:( Best Chart countdown DJ ever! I used to listen to him when he did pick Of the Pops (before Dale Winton ) in the late 80's on Radio 2, after his stint at radio 1.

Source Music Week

DJ Alan Freeman dies, aged 79

28 November 2006 - 09:52:21

 

 

Alan Freeman, whose role as host of Pick Of The Pops made him one of the first DJs to become a household name in the UK, has died aged 79.

 

Freeman, nicknamed “Fluff” because of a fluffy pullover he used to wear, had a career spanning four decades on UK radio and worked for a number of the leading stations, including Radios One and Two and Capital Radio.

 

He passed away at Brinsworth House in Twickenham, a nursing home that had been his home since 2000 when he was diagnosed with arthritis.

 

Freeman was born in Australia in 1927 and arrived in the UK in 1957 to work, beginning with a spell on Radio Luxembourg.

 

Four years after arriving in the country he joined the BBC, hosting the Light Programme’s Sunday teatime Pick Of The Pops, which became a weekly institution for music fans and was one of the few programmes on the BBC each week to play hit records. It was here, accompanied by the programme’s distinctive theme tune, that listeners would first hear him utter such catchphrases as “Greetings pop pickers” which became his calling card over the ensuing years.

 

He was part of the launch presentation team for Radio One in 1967, continuing to host Pick Of The Pops until 1972 at the station and then the Saturday Rock Show from 1973 until 1978. He left the station to join Capital Radio in 1979, presenting Pick Of The Pops Take Two, but rejoined Radio One in 1989 to host Pick Of The Pops as an oldies chart show on Sundays as well as a Saturday rock show.

 

A period with Capital Gold and Virgin Radio in the early Nineties was followed by a return to the BBC in 1997, this time with Radio Two to host Pick Of The Pops. A year later he was awarded an MBE. He also broadcast an opera/classical show for the station. However, illness forced him to give up in 2002.

 

 

he was an icon... the template pop dj... but also knew his serious stuff, rock.

 

he was a most likeable fellow, inoffensive, and a part of pop history is now gone...

A great DJ.

 

He was very knowledgeable in both Rock & Classical music. He knew the stars were the music, records & artists he was playing and did not blow his own trumpet too much to massage his ego.

 

...Something the likes of Chris Evans & Chris Moyles should take notes on.

A great DJ.

 

He was very knowledgeable in both Rock & Classical music. He knew the stars were the music, records & artists he was playing and did not blow his own trumpet too much to massage his ego.

 

...Something the likes of Chris Evans & Chris Moyles should take notes on.

 

good point... modern dj's (with the exception of mark radcliff maybe) just arnt in the same league...

I didn't get to hear Alan Freeman much, but I like this style of DJ rather then the rush of some of the newer type of DJ styles.

Was a little surprised he was Austrialian didn't realise that from his voice.

He was a fantastic presenter. I can remember him doing Pick of The Pops on Sundays & then Tom Browne took over around 1972.

His signature tune will always remind me of him .

 

He was a true legend, a word often overused these days, but appropriate in this case.

 

What a radio station they're listening too up in Heaven, Alan Freeman, Tommy Vance, John Peel, Roger Scott, Kenny Everett, etc.

 

R.I.P.

 

I used to listen to Pick Of The Pops when I was at university. His show was part of my routine there.

 

R.I.P. :(

There was an old Alan Freeman edition of POTP shown yesterday (December 1970 & 1980).

 

It is available to listen again over at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

 

A broadcasting LEGEND, only Tommy Vance maybe did more for classic rock in the UK

 

RIP