Tag: Tony Dixon

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One of Sunshine Radio’s most popular DJs Tony Dixon (RIP) was fondly remembered for his Saturday night Soul Special show in the station’s early years. This edition from 1982 contains the usual mix of the latest soul tracks as well as classics. There are no adverts but several of the familiar Sunshine jingles. Tony mentions three loyal fans who record the show every week and bring the tapes with them to Amsterdam so that friends there can listen to it.

Tony also presented Good Day Sunshine each afternoon, as highlighted by this image from the Sunshine Review, a glossy magazine published by Sunshine in 1985. After a long radio career, he died prematurely in 2010.

This FM recording was made on 11^th September 1982 between 1910-1940. No frequency is noted, but Sunshine was on 101.5 FM at the time, as well as 531 kHz AM. Thanks to Shay Geoghegan for the donation.

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As well as presenting a daily show on Sunshine Radio every afternoon, Tony Dixon (RIP) also fronted a popular soul programme every Saturday evening. Soul Special aired from 1800-2100 and had a dedicated band of listeners. In this recording from 1982, to celebrate two years with Sunshine, Tony is giving away an album and a station car visor. There are dedications from near and far, including from Limerick and even Amsterdam.

The recording was made on 21^st August 1982 between 2025-2100 from 100.5 FM and is courtesy of Shay Geoghegan. Tony had a long career in pirate and licensed radio but died prematurely in 2010.

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Tony Dixon (RIP) was one of the best-known DJs on Dublin’s Sunshine Radio in the 1980s, presenting a daily show every afternoon and also a popular weekend soul programme. This recording from 1982 is of part of Tony’s lunchtime show with the usual mix of music, chat and dedications. The soundtrack of the afternoon features music from James Bond movies and there is a promo for a competition to win a house worth £45,000, an example of the eye-watering giveaways on larger pirate stations like Sunshine and Radio Nova during this period.

Tony also mentions the Sunshine Radio election special that was broadcast every evening. The involvement of pirate radio in elections in the 1980s was controversial because of several failed efforts to bring forward legislation to licence local radio. Sunshine Radio took the unprecedented step of publishing a newspaper advertisment in support of Fianna Fáil in the February 1982 election because that party had committed to introducing local commercial radio.

After a long career in pirate and licensed radio, Tony died prematurely on 25^th November 2010. This recording was made on Tuesday 9^th February 1982 between 1210-1255 from 91.6 FM and is courtesy of Shay Geoghegan.