Paul Gambaccini
PAUL GAMBACCINI was born in New York City on the 2nd of April, 1949. He earned degrees in History (Dartmouth College USA) and Philosophy, Politics and Economics (University College Oxford). He was News International Visiting Professor of Broadcast Media at Oxford University in 2009.
Gambaccini’s career began as a writer for Rolling Stone commencing in 1970 and continuing through the decade. Paul celebrated his fortieth anniversary as a national broadcaster on the 5th of October, 2013. He made his Radio 1 debut in 1973 and his first Radio 4 appearance the following year. He currently presents America's Greatest Hits on BBC Radio 2. His rotating Radio 4 mini-series are Counterpoint and And The Academy Award Goes To... . He hosted The BBC Jazz Awards, uniquely broadcast on both Radios 2 and 3, in 2005 through 2008, and has been a frequent host of Friday Night Is Music Night on Radio 2. Radio 4 celebrated the 40th anniversary with the mini-series The Gambaccini Years.
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 and for many years hosted the occasional mini-series For One Night Only. He was one of the founding broadcasters of Classic FM. Gambaccini had a thirteen-year film review stint on first TV-am and then GMTV. He has made thousands of television appearances, including Live Aid and The Nelson Mandela Birthday Concert, at the time the two most-watched TV shows in history.
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. Rod directed Paul's three series of The Other Side Of The Tracks on Channel 4.
Gambaccini has presented the Ivor Novello Awards for 27 years. He hosted the Music Industry Trusts Dinner for 14 years. He presented the Sony Radio Academy Awards from 1999 to 2008 and the Parliamentary Jazz Awards from 2005 to 2012. 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 has been nominated for Sony Radio Academy Awards on several occasions. He was named Music Broadcaster of the Year in 2003, won Music Special of the Year in 2004 and received the career prize, The Gold Award, in 2007.
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. He is a Prince's Trust Ambassador.
57 articles
List of articles in the library
Profile and Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 21 June 1973
"EVERY DAY for the past 16 years somebody has asked me how I call my lover boy," Sylvia Robinson marveled, referring to the public's memory ...
Live Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 17 January 1974
"THE NEXT stop that we make will be England" was the cue for 3000 Londoners to get out of their seats and move to the ...
The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Wings: The Rolling Stone Interview: Paul McCartney
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 31 January 1974
THIS JANUARY marks the tenth anniversary of the Beatles' appearance on the American charts. Last month Rolling Stone conducted its first full-scale interview with Paul ...
Cat Stevens' Return: Pop Goes the Poet
Report and Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 9 May 1974
LONDON — Two children, one black and one white, played on the doorstep of Cat Stevens's terraced house. ...
Wings: Paul McCartney & Wings: New Theatre, Oxford
Live Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 21 June 1973
"LOOK, THERE goes someone with black hair! Is that a Wing?" asked one of the four 12-year-olds camped at the New Theatre six hours before ...
Adam & The Ants: The Ants Are Coming
Profile and Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 30 April 1981
So unplug the jukebox And do us all a favor That music's lost its taste So try another flavor — Adam and ...
Shirley Goodman, Shirley & Company: Shirley & Company: 'Shame' of the Discos
Profile and Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 27 March 1975
A FRIENDSHIP formed backstage at the Apollo Theater 19 years ago is responsible for one of the year's surprise hits. ...
Tim Rice: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice: Bible Rockers Talking Shop
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 21 June 1973
(PLEASE ALLOW the writers of Jesus Christ, Superstar and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to introduce themselves). ...
Elton John: Elton & Company Seduce Wembley
Report by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 31 July 1975
LONDON — "An English audience is like a good fuck," Glenn Frey of the Eagles explained earnestly in a trailer-cum-dressing room behind Wembley Stadium. "You ...
The Bay City Rollers: Bay City Rollers Skate on Thin Hype
Report by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 25 September 1975
LONDON — "Whoever is doing their public relations has no sense of shame," BBC disc jockey John Peel complained. He had just read newspaper reports ...
Maxine Nightingale's Disco Hit: 'I Couldn't Dance to It'
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 20 May 1976
MAXINE NIGHTINGALE is puzzled by the success of 'Right Back Where We Started From', a song which has made her a star, pushed her marriage ...
Report by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 15 July 1976
LONDON — Patti Smith prompts some strong opinions here. New Musical Express drooled that Horses, her debut Arista album, was "better than... the first Beatles ...
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 16 June 1977
LONDON — AFTER an extended period of getting together whatever one gets together in the English countryside, Stevie Winwood, 29, has emerged with his first ...
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 18 November 1976
Some photographs & rotogravures ...
Generation X Idolizes Rock & Roll
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 13 July 1978
LONDON — ANYONE WHO calls Elton John a "bald cunt" is risking the wrath of the rock & roll mainstream, but Billy Idol of Generation ...
Boomtown Rats: The Boomtown Rats: Bound For Glory
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 8 March 1979
Will America do the Rat? ...
Kracker, The Rolling Stones: Stones in Europe: A Hearty Welcome After 2 Long Years
Report by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 11 October 1973
This is just another tour. And Wembley is just another show. — Charlie Watts in London, the night before. ...
10cc, Godley & Creme: 'We Couldn't Scrap The Whole Thing': 10cc's Survival Hit
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 28 July 1977
THE 10CC THAT will be touring America starting in mid-July is only half the group that recorded 1975's 'I'm Not in Love', but twice the ...
Freda Payne: 'Band of Gold' (Invictus 20201)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 25 June 1970
Thumpthumpthumphumpthumpthumpthumpthump. A drummer practices his part in a Holland-Dozier-Holland song. ...
Mike Oldfield: Tubular Bells (Virgin)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 8 November 1973
AN UNKNOWN English teenager playing over 20 instruments has produced the most important one-shot project of 1973. It is a debut performance of a kind ...
Cat Stevens: A Happier Cat Stevens Explains Foreigner and Other Mysteries
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 13 September 1973
LONDON — Cat Stevens is happy these days. "Happier now than I can recall being," he said. "Not laughing-happy. I don't go 'Haha! — oh, ...
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 6 December 1973
THE SMILING face of Diana Ross froze as she answered the question. The gauche bastard had just asked how she felt replacing Tammi Terrell in ...
Hot Chocolate, Stories: Stories and Hot Chocolate: 'Brother Louie'
Report and Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 13 September 1973
"THIS IS NOT what I wanted," Enrol Brown mused over a boiled egg breakfast in his London penthouse. "Tony Wilson and I will still get ...
Stealers Wheel: Down to Two And Enjoying It
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 14 February 1974
LONDON — Ferguslie Park is a housing development in Scotland where Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan once lived. The long-time friends are now the sole ...
Stevie Wonder Returns With a Synthesized Howl
Report and Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 28 February 1974
LONDON — IT HAD been five months since his auto accident, five months since he had done a complete show onstage, and it was clear ...
Wings: McCartneys Meet Press: Starting All Over Again
Report by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 21 June 1973
OXFORD, ENGLAND — "Yes, I'm satisfied with how we are now," said Paul McCartney. "I think I'm good. I like me, I'm good. I can ...
10cc, Jonathan King, Neil Sedaka: 10cc: Hottest Band in the UK
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 8 November 1973
MANCHESTER, England — "I am known in the business for hype," UK Records president Jonathan King boasted rather than confessed. "Sometimes I hype like hell. ...
The Eagles: Eagles Fly High with Disco 'Nights'
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 28 August 1975
"WE LIKE TO be a nice little country-rock band from Los Angeles... about half the time," Eagles drummer Don Henley claimed backstage after the band's ...
Johnny Bristol: Hang On in There Baby (MGM M3G 4959)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 30 January 1975
THIS SONGWRITER/producer's debut as an LP artist frequently bears similarities to the work of Barry White. Vocals are alternately guttural and emotive, then strident and ...
Wings: Dawn of the Age of Venus and Mars: McCartneys, Wings Take to the Stars
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 17 July 1975
LONDON — IT WAS a brilliantly sunny day in the late spring Britons like to call summer. Secretaries were tanning themselves in St. James Park, ...
Joan Armatrading: Whatever's For Us (Cube)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 30 August 1973
FROM HER opening piano passage on 'My Family', the most endearing keyboard introduction since the first notes of 'Your Song' led off Elton John, one ...
Back Door Trio Forsakes the Pubs
Profile and Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 22 November 1973
LONDON — "THIRTY thousand people? That's as many as they get in a Blackburn football match!" ...
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 20 December 1973
DON McLEAN could well be the pop Orson Welles of the Seventies, a talented man who happened to make his initial impact with one of ...
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 20 December 1973
'LIVE AND Let Die' is the best record Paul McCartney has made since Let It Be, although 'Maybe I'm Amazed' is an equally good composition. ...
Dr. John: "The Doctor Is In" — A Talk with Dr. John
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 27 September 1973
MALCOLM JOHN Rebennack is a New Orleans musician who has played on more sessions than he or anyone else can remember. In 1968 his first ...
The Rolling Stones: 'Its Only Rock and Roll'
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 26 September 1974
"WE HAD THE hook line with nothing to set it to for a long time," Keith Richard explained in the Rolling Stones' London office. "Then ...
The Rolling Stones: Stones in Germany — World Next?
Report and Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 3 June 1976
FRANKFURT, GERMANY — The Rolling Stones are on tour again, traveling through Europe and preparing themselves for Bicentennial celebrations in the U.S. this summer. ...
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Sounds, 7 June 1975
Quite what all that has to do with 'Venus And Mars' is not at first apparent. But stay with us, all will be revealed. ...
Mac Davis's Ode to Rock & Roll
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 27 February 1975
MAC DAVIS has written a number of hits for himself and other artists but, on a promotional trip to North Dakota, he heard a record ...
Paul McCartney, Wings: Paul McCartney: Once Nipped, Twice Shy
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Record Mirror, 12 July 1980
PAUL McCARTNEY tells PAUL GAMBACCINI how he avoided going to pot in a Jap jail ...
Harry Chapin: Harry & Sandy Chapin's Cat
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 16 January 1975
HARRY CHAPIN'S hit that hits close to home came from within his own. "My wife, Sandy, had written a poem that implied I was on ...
The Eagles: Desperado (Asylum)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 10 May 1973
IF THEY gave a Grammy for the best interior gatefold cover, this one should be nominated. It is the best since For The Roses, but ...
Tower of Power: Back To Oakland (Warner Bros. BS 2749)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 9 May 1974
THE FUNK burner bubbles constantly in the background, but it doesn't compensate for the lack of good material. Even the token ballad, 'Time Will Tell,' ...
The Nazz, Todd Rundgren: Singles: 'Hello, It's Me' — Todd Rundgren
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 3 January 1974
"IT'S NOT that I didn't want it out," Todd Rundgren explained, "It's just that it's like a two-year, six-year time warp," ...
Gladys Knight and the Pips: 'Neither One of Us': Gladys Knight and the Pips
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 10 May 1973
GLADYS KNIGHT and the Pips have left Motown the same way Ted Williams left the Red Sox, with a home run. 'Neither One of Us' ...
Bluesology, Elton John, Bernie Taupin: The Rolling Stone Interview: Elton John
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 16 August 1973
ELTON JOHN wanted to do The Rolling Stone Interview when we first suggested it to him in February. A grueling British tour kept him occupied ...
Neil Diamond: Stones (UNI 93106)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 20 January 1972
REMEMBER HOW embarrassed you felt on first listening to Neil Diamond destroy 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother' only to decide on the tenth hearing ...
Dr. John: 'Right Place, Wrong Time' (Atco 6914)
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 5 July 1973
"I HAD THAT line in my songbook since about 1959, but I could never get anything together for it," Mac Rebennack remembered in his Los ...
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 14 February 1974
CHER AND producer Snuff Garrett have resurrected the LP pegged to a hit single and embellished it with a few cover versions and throwaway tracks. ...
Lamont Dozier: Out Here on My Own (ABCX-804)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 11 April 1974
FAMOUS WRITER-producer Lamont Dozier neither wrote nor produced this album, so it represents a break from his Motown and Invictus work. There isn't much novelty ...
Paul McCartney: "It was my role to be a bit more the cheerful chap than the others"
Memoir by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 15 October 1992
PAUL McCARTNEY changed my life when I heard 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' for the first time, on WINS in New York in late ...
Roxy Music: For Your Pleasure (Warner Bros. BS 2696)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 5 July 1973
STOP DOING the stroll, mouse, limbo, eighty-one and peppermint twist. Give the Strand four minutes of your time and you won't think of doing another ...
Report and Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 23 May 1974
Nouveau Rock Bops British Charts ...
Roxy Music Hits New High with Love Drug
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 11 March 1976
"I FIRST learned 'Love Is the Drug' might catch on in America when I was in an elevator in Milwaukee," Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry said ...
Millie Jackson: Caught Up (Spring SPR 6703)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 10 April 1975
THIS REMARKABLE exposition of a lover's triangle told from the perspectives of wife and adulteress is the high point of Millie Jackson's career to date. ...
Roxy Music: Stranded (Atco 7045)
Review by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 23 May 1974
TWO BRITISH bands are genuinely stretching the dimensions of pop music. One, 10 c.c., has already found a degree of popularity in the States. Roxy ...
10cc, Hotlegs, Jonathan King, Neil Sedaka: They're Not in Love: 10cc Eats Rubber Bullets
Interview by Paul Gambaccini, Rolling Stone, 23 October 1975
LONDON — AFTER trying to crack the U.S. market for nearly three years, success came suddenly to 10cc this summer. 'I'm Not in Love', with ...
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