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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: 12 June 2010

12 June 2010

BBC World Service - Charlie Gillett's World Of Music, 12 June 2010

This week Charlie brings you music from international vocal groups.

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

Charlie died recently following a long illness. The BBC World Service is currently repeating some of his programmes. This one was first broadcast in June 2009.

This week Charlie brings you music from international vocal groups. We begin with 'Down To The River To Pray' which features in the American Coen Brothers film 'O Brother Where Art Thou'. Although credited to the singer Alison Krauss on the album, she is also joined by numerous vocalists including the First Baptist Church Choir of White House, Tennessee.

The gospel group The Swan Silvertones was popular in America in the forties and fifties. We feature 'Oh Mary Don’t You Weep' from the Testify! gospel box set. Next we head to Pakistan to hear an offering from the legendary musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan who performs devotional Sufi music with the Qawwali singers.

The Cuban group Sexteto Bolona was recording in the 1920s and Charlie plays a song from the Sextetos Cubanos album 'A Morir, Caballeros'. Decades later in the 1960s and 1970s a vocal trio called The Heptones were performing Jamaican rocksteady and reggae. From their album 'Peace & Harmony' you can hear the track 'Book of Rules'.

Travelling back in time again, about twenty years earlier The Manhattan Brothers were mixing African harmonies with American ragtime and doo-woop. Their unique sound made them one of the most popular vocal groups in South Africa and the song Malayisha is from a compilation 'The Very Best of the Manhattan Brothers'.

And finally from the album 'Songs From The Volcano' a track from the Papua New Guinea Stringband together with Bob Brozman.


Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan photo by Tim Hall/Redferns.

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