BBC Radio 2 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Light Programme.

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Russell Davies

Music: Easy Listening, Soundtracks & Musicals

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Russell Davies celebrates the art, craft and inspiration of the popular song

Russell Davies: 08/05/2011

Music: Jazz & Blues

08/05/2011

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Russell Davies, 08/05/2011

Featuring the music of Robert Johnson, Doris Day, Elvis Presley and many more.

Russell Davies celebrates the presumed centenary of Robert Johnson. Other featured artists include Doris Day, Elvis Presley and Fred Astaire.

Much of this week's show is driven by a deluge of new releases but we open with the answer to a regular enquiry by many listeners: what IS that signature tune? Russell reveals all before moving on to celebrate the presumed centenary of blues singer Robert Johnson, telling how he once met the subject of Johnson's song Love in Vain, which we hear. 

This is followed by Doris Day's fine rendition of a similarly named song by Jerome Kern, In Love in Vain. The Kern theme is continued with two more of his songs included on recently received CDs and three Gershwin songs fall into this category as well, two of them rare: George Byron's seldom-heard By Strauss (the very first recording of the song?) and a previously unreleased full version of A Fine Romance by Fred Astaire. Further reviews of new albums follow, giving us Hutch, Elvis Presley, Ina Ray Hutton and Bing Crosby.

Amazing music. Played by an amazing line up.

Radio 2: Amazing music. Played by an amazing line-up. The home of great music, entertainment and documentaries

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Russell Davies

08/05/2011

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