I am a UK ex pat now living in the United States.
When I was 19, I was a DJ on a pirate radio ship called Radio Britannia. The ship beamed Rock N Roll of the Isle of Man to the British Isle.
After the Maritime Offences Act made pirate radio stations illegal, I drifted between radio jobs and left to continue my career in the U.S.
After a divorce, a remarriage and two kids later, I realised that radio would not pay the bills so I left and became an appliance salesman for a national store chain for several years. There I met a fellow ex radio guy and have been friends ever since.
In Feb 2004, he showed me a survey that came out in time for the 40th anniversary of the Beatles coming on the Ed Sullivan show. It showed that for the first time in 40 years there were NO BRITISH ACTS ON THE U.S. MUSIC CHARTS!!!
No S Club 7....No Tom Jones...and NO Robbie Williams!
The study shows that playlists were being so homoginised by the big conglomerets that British acts COULD NOT get airplay in the United States!
Many of them are great guys and gals but with 200 song playlists it just wasn't happening.
My friend challenged me to do something about it. After long soul searching, I decided to defend the crown!
I am now the host...The "Grand Mallard of the Airwaves"...your self confessed pop pirate...the Master and Commander of the Air Britannia radio show formally heard on KAAM-AM 770 in Dallas, TX!
KAAM canceled Air Britannia on 6 August, 2006 and we are currently heard here on Myspace in FULL DIGITAL STEREO!
We play all the UK album charts from 1955-2003. We play the British Invasion hits, Glam Rock, Ska and the New Waves as well as some currents.
Air Britannia launched on 7 August, 2005 and we never looked back.
Here you'l find my ramblings about the the music of the time, my life in general, archive shows links and anything else I find amusing or important.
Request your favourite songs by calling +1(972)900.0932,
sms at 19729000932@tmomail.net
or drop me a note at grandmallard@yahoo.com
And no matter what, always remember this one little thing: This is a friendly invasion! :-)
Hope to hear from you soon my little Duckies!
Regards,
Drake
AIR BRITANNIA: RELIVE THE BRITISH INVASION ALL OVER AGAIN!
Watch Freddy Garrity "Do The Freddy!"
George Bush Sings "Sunday, Bloody Sunday"
(Courtesy of the thepartyparty.com)
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I Helped Patrick McGoohan Escape - The Times (Featuring Ed Ball)
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