Organ 1st Radio

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ORGAN1st Radio launched in October 2007. The show is presented by ex-BBC broadcaster Alan Ashton and features old and new recordings of theatre organs, electronic organs and keyboards. The show features everything from Wersi to Wurlitzer, Hammond to Compton.

In the early 70's he was invited by the BBC in Manchester to produce and present a 13 week trial series of theatre and electronic organ music programmes.That programme, PEDAL, PERCUSSION & PIPES: the title was changed to ORGANISED KEYBOARDS when BBC Radio Manchester began transmitting in stereo, remained part of the North West airwaves for close on 18 years.

In excess of 600 programmes were produced and presented: the early years saw them recorded in advance of transmission, but eventually the programmes, by now 60 minutes a week, were transmitted live. In the early 1980's he co-founded the Association of Organ Enthusiasts, and as their Vice Chairman was actively involved in the production of some of the very first electronic organ music Festivals which took place in England, Spain & Holland.

Around this same period he was invited to review the latest organ recordings and wrote articles for a number of leading commercial organ world magazines, including AOE Organ Times and MSS Studios "ORGAN1st" magazine.

Now retired, he and his wife Dorothy live in Cornwall from where he continues to have a consuming interest in the world of organ music.

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