Saga 105.7 FM
Encyclopedia
Saga 105.7fm was an independent local radio
station broadcasting to the West Midlands
of the United Kingdom
. As well as the West Midlands County, it also served surrounding areas such as Worcestershire
, Staffordshire
, and Warwickshire
.
. Saga 105.7 FM was available locally on the FM
frequency, as well as through DAB
digital radio and online via a streaming service.
, Big Band
music and Rock and Roll
. These included:
(who made his name locally with a long running breakfast show on BRMB
), David Hamilton, Tony Brandon
, Mike Wyer, Tony Lyman
, John Darvall, Jeff Harris, Roger Day
, Andy Holmes, Mike Baker, Mike Hollis, Andy Marriott, Bev Bevan
, Tom Clarke-Hill, Pete Johnson, Adrian Jackson, Chris Rolinson and Sheila Tracy
.
's purchase of the Saga Radio Group in December 2006, it was announced that from March 2007, all Saga stations were to be rebranded as Smooth Radio. Saga 105.7 FM closed shortly after 6pm on Friday 23 March 2007 and was followed by a preview weekend for its replacement. 105.7 Smooth Radio
was launched at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007.
Independent Local Radio
Independent Local Radio is the collective name given to commercial radio stations in the United Kingdom. The same name is used for Independent Local Radio in Ireland.-Development of ILR:...
station broadcasting to the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. As well as the West Midlands County, it also served surrounding areas such as Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, and Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
.
Broadcast details
Part of the Saga Radio Group, the station broadcast its programmes from its studios on the Hagley Road in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. Saga 105.7 FM was available locally on the FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
frequency, as well as through DAB
Digital audio broadcasting
Digital Audio Broadcasting is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations, used in several countries, particularly in Europe. As of 2006, approximately 1,000 stations worldwide broadcast in the DAB format....
digital radio and online via a streaming service.
Programming
Programming was a quality service aimed at an audience over the age of 50, with familiar, melodic music covering most genres from the 1940s up to the present day. There were also special interest shows on genres such as Country and Western, JazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
music and Rock and Roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
. These included:
- Swing Time with Sheila Tracy - featuring big band and dance band music;
- Dinner at Eight - classical music;
- The Collection - hits from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s;
- 50s/60s Saturday - Saturday morning programme playing music from the 1950s and 1960s;
- 60s/70s Sunday - Sunday afternoon show featuring music from the 1960s and 1970s;
- Saga Country - the very best in country and western music;
- Saga Silver Screen - music from the movies;
- Soul Train - Soul and Motown hits.
- Smooth Jazz - jazz music
- Pure Nostalgia - music from the 1930s through to the early 1950s;
- David Hamilton's Million Sellers - the songs that sold a million;
- Jukebox Giants - music from the Rock'n'Roll era.
Presenters
Over its time on air, a whole array of presenters hosted shows for the station. These included Les RossLes Ross
Les Ross MBE is a British disc jockey and long established personality in the West Midlands.-Early life and career:...
(who made his name locally with a long running breakfast show on BRMB
Brmb
brmb is a local radio station based in Birmingham, UK, owned and operated by Orion Media. The station broadcasts on 96.4 FM, DAB Digital Radio in the West Midlands and online...
), David Hamilton, Tony Brandon
Tony Brandon
Tony Brandon is a British radio presenter and comedian.-Early career:Brandon originally worked on television and abroad as a comedian...
, Mike Wyer, Tony Lyman
Tony Lyman
Tony Lyman is a British disc jockey, who currently presents the drivetime show on Nottingham based radio station 106.6 Smooth Radio.- Career :...
, John Darvall, Jeff Harris, Roger Day
Roger Day
Broadcaster Roger "Twiggy" Day Real name Roger Thomas currently presents on six BBC Local Radio stations across southern England.-Early career:...
, Andy Holmes, Mike Baker, Mike Hollis, Andy Marriott, Bev Bevan
Bev Bevan
Bev Bevan is an English rock musician, who was the drummer and one of the original members of The Move and Electric Light Orchestra...
, Tom Clarke-Hill, Pete Johnson, Adrian Jackson, Chris Rolinson and Sheila Tracy
Sheila Tracy
Sheila Tracy is a British musician, best known for her trombone playing, and as a broadcaster and journalist. She studied piano, violin and trombone at the Royal Academy of Music, then joined the Ivy Benson All Girls Band between 1956 and 1958...
.
Rebranding
Following GMG RadioGMG Radio
GMG Radio is the radio division of the Guardian Media Group. The group is based in Laser House, Salford Quays in Greater Manchester. The advertising division is in Old Trafford, Manchester. John Myers was the Chief Executive Officer, his deputy replaced him in April 2009...
's purchase of the Saga Radio Group in December 2006, it was announced that from March 2007, all Saga stations were to be rebranded as Smooth Radio. Saga 105.7 FM closed shortly after 6pm on Friday 23 March 2007 and was followed by a preview weekend for its replacement. 105.7 Smooth Radio
105.7 Smooth Radio
105.7 Smooth Radio was an Independent Local Radio station for the West Midlands of the United Kingdom, and replaced Saga 105.7 FM at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007...
was launched at 6am on Monday 26 March 2007.