Meet The Presenters

Rosko

Presenter


Emperor Rosko is a well known radio presenter. Born Michael Joseph Pasternak, he is the son of Hollywood film producer Joe Pasternak. He was influenced in his career choice by KYA Radio Los Angeles DJs Emperor Hudson and Wolfman Jack. Rosko’s opportunity to broadcast came whilst in the US Navy where he presented a show on an aircraft carrier. He then went to Europe and hosted sponsored programmes in France and Belgium.

He joined Radio Caroline, a pirate radio station broadcasting from a ship off the coast of England, in 1964. There, his pacey American style soon made Rosko one of the station’s best loved DJs. He then was heard on French language stations Radio Monte Carlo and Radio Luxembourg.

It is Rosko who is heard introducing soul singer Otis Redding, as well as encouraging the crowd to chant and spell his name on Redding’s album Live in Europe, recorded on March 17 and March 21, 1967.

As a disc jockey with Radio 1 at its launch in September 1967, Rosko initially recorded shows in France for the Midday Spin programme. On his first Midday Spin show, Rosko introduced himself like “I am the Emperor, the geeter with the heater, your leader, your groovy host from the West coast, here to clear up your skin and mess up your mind. It’ll make you feel good all over.” He highlighted the new Motown, reggae, and rock music. John Dunn, BBC news presenter who followed Rosko’s show, must have had some difficulty understanding Rosko’s ‘jive talk’ when he announced “Now here is the news – in English!”

Rosko moved to the UK in 1968, so was heard live on Radio 1. Along with fellow DJ Dave Lee Travis he launched the first mobile discothèque, the Rosko International Roadshow. Rosko is still active in Los Angeles performing as a DJ at parties under his Rosko Party Productions label.

From 1970 he presented the Friday Roundtable where new records were reviewed by a panel, and a Saturday lunchtime slot. He stayed with Radio 1 until September 1976, when he left for America to join his father, who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

He has since been heard on the Classic Gold network and REM.FM, his programme being pre-recorded in California. He is currently running Rosko Radio, his own soul station on Live 365. Rosko also broadcasts a programme called “The LA Connection” from his studios in California, which can be heard in the UK every Sunday at 4pm on 96.5 Bolton FM and across Europe on several stations including Central FM in southern Spain, and Radio Ayia Napa in Cyprus.

He also does a show at Forest FM Verwood, Dorset on a Saturday from 12:00-14:00pm, as well as Saturday nights on Vixen101, East Yorkshire. On 11 April 2009 he presented a three hour show within a BBC-sponsored commemorative broadcast from the lightship LV18 berthed at Harwich.

In December 2009 Rosko released the first of his ‘radio show’ series for the Boisdale restaurants, sponsored by Glenfarclas. The series kicked off with a Christmas holiday special, which can be heard playing at the restaurants over the festive period.

Rosko was the inspiration for the character “The Count” in the 2009 film The Boat That Rocked, known as Pirate Radio in the United States.


James Murphy

Presenter

Crime Scene every Wednesday 7pm-9pm

James Murphy is a Northern Irish writer working within the genre of Crime Fiction. His first novel in the Terror Trilogy, The Rise of Terror, was first published in 2016 and achieved a second print run with Excalibur Press in 2017, having been met with excellent reviews.

James has since achieved Professional Membership Status with the Irish Writers Centre and teaches Crime Fiction Writing classes both online and present in person. The second book in the Terror Trilogy, The Terror Within was released in April 2019. It too was met with excellent reviews and further cemented James’ status as a writer of compelling and page turning crime fiction. The final book in the Terror Trilogy, Dark Light was released 5th November 2020.

After obtaining a Single Honours English Degree from Queen’s University Belfast, he embarked on a teaching career, first entering the classroom just over 20 years ago. In the intervening years he has become a successful educationalist, holding the offices of Head of English Department, Vice Principal and School Principal along the way and guiding schools both in Northern Ireland and across the UK to leading edge status.

Still working broadly within the field of education, he is now a member of the Faculty of Education, Edge Hill University, helping to develop and support the teachers of the future. 

In addition to this role, James also holds active directorship of Merlin Arts CIC and The Northern Ireland Festival of Writing, where he and his co-founders work to improve the lives of others through the power of writing. It was after a visit to a Medium and a well-timed word from his wife that gave the west Belfast man the confidence to get writing, and he’s never looked back since.

 


Johnny Mac

Presenter

The Vault, every Saturday 10-1pm and Sunday Serenade from 6-7pm

Johnny Mac has been a radio broadcaster for many years since his teens working in hospital, community, pirate and commercial stations. Every week on his show The Vault he will choose two mystery years and bring you an hour of music legends. On Sunday Serenade it’s 60 minutes celebrating the classic crooners and divas.