Today marked the 50th anniversary of the launch of the original BRMB in Birmingham and the station name lives on today under a new guise.
The community radio group now using the historic name broadcast a special programme, with Jimmy Franks and Suzi Becker marking the occasion.
Originally launched on 19th February 1974, BRMB was one of the first Independent Local Radio stations to go on air in the UK. It was acquired by Capital Radio in 1993, and subsequently sold to Orion Media in 2008. Orion stopped using the name in 2012 and the brand disappeared.
Last September, approval was given for it to return with the first song being Paul Young and Come Back and Stay – and the new owner Muff Murfin (who created the stations jingles over three decades) says its been a huge success and is now making enough money to pay its bills and its small group of staff
The original 1974 station launched the careers of many presenters who went on to become household names, both in the midlands and beyond.
Past presenters include Les Ross, Tony Butler, Ed Doolan, Jeremy Kyle, Phil Upton, Tammy Gooding, Toni McDonald and Elliott Webb.
Tony Butler is regarded as the inventor of the football phone-in, while Jeremy Kyle went on to become a television presenter.
BRMB also launched the Birmingham Walkathon, an event first staged in 1983 to raise money for charity, and which continues to be held to the present day.
Those involved in the station over the years, along with fans of the service, have been tweeting about the station, and you can see some of them below.
Pictured above is Paul Ellery (BRMB & Wyvern Programme Director) with original BRMB presenters Suzi Becker and Jimmy Franks.
We’ve all got to start somewhere. I was lucky enough to start in Brum! Got to meet and interview lots of lovely people. Happy 50th brmb pic.twitter.com/OZJhcNjrtu
— Phil Riley (@radioriley) February 19, 2024
As the old BRMB team gather tonight to mark 50 years since launch. Here’s what was discussed at its Board meeting that month in ‘74. pic.twitter.com/nm8FFeThSj
— 📻 David Lloyd (@DavidLloydRADIO) February 16, 2024
Happy 50 Birthday #BRMB!!😊📻🎂 pic.twitter.com/0EpIrWtq22
— Luke Davies 📻🏴🎙 (@TheLiveLuke) February 19, 2024
Happy 50th Birthday BRMB! 📻 pic.twitter.com/0s9oqVtx87
— JAN 🔔 (@Jan_208) February 19, 2024
Happy 50th anniversary BRMB proud to play a small part of you pic.twitter.com/eMTMK9i2It
— Graham Torrington (@GTorrington) February 19, 2024
Happy 50th Birthday to BRMB Radio – If anyone has or knows a relative who might have a box of old cassettes or a dusty old hard drive with a treasure trove of old recordings please get in touch as I would love to hear from you ! pic.twitter.com/52vlFF1Ip4
— David Butler (@david_butler) February 19, 2024
Three of brmb’s day oners – Sue Barker, Dave Wood and Norma Scott. Hats off to them simply for surviving this long and making it into Bham City Centre on a Friday night😂 pic.twitter.com/AxB8k7FjVC
— Phil Riley (@radioriley) February 16, 2024
50 years ago today BRMB launched. The station may be long gone but so many memories endure & I’m so proud of my time in Aston. Made so many friends, hosted magnificent live shows in front of 50,000 people spoke to hundreds on Call Carlos. Even married one of my former listeners🤣 pic.twitter.com/JyfT8fn6af
— Carlos (@carlosradioguy) February 19, 2024
Happy 50th Anniversary BRMB Radio!
I did my work experience / internship at the studios in Aston, Birmingham – filing vinyl in the record library. Thank you to the brilliant producers, presenters, voiceovers & engineers that let me sit in with them. I learned so much and loved… pic.twitter.com/Lg9gagCWfR— marcsilk (@marcsilk) February 19, 2024
I’ll never forget the feeling of being 18 and at the controls of the mighty BRMB for the first time.
Happy 50th anniversary to all those who sailed with her, it was great to catch-up with so many at the reunion this weekend.
Here’s to an exciting new glow up as @hitsradiouk
— David Salt (@producersalty) February 19, 2024
BRMB was first launched on 19 February 1974, on 261 metres medium wave, (1152kHz) and 94.8 MHz FMhttps://t.co/S2ePtQufpJ@DavidLloydRADIO @radioriley
— Michael Bolton (@MichaelBoltonA) February 18, 2024
My childhood, right there in one photo.
Wake up to @Elliottjwebb and go home with @TammyGooding and @nicksnaith, before doing my homework listening to @RussJmorris. Who knows what I’d be doing now if I didn’t listen to them everyday? Certainly not radio.
Happy 50th BRMB 🥳 pic.twitter.com/MYEwsYJOJP
— Adam Pinder – Smith (@adam_ps) February 17, 2024
I’m surrounded by @BoomRadioUK 😂 At the #BRMB 50th bash @BacchusOfficial
With @GTorrington who’d come in from Barcelona, Les Ross (about 1/2 mile from where I live) and @radioriley not much further!
All three instrumental in my career path. Joyful to see them and many more! pic.twitter.com/7b9U8XaaJg— Phil Upton (@flupton) February 17, 2024
Another fab selfie from the #BRMB 50th – for fans of Tammy & Ricardo it’s @TammyGooding (now on @bbchw) and @nicksnaith now on @magicfm most people there have likely spent longer in their careers elsewhere but felt the contribution those letters B-R-M-B had brought to their lives pic.twitter.com/pqYsscknDH
— Phil Upton (@flupton) February 18, 2024
Happy 50th Birthday BRMB in Birmingham. Don't forget to join Les Ross for the breakfast show in 1994. Thanks to @JHaywood94 pic.twitter.com/2Uj262B7it
— UKADS (@ukads3) February 19, 2024
Happy 50th to the original BRMB.
Same birthday as mine! #19thFebClub
— Gareth Joy (@lookoutwales2) February 19, 2024
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