Steve James

Steve presents the 'Blues Cafe' every Sunday 12pm-1pm.

Brief background summary
I live just north of London, UK and am a lifelong musician having picked up the guitar at 12 years old. I love all genre of music and have played in many different types of bands from blues to dance to jazz to folk. Still playing in bands and love every minute of it. I have a special love of the Blues and sharing that love with you on the radio is a real privilege. My love of all music comes across in my show at the ‘Joker in the Pack’ feature where I play a tune that is not necessarily Blues but one I really love. The Blues Café is my venture into Radio …

What was your first job? Do you have a funny story about it?
First Job: Butchers Boy in a supermarket (it was terrible, nothing funny to say!) 
Best Job: Playing the guitar in a dance band and the enjoyment that gives the audience.

What are you happiest doing when you’re not working and why?
Being with my family. Grandchildren are the best thing ever, watching their characters evolve.

What’s your absolute favourite song and why?
"
Still got the Blues" – Gary Moore. Gary Moore was a stunning guitarist each note he played was from the heart.

What’s your favourite album and why?
"
Are you Experienced" - Jimi Hendrix. This was an inspiration album when I was learning the guitar I wanted to play just like that.

What song do you hate most and why?
I don’t really hate any song as that is a very strong emotion to apply to an artist’s work. I have music that I choose not to listen to. Novelty music would be a turn the radio off moment for me, like “The Birdie Song”.

Which artist/ musician alive or dead would you most like to get a coffee (whiskey etc.) with?
Gary Moore a couple of beers and just to do a guitar masterclass with him.

Tell us something no one knows about you?
If I told you everyone would know! Shhhhhhhh…

What’s your most useless talent?
I can wiggle my ears. It is thought that about 10-20% of the population has the ability to do that though, so it's not completely unique to me! 

What will finally break the internet?
Trolling, don't do it...! 

If we went to Happy Hour what would you order?
Beer, which would probably an ale from a small brewery.

Finally - is there anything specific you want the listeners to know about you...
I love the Blues and that includes the music from the early 1920s right up to the current blues artists. And the opportunity to present the Blues Café to spread the word is a real honour.
 

 

 

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  • We will Miss you Tony!!


    All our thoughts and love to Tony’s Family and Friends in this time. We will miss you very much Tony, we are forever grateful for helping to set us up & being such a core member of our team. Being behind the mic is what you loved doing and it’s how we will remember you. 💗💗💗

  • Trevor Simpson was born and raised in Kebroyd, Triangle and spent most of his working life in Halifax. After joining the legal firm of Bearder and Son, solicitors from school, he spent thirty-two years working for them as the agency manager for Abbey National Building Society. When the Abbey decided to open a full branch office in 1990, they offered Trevor the job of Branch Manager, where he worked for several years, before taking early retirement in 1995. 

    A keen sportsman, Trevor played as a goalkeeper in local football and was an avid Halifax Town supporter from the age of seven. An injury in 1966 enforced his change of direction and he became a football referee after learning his craft locally. He progressed through to the Football League where he spent seven seasons (1984-1991) officiating at the highest domestic level (all top clubs except West Ham Utd!). He also had two appearances in Wembley F.A. finals, various European and International matches and as a linesman at a World Cup qualifier. He retained his activity in football working for The Professional Game Match Official Ltd. as a referee coach and later a referee assessor on the F.A. Premier League. Trevor also completed 30 consecutive years as a referee and ambassador at the Dallas Cup International Youth Tournament in Texas. 

    His greatest interest outside sport has always been popular music. An avid record collector since his teenage years, Trevor possessed every No.1 record since the British charts began in 1952. He was viewed by many as a worldwide authority on Elvis, wrote numerous articles about him in various worldwide magazines and visited Graceland several times. Trevor published five comprehensive volumes charting Elvis’s early career which have now sold-out. He researched and wrote two local volumes of ‘Small Town, Saturday Night’ chronicling the 1960s music scene around Halifax. He was also part of the Halifax Music Heritage Trails.

    Trevor was the founder of Radio Calderdale in 1981, the hospital radio service in Halifax. During his time there he did regular shows and helped raise funds for the station. Each year until 2020, Trevor broadcast on Christmas Day morning and took great delight in announcing the babies that had been born that day. He also assisted with live commentary of FC Halifax Town’s matches from the Shay for several years. For the past two years, he volunteered as a presenter at the online community radio station, Calder Valley Radio, where his weekly music show was adored by many listeners all over the world. He cared passionately about the station, helping out with grants and fund-raising initiatives, such as the hugely successful Elvis night in September 2023.

    Following the sad news of Trevor's passing in January, his family have decided that any donations made in Trevor's memory should go to Calder Valley Radio as Trevor really enjoyed the two years he spent with the station and did so much to raise our profile.

    If you would like to donate, here is the link:

    https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/in-memory-of-trevor-simpson

     

     

     

                      

     

     

  • Welcome to Calder Valley Radio.

    Welcome to Calder Valley Radio. Established in 2020 with Dave, Guy, Fiona, Tony and Val and the help of Hebden Royd Town Council and comedian, Jon Richardson, we launched in the middle of a pandemic. All our Planning in 2019, could never have prepared us for what happened in 2020, but this was our best training. We didn't miss a broadcast and even through our own health issues and sad times, we carried on. Radio became our support too, in our times of need. We know, from your messages to us, that Calder Valley Radio helped you through too and music truly is a great healer.

    As we venture forth, with Tim Morsley as our Programme Manger and a great team behind the scenes, we are so excited to be supported by Calderdale Council. We are looking forward to delivering a wonderful programme of events and shows in the coming seasons ahead.

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