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Charlie Gillett's World Of Music

Music: World

BBC World Service DJ Charlie Gillett has died after a long illness at the age of 68.

BBC World Service DJ Charlie Gillett - the man who helped coin the term "world music" - has died after a long illness at the age of 68.

BBC World Service DJ Charlie Gillett - the man who helped coin the term "world music" - has died after a long illness at the age of 68.

The Lancashire-born broadcaster passed away in a London hospital on Wednesday 17 March 2010.

Gillett is credited with discovering Dire Straits in 1976 after playing Sultans of Swing from their demo tape on his Radio London show Honky Tonk.

He also wrote an acclaimed history of rock 'n' roll, The Sound of the City, in the 1970s.

World Service director Peter Horrocks said Gillett was an inspiration whose spirit of adventure and passion for the rich diversity of global music opened the ears of the world.

"His broadcasts brought together music and radio fans from far flung corners of the globe," he said.

"His postbag was one of the biggest, most affectionate and diverse in Bush House, which confirmed his special place in listener's lives. He was a very special broadcaster and he will be sorely missed."

Charlie Gillett's World Of Music: 04/07/2009

04/07/2009

BBC World Service - Charlie Gillett's World Of Music, 04/07/2009

Music from Australia, Italy, India, Angola, Ethiopia, Cape Verde & Dominican Republic.

Contemporary and classic tracks from around the world. Playlist at bbcworldservice.com

Charlie showcases compilation albums which introduced us to new genres of music, mixing songs hardly known outside their respective countries of origin with global hits. 

Konkani Songs come from the West Coast of India but include Mexican-style trumpets and Italianate vocals. Cape Verdean singer Cesaria Evora needs no introduction but it's good to be reminded that one of her first hits included heavy disco overtones. 

Saxophonist Tesfa Maryam Kidane is an eloquent ambassador for what's become a bestselling compilation in the West: Ethiopiques, some two dozen CDs mainly with classic Ethiopian tracks from the 1960s and 70s. Different in sound but from about the same time, bachata music from the Dominican Republic reminds us of more relaxed times. 

Plus a remix of a classic Bonga song, Australian aboriginal music and a singer-songwriter's journey through Italy.

Tracks played in this week's programme:

Country:	Australia
Title:	Djarimirri
Artist:	Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
CD Title:	Rough Guide to Australian Aboriginal Music
Label:	World Music Network
Cat. Number:	RGNET1207CD

Country:	Italy
Title:	Il Viaggio
Artist:	Gianmaria Testa
CD Title:	Italia
Label:	Putumayo
Cat. Number:	PUT 290

Country:	India
Title:	Lisboa
Artist:	Lorna
CD Title:	Konkani Songs: Music from Goa Made in Bombay
Label:	Trikont
Cat. Number:	US 0395
	
Country:	Angola
Title:	Kapakaio
Artist:	Bonga
CD Title:	Confusoes 1
Label:	Out Here
Cat. Number:	OH 012
	
Country:	Ethiopia
Title:	Heywèté
Artist:	Tesfa Maryam Kidane
CD Title:	Very Best of Ethiopiques
Label:	Manteca
Cat. Number:	MANTCD245
	
Country:	Cape Verde
Title:	Bia Lulucha
Artist:	Cesaria Evora
CD Title:	Telling Stories to the Sea
Label:	Luaka Bop
Cat. Number:	9362-45669

Country:	Dominican Republic
Title:	Mi Secreto
Artist:	Leonardo Paniagua
CD Title:	Bachata Roja
Label:	IASO
Cat. Number:	IASCD3

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04/07/2009

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