swinging Blue Jeans, Argent, The Zombies), Glen Matlock (The Sex Pistols & The Faces), Dan McCafferty (Nazareth), Stephen Triffitt,  Shelly Goldstein, P.J. Proby, Paul Carrack (Mike & The Mechanics & Roxy Music),  John Cheatdom (the Fantastics, The Realistics and The Platters),  Michael Williams (The Drifters), money saving expert Martin Lewis, actor Simon Williams, Leo Moran (The Saw Doctors),  art critic Brian Sewell, songwriter Stuart Carr,  Sonja Kristina (Curved Air),  Darren Day, Alvin Stardust, Derek 'The Draw' Hussey (The Blockheads), John Coghlan (Status Quo),  Ray Quinn (X-Factor & Dancing On Ice),  Scott Bruton (X-Factor),  Coronation Street's 'Shelley' (Sally Lindsay), Nick Simper (Deep Purple), Liza Goddard, Linda Lusardi, Sam Kane, Pete 'Boogie' Hillier, Allan Lamb (England cricketer), Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan, Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones), John Sheahan (The Dubliners), Kid Creole, Billy Ocean, Lorna Luft (daughter of Judy Garland), Gary Wilmot, The Houndogs, Girls Aloud,  Slim (the Hamsters), Gino Washington, Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople),  Richard Hudson (Hudson Ford), Janice Long, Rolf Harris, John Leyton, Chris Jagger (Mick's brother), Uri Geller, Sally Gunnell, Eden Kane, Edwina Currie, Gary U.S. Bonds, Elkie Brooks, the Electric Light Orchestra, Tracie Bennet AKA Sharon Gaskell in Coronation Street, Jimmy Cricket, Mike D'abo, Chris Farlowe, Gerry Rafferty, Jane Birkin, Liz Kershaw, Bruce Jones, Barb Jungr, Dr. David Starkey, Ian Parkin (Four Poofs & A Pianno), Judie Carne (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In), Sue Pollard, Jimmy Osmond, Barbara Dickson, The Bachelors, Steve Gibbons,  Brad Henshaw (Blues Brothers & the Road Kings), Jools Holland, Ruby Turner, Carl Pemberton (Journey South), Rosemary Conley, Emma Barton (Honey in Eastenders), Rageh Omar, Sir Jackie Stewart,  Tony Crane (The Merseybeats), Chas Hodges (Heads, Hands and Feet & Chas & Dave), John Conteh, Barry Masters (Eddie & The Hotrods),  Bill Kenwright - Chairman of Everton Football Club & a leading West End theatre & film producer, actress Francesca Jackson, Kate Setterfield, Esther Rantzen, Gordon Astley, Max Clifford, author, musician & music manager Kris Gray, Les McKeown (Bay City Rollers), Graham Gouldman (10cc),  Dave Bartrum (Showaddywaddy), Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Roy Wood (The Move, ELO, Wizzard), Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers), Jet Harris (The Shadows), Bobbie Elliot (The Hollies),  Frank Allen (The Searchers),  Barry 'Bean' Whitwam (Herman's Hermits), Alan Mosca ( Freddie and the Dreamers), Dave Berry, Alice Beer, 4 Poofs and A Piano, Lena Martell,  Peter Egan (Ever Decreasing Circles), Marlon "Swoosh" Wallen (Flawless), Quentin Wilson, Lyn Paul (the New Seekers),  Paul Layton (the New Seekers), Kevin Thompson (Vanity Fare), Mark Ellen (Vanity Fare), Sophie Lawrence, Liberty Forrest, Adam Ant, John Culshaw, Joe Brown, Lesley Joseph, Ken Dodd, Fearne Cotton, Sam and Mark, Jane Birkin, Albert Hammond, Joe Pasquale, Long John Baldry, Pete Postlethwaite, Davey Arthur (The Fury's), songwriter, producer &  musician David Courtney, Neil Taylor  (Robbie Williams' guitarist),  Dave Munden (drummer with The Tremeloes), American singer-songwriter Janet Robin, Peter Steer (Tenek), Valery Ann (The Settlers), comedian & writer Arthur Smith, singer songwriter Karine Polwart, John Waterman (Solent Records), American singer songwriter Willie Nile, comedian Jason Byrne, Nick Dagger (The Counterfeit Stones), Damian Darlington - Musical Dirctor of the Classic Rock Show & Brit Floyd, Paul Carmichael, ornithologist-TV presenter Chris Packham, Andy Mitchell (the Yardbirds), Dennis Locorriere (Dr. Hook), Souled Out, Linda Gail Lewis (Jerry Lee Lewis' sister), Charlie Landsborough, Lynda Bellingham, singer-songwriter Sean Taylor, Rhydian, comedian Mark Steel, Les Dennis,  Duane Eddy, Hayley Mills, Michael Winslow (Police Academy), Professor Gervase Phinn, Miles Hunt from The Wonder Stuff, opera stars Amore, Simon Jones AKA Arthur Dent -The Hitchhiker's Guide, John Steel (drummer with The Animals), Richard Street (The Temptations), composer, film-maker & director Tony Britten (not to be confused with the actor of the same name), Tom McGuinness (The Roosters, Manfred Mann, McGuinness-Flint, The Blues Band & The Manfreds), Ian Wilson (Sad Cafe & Barclay James Harvest)  .................... .............


Rod Argent interviewed by Richard Oliff

Richard Oliff

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