Trustees & Patrons

PAUL GAMBACCINI was born in New York City and earned degrees in History (Dartmouth College USA) and Philosophy, Politics and Economics (University College Oxford). He presents AMERICAS GREATEST HITS on Radio 2. Other recent Radio 2 programmes have included FRIDAY NIGHT IS MUSIC NIGHT and THE OLIVIER AWARDS. Later in 2012 Paul will be presenting MUSIC IN THE AIR, Radio 2’s history of music radio. Paul is the host of COUNTERPOINT on Radio 4 and of the occasional mini series AND THE ACADEMY AWARD GOES TO and FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY.

Gambaccini appeared on BBC Radio 1 for 18 years, presenting the US chart show for most of that time. At some point he has been a regular on each of the first four BBC radio networks and first four British terrestrial television networks. Paul had runs presenting KALEIDOSCOPE on Radio 4 during the 1970s and the 1990s. He was one of the founding broadcasters of Classic FM, enjoying a ratings success with THE CLASSIC COUNTDOWN, and returned to that station in 2007 with PAUL GAMBACCINIS HALL OF HEROES. Paul had a thirteen-year film review stint on first TV AM and then GMTV. He has made over 1000 television appearances.

Paul was co-author of THE GUINNESS BOOK OF BRITISH HIT SINGLES and related titles between 1977 and 1996. Combined sales of these volumes exceeded one and a half million copies. Paul’s own books include RADIO BOY, LOVE LETTERS, and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. Gambaccini co-authored TELEVISION’S GREATEST HITS with Rod Taylor, with whom he co-wrote and associate produced two BBC 1 television series of the same name. Taylor directed Paul’s three series of THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRACKS on Channel 4.

Gambaccini is the long time host of the Ivor Novello Awards, the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and the Music Industry Trusts Man of the Year Dinner. In 2012 he will celebrate 25 years as the Ivors host. Paul was host of the Sony Radio Academy Awards for 10 years. In 1995 Paul was named Philanthropist of the Year by the National Charity Fundraisers for his work on behalf of the Terrence Higgins Trust. He received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio award from the Radio Academy in 1996.

Paul Gambaccini was nominated Music Broadcaster of the Year in the 2003 Sony Awards. He won Music Special of the Year in 2004 and took Silver in Weekly Music Programme in 2005. He was given the career prize, The Gold Award, in 2007. The documentary WIRELESS KENNY EVERETT earned Silver in 2011. 

In 2005 Paul became a British Citizen while retaining his original American citizenship and was inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame. Gambaccini was one of the inaugural inductees in the UK Softball Hall of Fame in 2007.