Alan Fawkes - Tribute

Alan Fawkes was known by sight and sound by so many in British radio. His initials helped to form the company name Alfasound, which he and Steve England took to the heights of success in the UK jingle field through the eighties and beyond.

Alan heard the jazz melodies which had underpinned the best in American jingles and understood close harmony singing.

Many of us worked with Alan and Steve in the Clocktower Cheshire studios in its old school home; and even in the preceding Tapetrix 'garage' days before the production house rose to its zenith. We recall those lovely, long days out the office where we'd spend life just wallowing in hours and hours of our station names being sung. Syllable - by - syllable. First slowly, then at the right speed. Then again and again. And again. Steve in the mixing booth with us; and Alan in the voice booth coaching and leading the assorted singers. His comfortably accented tones demonstrating the way he wanted the words sung to fit the lovely melody and arrangement he'd assembled. Then Alan's lovely wife Joy would bring in coffee and custard creams; and a cheque for Steve to sign.

I recall the excitement of witnessing my first session. I remember too the craziness of the day Alan coached a group of new Asian singers to sing over Pams tracks in Hindi for Leicester Sound's Sabras; and the day when Jackie Dickson arrived from JAM in Dallas to supplement the group of talented Manchester vocalists. Wow. And I remember the days we got the 10 1/2 inch spools back home, loaded with our new packages, and copied off our new cuts onto fresh, blue AA3 carts with pretty labels.

I think most would agree that Alfasound made huge advances in the sound of UK jingles. Britain had been so far away from the precision of the old US jingle houses; and we got so close, thanks to Alfasound's deep insight into the American techniques.

Alfasound productions were heard on so many UK stations. Almost all, in fact: Piccadilly; Devonair; Centre; Chiltern; Fox; TFM, Invicta; BBC Local; Radio Victory; Caroline; Metro; Leicester Sound and hundreds and hundreds of Len Groat cuts for my beloved Trent in Nottingham.

Some would say some jingles were cheesy; but they were musically perfect, often beautiful, still memorable; and, frankly, they always did what their clients wanted.

Great memories. Happy days. And the cheery innocent sound of radio of an era.

And they produced my first - and last name-check.

Alan died in 2010 at the age of 80. Steve (also an ex RNI and Piccadilly jock) is retired, but still pops up!