BBC Radio 4 LW

Desert Island Discs

Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Desert Island Discs: John Dankworth

02/03/1986

John Dankworth

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, John Dankworth

Michael Parkinson's castaway is jazz musician John Dankworth

Michael Parkinson's castaway is jazz musician John Dankworth.

John Dankworth studied music at the Royal Academy when jazz was not an approved subject - "I used to pretend my saxophone was a bassoon when I put it in the left luggage department of the Academy".

In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he talks about his career as a jazz musician and composer, and about how he is trying to break down the musical barriers at the Stables in Wavendon and with his Summer Pops season at the Barbican.

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

Favourite track: When That I Was and A Little Tiny Boy by Cleo Laine
Book: The Exchange & Mart
Luxury: Solar-powered synthesizer

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke - Letter from America

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: Floods in California

07/06/2014

Floods in California

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Floods in California

Northern California flooded after a year's rain falls in just over a week.

Homes and crops wiped out after massive flooding leaves northern California under water.

Homes and crops wiped out after massive flooding leaves northern California under water.

This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Floods in California

Contributors

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4

About this data