Author: listen

Do you remember Desert Island Discs the long-running BBC Radio 4 programme first broadcast on 29 January 1942.

The second longest-running radio programme (surpassed only by the Grand Ole Opry, 28 November 1925), and is the longest-running factual programme in the history of radio.
Broadcast all over the world and originally devised and presented by Roy Plomley, each week a famous guest (“castaway”) was asked to choose eight pieces of music, a book and a luxury item for their imaginary stay on the island, while discussing their lives and the reasons for their choices. The programme’s famous theme is By the Sleepy Lagoon composed by Eric Coates in 1930. Since 2006 it has been presented by Kirsty Young.
Well here at Phuket Radio and as we also live on an Island called Phuket we have come up with our very own Lost in Paradise Show hosted by Chantal Fernandes, (link to bio page) and very kindly sponsored by Katarocks.com
The show is broadcast at noon on a Sunday and available afterwards for download here.
As part of Phuket FM Radio Co Ltd overall community strategy 91.5 FM donates the air-time for this show and Chantal also volunteers her time to host, organise the guests and schedules. As such we jointly try to focus each show around one of the Phuket charity organisations.
Phuket people, our guests are invited to imagine themselves LOST in Paradise in this case it’s Phuket and to choose ten pieces of music that should they be castaway they would wish to have with them and the reasons why.
Whilst only on air a few weeks the show has been a huge success in the community and very  well received by the Phuket listeners and also listerners around the world whom tune via 91.5 FM online services.
91.5 FM are not sure if they can break any broadcast records but can tell that this show is another quality addition to the already evolving line up including BBC News, Local Weather and the Phuket News.

91.5 FM Phuket

Breaking into commercial ILR regional radio in 1989 JL hosted a Soul Show which became one of the longest running shows of its type on UK radio and was hailed for its eclectic mix of styles and genres. An avid fan of the music that he played JL never allowed anyone to interfere with the editorial control of the programme. Thankfully, the radio figures allowed him to do this and his ability to interview some of the industry’s biggest names as well as up and coming talent brought recognition on a national scale.

When personal tragedy struck with the death of his young son from cancer JL continued with his radio duties whilst building a charity that brought innovative new services in nursing and play therapy to terminally ill children. Today, the Disneyland Paris Compassionate Care Programme for sick children and a Lloyd’s Syndicate for specialist travel insurance for those who are uninsurable exist because of his efforts. He has  done the same for the elderly in falls prevention and in 2002 won the national ‘Leading the Way’ Award.

With the nature of radio changing JL looked for work elsewhere in the music business and for a while forged a successful career as a freelance writer for magazines using his contacts to interview the likes of Al Green, Candi Staton, Roy Ayers, Stevie Wonder and Michael Buble amongst many others. However, radio was always his first love and in 2004 JL launched his syndicated JLs Vybe from his own studios to a Global audience. The programme which mixed JLs energetic irreverent presentational style with a cross section of soul genres and key interviews was hailed as ‘……. innovative radio with a soulful heart’.

In 2008, JL became the founding host of the UK SOUL CHART another syndicated show which aired weekly to the US ,Europe and the Far East with rave reviews from all quarters for its musical content and energetic production. In 2011, JL announced his resignation from the programme citing ‘creative differences’ and has again returned to produce his own programmes from his own studio situated in his home city by the bay, Swansea in the UK. They really are a true ‘soulful experience’  of styles, genres, artist insights, off the wall presentation and grooves .

Away from radio JL holds many directorships and is a man on a mission to change the world for the better either through the music that he loves or his ‘proper’ jobs. Hopefully, it will be through both-just wish him luck!