Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette
We’ve had a few chart-toppers visit us over the years at our studios in the Brentwood Centre, and last week it was the turn of a groundbreaking musician and producer to pop in for a chat on air.
Essex resident Paul Hardcastle came in to chat to Michelle Ward on her mid-morning show Eat My Brunch.
Paul lives in Essex and is best known for “19”, which was a major worldwide hit – as well as reaching no 1 in the UK, it was the biggest-selling single of 1985 in 13 different countries.
He also provided the theme tune to Top Of The Pops from 1986 to 1991 with his instrumental track “The Wizard”.
Listeners may not know that Paul is still creating music – with continued success. He’s had no less than eleven no 1 singles on the USA’s Billboard Jazz chart over the last 20 years, most recently Tropicool and Wavelength.
As well as a long chat with Michelle about music, he also spoke about his recent autobiography, The Hard Way, in which he talks about his early life and the sliding doors moments which led him to his long career in music.
Paul was a good friend of the much loved and missed Francesca Spiteri, founder of Butterfly Meadow who passed away earlier this year, and gave a touching tribute on air.
The interview can be heard again at phoenixfm.com.
