Swansea Sound Memories
a look back to when it all started in 1974
DEDICATIONThis indepentdently produced website is dedicated to Colin Mason OBE and Cled Griffin who devised the innovative KEYBOARD programme on Swansea Sound in 1977. It was the first known radio programme of its type in the UK for music lovers. Listeners were able to phone and request their favourite tunes played live on the Hammond organ. It was a dedication spot for birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. The show brought the community closer together like no other music programme. Listening figures (measured by RAJAR) shot up and KEYBOARD became one of the top evening music programmes. |
The Swansea Sound KEYBOARD Programme went on air 7th July 1977 (7-7-77) and became one of the most popular evening programmes. Here we look at the background story of those involved in the innovative broadcasts.
KEYBOARD was a programme that featured local talent and UK star players. Guest players were invited from Japan, Germany and Holland.
Outside broadcasts were made from the homes of listeners who owned some unusual instruments, including one with with an ex-cinema pipe organ.
Shown right is the producer, Cled Griffin. with his son Ian on the first night of the live show.
Two years later Ian appeared on the BBC1 Crackerjack - Young Entertainers, featuring junior talent and was voted back a second time by the live studio audiance.
In 1980, when the programme was rested, Cled Griffin produced Britain's first Keyboard Music Festival at Pontin's flagship holiday centre at Barton Hall, Torquay.
The programme returned as a part of the 'Sounds Welsh' series in 1981 following a Keyboard Festival at Pontin's Tower Beach at Prestatyn with a crowd of around 2,000 keyboard enethusiasts.
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