Spectrum Radio 558 Remembered

Spectrum Radio LogoThis page contains a collection of memories of the early days of Spectrum Radio, London’s International Radio station.

Spectrum Radio appeared on London’s airwaves on the 25th of June 1990, broadcasting from studios in Endeavour House, close to the Brent Cross Shopping Centre in North West London. The early days at Spectrum were troubled ones – the station was due to launch on the frequency 558AM, but at launch, that frequency was occupied by the pirate radio station, Radio Caroline, meaning that Spectrum International had to launch on a temporary frequency of 990AM.

The station’s aim was to provide radio for London’s multicultural communities – Asian, Afro-Caribbean, Chinese, Jewish, Arabic, Greek, Italian and Hispanic… This was an ambitious project. As the station progressed, it later adopted some other communities too, including Persian, Irish and the gay community, as well as an early morning show for London’s Dawn Traders

This page was put together by Pete Sipple, who spent four years with the station from the early days in 1990, as the Commercial Producer, and then as the station’s engineer. This page contains a few nostalgic memories from those early days, including a few pictures and sound-bites.

Special greetings to: partner in crime Brian Lee, Jon-Tek Hart , Keith Belcher, Tim “Who is here” Lloyd, Jon Kaye (on Spectrum each day…), Julie, Kirsty, Liesl, Laura, Louisa, Bloomsbury Jake, Angela, Alice & Joseph, Susie Mac, Pedro, Mike Mendoza, Ian Sweiger, Beverley Bond, Wolfgang Bucci, Hank (“hello baby”), Dennis Onion, Andy ‘Rockin’ Sheldon, Angie Greaves, John Kyriakides, Patric ‘next on four’ Walker, the man with no name, Tony Patti… and Mr Katchatorian-Os.

You were a great bunch to work with, and it was a lot of fun… Pete Sipple – October 2003

Spectrum Radio photos

A collection of photos from 1990 to 1993…

Mike Mendoza outside
Mike Mendoza at the front door

Tim, Asif, Laura, Sue and Keith
Tim, Asif, Laura, Sue & Keith

Studio 3
Spectrum Studio 3

The Bus OB
Jon Hart on the bus

Julie and Kirsty
Julie and Kirsty on reception

Pete Leaves
The Team – Pete’s leaving Do

Louisa and Brian
Louisa and Brian, in Traffic

The re-union
The June 2000 re-union

Endeavour House
Endeavour House, NW2 1JT

 

Spectrum Radio Sound Bites

Category Cut Format / Duration
Jingles Full station theme 361kb MP3
Afro-Caribbean ident 64kb MP3
Asian ident 65kb MP3
Chinese ident 59kb MP3
Hispanic 41kb MP3
Italian 42kb MP3
Off-air clips Mr Katchatorian-Os, on Rocky’s Phone-in 326kb MP3
Test Transmissions 1990 635kb MP3
Promos Image Promo 1990 525kb MP3
Gulf War 509kb MP3

 

If you remember working with me there, please drop me an email to say hi… and if there’s a memory you’d like me to upload to this page, let me know. Pete

You’ll find details of today’s Spectrum Radio at www.spectrumradio.net

7 comments

  • Michael

    I remember listening to Spectrum Radio’s Italian show every day as a child (around 12 years old) and taping songs I’d like, hoping the DJ’s would play them all the way to the end without interruption. Me and my brother would make compilation cassettes of all our fave tracks and hope we could get the actual albums one day (we managed to get a few lol). I used to request Lucio Dalla and Gianni Morandi’s Dimmi Dimmi – the long version specifically – almost everyday haha. So many memories attached to this programme, hearing the voices of Massimo Bini, Bucci, Angela Boniana et al. It gives me a happy feeling to remember this station. Much love.

  • Anabel Claro

    I had worked in Spectrum Radio HIspanic program, started with Dr.Bruno Giorgi and Angela Boniana. It was a great learning experience and today I was rember Dr. Bruno Giorgi as by chance I came across some information about his death in 1998. i was affected then and I am affected now as he was a great community leader and great journalist.

    Anabel Claro

  • dayle Belcher

    great to see a pic of dad – Big K . Just trawling the net as his funeral is today

  • Emma

    I worked with Bruno for many years I remember him for Centro Gallego and our award ceremony. He will always be missed

  • Adrian

    I grew up with the Italian programme! My dad knew Wolfgang Bucci well as did my Brother and a band he was in at the time called Pietro & the Italian Trio. They performed live on the show one afternoon. Wolfgang also arranged tickets to European football matches, when an Italian team came over to play an English team, he was always selling tickets to the game! I wonder if Wolfgang is still with us, he must be in his 80’s now. Also wonder what Angela is up to these days!

  • Michael

    Thanks! Fond memories of my Italian neighbours playing spectrum on ful blast in their garden when summers were hot early 90s or thereabouts. The jingle has stuck with me and I’ve found it here.

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