Around The Piano with Tom Odell

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

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In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in

In this four-part series singer and pianist Tom Odell celebrates the role of the piano in shaping pop music over the last 60 years.

Around The Piano with Tom Odell: The 1960s

The 1960s

BBC Radio 2 - Around The Piano with Tom Odell, The 1960s

Around The Piano With Tom Odell; a personal exploration of the piano during the 1960s.

Around The Piano With Tom Odell; a personal exploration of the piano during the 1960s featuring interviews with Elton John, Billy Joel, Rick Wakeman, Tori Amos and Hugh Laurie.

Around The Piano With Tom Odell; a deeply personal exploration of the piano during the 1960’s, featuring interviews with Elton John, Billy Joel, Rick Wakeman, Tori Amos, Hugh Laurie, Rod Argent and Richard Curtis.

In this first episode, Tom gives a brief history of the piano and its relevance to him, talking through the instruments history in popular music with its emergence in the 60’s.

The piano, particularly from the middle 19th century, was a very social instrument. A centre-point for friends and family to gather around in Public Houses, schools and homes across the world. It is no surprise that when modern popular music burst onto the scene in the 60’s with bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, it was a central instrument in composition and recording of the songs. 

Tom explores how the piano emerged in the 60’s with its roots heavily grounded in jazz, blues, and gospel music, and will try to understand why so much of the piano playing during this time harked back to New Orleans. Tom learns why British bands were so heavily influenced by these early piano pieces, and he focuses on the piano greats like Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone who used were heavily influenced by the world around them. 

Centred on Tom’s passion for the piano we hear his personal anecdotes of dedication, celebration and affection of the timeless instrument. The result is a rich, personal narrative series fronted by one of the UK’s leading young artists.

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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