Paul Gambaccini

Paul Gambaccini was born in New York City in 1949 and revelled growing up to the sounds of the 1960s. He loved listening to the radio and chose to go to Dartmouth College in preference to Harvard or Yale because it had a student-run commercial college radio station. He soon became a news reporter, DJ and eventually manager. Paul came to England to study PPE at Oxford University and, although he was despondent when the local radio station wouldn't give him a job, his luck changed following his graduation when he was offered an American Music slot on the recently launched BBC Radio 1. At 24 years of age, he was their youngest broadcaster and stayed with the network for 18 years.

He has worked on most radio and television networks, including a film review slot, which ran for 13 years, on breakfast television, and presenting the film edition of BBC Radio 4's Kaleidoscope programme. He has also written a number of books, including co-authoring The Guinness Book of British Hit Singles, which illustrates his remarkable memory for music facts and figures. He now presents America's Greatest Hits on BBC Radio 2 and Classic Countdown on Classic FM.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Choices

1.

Castaway's favourite

George Gershwin

Rhapsody in Blue (finale)

Soloist: Gary Graffman Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Orchestra

Others who chose this artist

2.

Danny & The Juniors

At The Hop

Others who chose this artist

3.

The Beatles

And Your Bird Can Sing

Others who chose this artist

4.

Edvard Grieg

Piano Concerto in A Minor

Soloist: Arthur Rubinstein Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra

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5.

Frank Sinatra

All The Way

Others who chose this artist

6.

George Frideric Handel

Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah)

Choir: Mormon Tabernacle Choir Orchestra: Philadephia Orchestra

Others who chose this artist

7.

Ferrante and Teicher & their Orchestra

Tonight

8.

The Temptations

My Girl

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Book

The complete Carl Barks Library by Carl Barks

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Luxury item

A piano

Others who chose a similar luxury