Johnny Beerling - Biography Johnny started his career in Radio during his national service running a radio station in Aden for the RAF where he doubled as station manager, studio engineer and early morning DJ. In 1957 he joined the BBC as a Technical Operator, then Studio Manager, before becoming a producer for the Light Programme. In 1967 the Marine Offences Bill led to the close down of the pirate stations and the BBC decided to set up Radio 1 to provide a legal alternative. Johnny was at the forefront of this process, devising the jingles, recruiting most of the DJ talent and subsequently he produced the first ever show with Tony Blackburn. In 1971 he pioneered the first of the Network's rock documentaries, a 14 hour documentary series on the History of the Beatles which established a style of programming, which has continued for 35 years. In 1973 he conceived and launched the show for which he is best known, the Radio 1 Roadshow, which has grown from a small caravan operation on Newquay Beach to an 80 foot mobile stage show housed in a series of articulated trucks, supported by a giant outdoor TV display. In 1985 I was appointed Controller of the Radio 1 Network, During his time at Radio 1 it was recognised as one of the leading music broadcasting stations in the world, with a weekly audience of 19 million listeners. Highlight of that time was the broadcasting of Live Aid on July 13 1985. In 1992 he was the first non-broadcaster to receive the coveted Ferguson Award for an Outstanding Contribution to Music Radio from The Radio Academy and in 1993 was elected President of the Television and Radio Industry Club of Great Britain. In 1993 he left the BBC to work as a broadcasting consultant to both TV and Radio. He was Festival Director of BBC Radio s Music Live 95, with over 50 major music concerts showcasing all genres of music staged in Birmingham over the May Bank Holiday weekend. In 1997 and 98 he travelled to India to work with Mark Tully on Unique Broadcasting s Something Understood for BBC Radio 4 and in 2002 produced a double cassette of the Life and Times of Kenny Everett for the BBC Radio Collection. For the last 16 years Johnny has been Chairman of the Radio Data System (RDS) Forum, an international body which co-ordinates the interests of the world s broadcasters and radio manufacturers involved in data broadcasting. He was appointed a Governor of the BRITS School for Performing Arts and Technology in May 1993 and in that same month was presented with a SONY Award for Outstanding Services to the Radio Industry. In May 2008 Johnny published his book; Radio 1- The Inside Scene . Subjects covered; Launch of Radio 1 in 1967. Inside gossip on top DJ s; their tears and their tantrums. John Peel, Noel Edmonds, Tony Blackburn, Dave Lee Travis, Mike Read, Simon Bates, Jimmy Savile. Radio 1 Club. The Beatles Story Radio 1 Roadshow The Politics of working with Chairman Duke Hussey, Directors General Michael Checkland and John Birt. Live Aid
The book is available from: http://www.trafford.com/07-2577 Johnny's own website can be found at www.johnnybeerling.com | 
