In The Spotlight | The 60s Jukebox with Brendan Murphy

In this series of reviews, we’re putting some of our shows into the spotlight. Led and run entirely by volunteers, Radio Harrow broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from our studios in Northwick Park, and this week, we caught up with Brendan Murphy, who hosts The 60s Jukebox!

Firstly, tell us about yourself. What brings you to Radio Harrow?

I retired from a career in banking in 2018 & was keen to do something completely different. I started volunteering at a local food bank, and also joined Radio Harrow at the end of 2022. Radio work had always been of interest since my days of running a mobile disco in my 20s.

I found the Radio Harrow team welcoming & supportive from the outset . Once trained I was able to start the weekly “60s Jukebox “ show early in 2023.

And now, the show. What is The 60s Jukebox all about?

The “60s Jukebox “ show does what it says on the tin! I play tracks from a decade which , I consider, to be the best for music. So many genres emerged & came together in a melting pot of great sounds during the 1960s.

What should listeners expect in a typical show?

Listeners can expect to hear a great mix of music from the decade -pop, soul, rock, reggae & Motown. In addition to news and trivia facts from the 1960s the show has regular features- “Back2Back Beatles” and “I Can’t Believe it Didn’t do Better” featuring a song that surprisingly did not make UK Top 30.

Do you have a radio idol?

My radio idol is Johnnie Walker- he has good musical knowledge & and great taste in music. He also has a presenting style that is easy to listen to. Having started his career in the 1960s he still has a weekly show on Radio 2.

Lastly, you’re stuck on a remote island for the rest of time! Who would you bring with you for the ride?

Bear Grylls (with a saw!) may be a useful companion- he could chop down trees, build a shelter, forage for food and even make a vessel to sail away on!

How to listen!

You can listen to The 60s Jukebox with Brendan Murphy every Thursday from 2pm via this website, on the TuneIn app, or through your smart speaker by telling it to ‘Play Radio Harrow’.

Contact the studio!

You can contact the studio during the show by calling 0208 869 3959 or by sending a WhatsApp to the same number. You can also email studio@radioharrow.org.