The Essential Series
Encyclopedia
The Essential Series is a weekly radio show broadcast on Irish
radio station Today FM
. Broadcast every Sunday between 19:00 and 20:00, each show is dedicated to a different musician or band and effectively serves as a tribute to their career, with songs from their discography interspersed with commentary from the presenter about the said band or musician. The show has no regular presenter and varies from Tony Fenton
to Ann Gleeson
, the most recent inductee into the show's list of hosts. She presented a special dedicated to Guns N' Roses
on 23 November 2008. Some bands, such as The Beatles
and U2
, have featured twice. Kate Bush
, R.E.M.
and Christy Moore
are amongst the artists to have been covered by the series in 2008. Other notable shows include Fenton's Aretha Franklin
and Matt Cooper
's Radiohead
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
radio station Today FM
Today FM
Radio Ireland Ltd, trading as 100-102 Today FM is an Irish commercial FM radio station which is available nationally. The station, which commenced broadcasting on Saint Patrick's Day in 1997, can be received nationally and carries a mix of music and talk...
. Broadcast every Sunday between 19:00 and 20:00, each show is dedicated to a different musician or band and effectively serves as a tribute to their career, with songs from their discography interspersed with commentary from the presenter about the said band or musician. The show has no regular presenter and varies from Tony Fenton
Tony fenton
Anthony James Fagan , known professionally as Tony Fenton, is an Irish radio presenter and DJ, currently working with Today FM. He has been with Today FM since 2004, having previously presented a show on RTÉ 2fm, which he left in 2003. Fenton is "one of Ireland's favourite pop DJs". Louis Walsh has...
to Ann Gleeson
Ann Gleeson
Ann Gleeson is an Irish radio personality who has presented, produced and featured on numerous Today FM shows. Today FM is a national radio station. She has gained cult status for her slots on Tom Dunne's Pet Sounds and her current position on The Ray Foley Show...
, the most recent inductee into the show's list of hosts. She presented a special dedicated to Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
on 23 November 2008. Some bands, such as The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
and U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
, have featured twice. Kate Bush
Kate Bush
Kate Bush is an English singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Her eclectic musical style and idiosyncratic vocal style have made her one of the United Kingdom's most successful solo female performers of the past 30 years.In 1978, at the age of 19, Bush topped the UK Singles Chart...
, R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
and Christy Moore
Christy Moore
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...
are amongst the artists to have been covered by the series in 2008. Other notable shows include Fenton's Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
and Matt Cooper
Matt Cooper (Irish journalist)
Matt Cooper is an Irish journalist and presenter of The Last Word on Today FM.Cooper was educated at the North Monastery school and University College Cork. He is a former editor of the Sunday Tribune, appointed in September 1996, as well as a former business editor of the Irish Independent...
's Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
.