So to the last Sunday Replay of 2012. I hope you had a fabulous Christmas and are looking forward to all those New Year celebrations. As we find ourselves at the end of the year I thought it would be a good idea to look back at some of the highlights of 2012 on the Sunday Replay. Today we replayed some of the best sessions and interviews from some of my guests who have appeared on the show this year. We also remembered some of the great stars of music we have lost this year and heard a little of their music.

Doogie Hunter

Back on a wet day in June I was fortunate to be joined in the Phoenix FM studio by a young man with very obvious talent. Doogie Hunter from Southend came in with his Ukelele collection and blew me away not only with his musical talent but also by his personality and love for life. His music included a special Phoenix FM version of Bring Me Sunshine, adapted by Doogie himself for the show…

Breakforcover

In March I had the pleasure of having Breakforcover as my guests in the studio. Breakforcover are a five piece local band who specialise in covering great songs from the last five decades. Chris, Stef, Kevin, Ian, and Dave are a great bunch of musicians and nice guys, who will always entertain and leave you smiling with music from diverse artists such as The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Kings of Leon and The Killers,

More details on www.breakforcover.com

Breakforcover will be at

04/01/13 – The Swan, Hatfield Peverel

12/01/13 – The Bull, Corringham

For more details of gigs throughout next year visit www.breakforcover.com

 Vanquish

In October I had an extremely pleasant encounter with up and coming girl band Vanquish. Vanquish are Holly, Lizzy and Rianna and new member Kayleigh: a fun-loving, bubbly set of girls ready to storm the UK with their dance-pop music! Out to raise not only a smile but also havoc on the dancefloor, Vanquish are a fresh new girl-band for 2012.

Earlier this year Vanquish toured with world-renowned boyband Westlife on their final tour

 D’Ukes

I was lucky enough to be joined on the show twice this year by Ukelele band D’ukes. Our session in October was hampered by a few technical problems but D’ukes played on and covered for me while I sorted them out. Back in March though the session ran much more smoothly, so we heard an extract from their excellent performance that day.

You can catch D’ukes at the following gigs

26 January – 20:30 @ The Norton – Cold Norton Essex

27 January – 19:30 @ Half Moon – Putney Lonon

More details on www.d-ukes.com

During the show we also paid tribute to some of the great stars of music that we lost during 2012

Andy Williams – Can’t Get Used to Losing You

Popular crooner who sold more than 100m albums in a career that spanned eight decades

Donna Summer – I Feel Love

One of disco’s biggest stars and also had a huge influence on the synth pop and dance music scenes.

Between 1978-80, her career hit its commercial peak with a string of US hit singles including Last Dance, MacArthur Park, Bad Girls and Hot Stuff.

She won five Grammy Awards and had a further 12 nominations, becoming the first black artist to win a Grammy in a rock category – taking best rock vocal performance for Hot Stuff in 1979.

 The Bee Gees – Massachusettes

Robin Gibb was best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice and older brother Barry. After a career spanning six decades, Gibb last performed on stage in February 2012 supporting injured British servicemen and women at a charity concert at the London Palladium. On 20 May 2012, Robin Gibb died at the age of 62

 The Monkees – Daydream Believer

Davy Jones was an English recording artist, actor and businessman, best known as a member of the musical group the Monkees and star of the TV series of the same name. Died : February 29, 2012

Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was an American recording artist, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most awarded female act of all time.