Old Grey Whistle Test Presenters
David Attenborough commissioned the program, which was created by Rowan Ayers.
The show went through several presenters over its long run, starting in 1971 with Richard Williams, the first presenter, who was also editor of Melody Maker. The following year Bob Harris would take over and would become become the presenter most associated with the show. Bob was a radio DJ with the nick name, ‘Whispering Bob Harris’, on the account of his low toned whispering radio voice. Other presenters over the years would join the line up including Ian Whitcomb, Annie Nightingale, Andy Kershaw, David Hepworth, Mark Ellen, Richard Skinner, Ro Newton.
Unknowns who became known
Music performances from non-chart artists who became known later on such as Roxy Music, David Bowie, Elton John, Alice Cooper, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Roger Daltrey from THE WHO, John Lennon, Dire Straits, Gary Numen. The list is vast all first appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test
The show ran from 1971 to New Years 1988 on the late night BBC 2 slot and rebooted on BBC 4 up to 2018.
The origin of the name, “The Old Greys”
The name seems to arrive from a real term, “The Old Greys” that was given to elderly service people working in the buildings where music writing and publication happened, back from the Tin Pan Alley days in the USA. These people would be exposed to the songs and those who could retain part of the melody or hook whistling or humming it, would be a sign that these tunes were likely to be a success. This was known as passing the “Old Grey Whistle Test”.
Theme tune of the Old Grey Whistle Test “Stone Fox Chase”
Area Code 615 was the name taken from the dialling code for Nashville and used by the country rock band of the same name. The harmonica playing tune “Stone Fox Chase” by Charlie Mccoy is the theme tune of the programme.
Though Stone Fox Chase, would be the bands most recognisable music, the band was made up of largely session players for other music greats of the time.
The Old Grey Whistle Test theme tune
Which bands appeared on the Old Grey Whistle Test?
999 | Elkie Brooks | King Crimson | Russ Ballard |
10CC | Ellen Foley | Kissing The Pink | Ry Cooder |
AC/DC | Elton John | Kris Kristofferson | Sad Café |
Ace | Elvis Costello | Landscape | Saga |
Adam and the Ants | Emerson Lake and Palmer | Larry Coryell | Sandy Denny |
Adam Clayton | Emillie Key | Larry Mullen Jr. | Sandy West |
Adam Faith | Emitt Rhodes | Laurie Wisefield | Scorpions |
After The Fire | Emmylou Harris | Lene Lovich | Seals & Crofts |
Al Di Meola | Emory Gordy Jr. | Lenny White | Sean Tyla |
Al Stewart | Eric Clapton | Leo Kottke | Secret Affair |
Alan Darby | Erik Russell | Leo Sayer | Shawn Phillips |
Alan Shacklock | Ernest Cate | Leon Redbone | Simon Emmerson |
Alan Stivell | Eurythmics | Leon Russell | Simon Raymonde |
Alan White | Everything But The Girl | Leon Wilkeson | Simple Minds |
Albert Lee | Fabulous Poodles | Les Davidson | Siouxsie and the Banshees |
Alexis Korner | Fairport Convention | Lesley Duncan | Siouxsie Sioux |
Alice Cooper | Family | Level 42 | Sir Douglas Quintet |
Alice Stuart | Fanny | Lieber Stoller | Sister Sledge |
Alison Statton | Fashion | Light of the World | Small Faces |
Allan Holdsworth | Fiat Lux | Linda Lewis | Smokie |
Allen Collins | Fischer Z. | Linda Ronstadt | Sniff 'n The Tears |
Allez Allez | Fish | Lindisfarne | Soft Cell |
Altered Images | Flamin' Groovies | Lindsey Buckingham | Sonny Terry |
Alvin Lee | Fleetwood Mac | Link Wray | Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee |
America | Focus | Lita Ford | Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes |
Andrew Bailey | Foreigner | Little Bob | Spandau Ballet |
Andrew Gold | Frank Infante | Little Feat | Sparks |
Andrew McCrorie-Shand | Frank Zappa | Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul | Spirit |
Andrew Pryce Jackman | Freddie King | Lone Star | Spliff |
Andy Diagram | Freeez | Lori Lieberman | Split Enz |
Andy Ellison | Fun Boy Three | Loudon Wainwright III | Squeeze |
Andy Fairweather Low | Fuzzbox | Louisiana Red | Stackridge |
Andy Mackay | G.B. Zoot Money | Lowell George | Stanley Clarke |
Andy Peake | Gallagher & Lyle | Luther Grosvenor | Stealers Wheel |
Andy Roberts | Gang of Four | Lynsey de Paul | Steel Pulse |
Andy Ward | Garland Jeffreys | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Stefan Grossman |
Angie Bowie | Gary Fletcher | Madness | Stephen Bishop |
Ann Wilson | Gary Moore | Magazine | Stephen Fellows |
Anna McGarrigle | Gary Numan | Maggie Bell | Steppenwolf |
Annabel Lamb | Gary Rossington | Maggie Dunne | Steve Blacknell |
Annette Peacock | Gary U.S. Bonds | Maggie Reilly | Steve Ellis |
Annie Lennox | Gavin Hodgson | Magna Carta | Steve Farr |
Ant Glynne | Gene Clark | Manfred Mann | Steve Forbert |
Arlo Guthrie | Gene October | Manfred Mann's Earth Band | Steve Goodman |
Ashley Holt | Genesis | Marcella Detroit | Steve Hillage |
Aswad | Geoff Dugmore | Mari Wilson | Steve Hogarth |
Atlanta Rhythm Section | George Benson | Marillion | Steve Howe |
Au Pairs | George Cummings | Mark Brzezicki | Steve Nieve |
Average White Band | George Duke | Mark Kelly | Steve Parry |
Aztec Camera | George Terry | Mark King | Steve Rothery |
B.B. King | German Gonzales | Mark Kingsmill | Steve Simpson |
Bad Company | Gerry Rafferty | Mark Knopfler | Steven Severin |
Barbara Thompson | Gil Scott-Heron | Marshall Crenshaw | Stevie Nicks |
Barclay James Harvest | Girl | Martin Gordon | Stevie Wonder |
Barry De Souza | Gladys Knight & The Pips | Marty Grebb | Stone the Crows |
Barry Devlin | Glen D. Hardin | Martyn Shields | Stuart Adamson |
Bauhaus | Glen Matlock | Masayoshi Takanaka | Stuart MacKillop |
Baz Watts | Golden Earring | Matthew Seligman | Supertramp |
Be-Bop Deluxe | Gong | Meat Loaf | Sutherland Brothers & Quiver |
Ben E. King | Gordon Giltrap | Medicine Head | Swans Way |
Ben Sidran | Graham Broad | Meghann Loney | T.V. Smith |
Beth Key | Graham Deakin | Mel Wesson | Talking Heads |
Big Country | Graham Nash | Michael Appleton | Tasavallan Presidentti |
Bill Bruford | Graham Parker | Michael Chapman | Tears for Fears |
Bill Cobham | Grateful Dead | Michael Des Barres | Ted Nugent |
Bill Nelson | Greenslade | Michael Karoli | Téléphone |
Bill Withers | Greg James | Mick Fleetwood | Television |
Billy Bragg | Greg Kihn | Mick Jagger | Terry Bozzio |
Billy Duffy | Gregg Allman | Mick Karn | Terry Cashman |
Billy Francis | Hank DeVito | Mick Pearl | Terry Reid |
Billy Joel | Hans Vandenburg | Mick Ronson | The Baker-Gurvitz Army |
Billy Powell | Hans Waterman | Mick Taylor | The Beach Boys |
Billy Preston | Harry Chapin | Mickey Newbury | The Bluebells |
Blancmange | Harvey Andrews | Micky Jones | The Boomtown Rats |
Blondie | Hazel O'Connor | Mik Glaisher | The Chevalier Brothers |
Blood Sweat & Tears | Heart | Mike Absalom | The Chieftains |
Bloodstone | Heavy Metal Kids | Mike Edwards | The Comsat Angels |
Blue | Hellmut Hattler | Mike Hugg | The Country Gazette |
Bob Burns | Henry Gross | Mike Oldfield | The Crickets |
Bob Daisley | Henry McCullough | Mike O'Neill | The Cult |
Bob Henrit | Herman Brood & His Wild Romance | Mike Rutherford | The Damned |
Bob Marley | Holger Czukay | Mollie Marriott | The dB's |
Bob Weston | Holly Vincent | Montrose | The Doobie Brothers |
Bob 'Willard' Henke | Homesick James | Morris Pert | The Doors |
Bobby Tench | Hot Tuna | Mott the Hoople | The Drifters |
Bonnie Raitt | Howard Jones | Muddy Waters | The Edgar Winter Group |
Bono | Howard Werth | Nancy Wilson | The Edge |
Brian Eno | Hudson Ford | Natural Acoustic Band | The Everly Brothers |
Brian May | Hughie Flint | Nazareth | The Fabulous Thunderbirds |
Bridget St John | Human Sexual Response | Neil Brewer | The Faces |
Brinsley Schwarz | Humble Pie | Neil Sedaka | The Go-Go's |
Brownie McGhee | Huw Lloyd Langton | Neil Young | The Icicle Works |
Bruce Springsteen | Iain Matthews | Nena | The Inmates |
Bruce Thomas | Ian Anderson | New Musik | The J. Geils Band |
Bruce Watson | Ian Astbury | New York Dolls | The Jags |
Bruce Woolley | Ian Broudie | Nick Lowe | The Jam |
Bryan Ferry | Ian Dury | Nicko McBrain | The Jim Carroll Band |
Bryn Haworth | Ian Emes | Nico | The Jimmy Castor Bunch |
Budgie | Ian Gillan | Nigel Harrison | The Kinks |
Buffy Sainte-Marie | Ian MacLeod | Nigel Olsson | The Knack |
Buzzcocks | Ian Mosley | Nils Lofgren | The Manhattan Transfer |
Caleb Quaye | Iggy Pop | Nina Hagen | The Members |
Calvin Hayes | Ike Turner | Nine Below Zero | The Monochrome Set |
Camel | Inga Rumpf | Ole Fick | The Motels |
Can | Irmin Schmidt | Ollie Halsall | The Motors |
Canned Heat | It's Immaterial | Orange Juice | The Move |
Carl Radle | Jack Bruce | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | The Movies |
Carla Bley | Jackie Lynton | Osibisa | The Mystery Girls |
Carmelo Luggeri | Jackson Browne | Otway & Barrett | The Only Ones |
Carole King | Jaki Liebezeit | Ox | The Ozark Mountain Daredevils |
Casey Cameron | Jaki Whitren | Pat Benatar | The Passions |
Cat Stevens | James Christopher Stevenson | Pat Travers | The Police |
Catherine Howe | James Litherland | Patrick Moraz | The Pretty Things |
Charles O'Connor | Jamie Oldaker | Patti Smith | The Psychedelic Furs |
Charlie Dore | Jamie Stewart | Paul Brady | The Racing Cars |
Charlie Harrison | Jan Akkerman | Paul Brett | The Rezillos |
Chas Cronk | Jance Garfat | Paul Gambaccini | The Roches |
Chas Hodges | Janis Ian | Paul Jones | The Rolling Stones |
Cheap Trick | Japan | Paul King | The Rubinoos |
Cher | JD Souther | Paul Simon | The Runaways |
Chester Thompson | Jean-Jacques Kravetz | Paul Young | The Selecter |
Chick Corea | Jean-Luc Ponty | Percy Jones | The Sensational Alex Harvey Band |
Chris Cutler | Jean-Michel Jarre | Persia Numan | The Sisters of Mercy |
Chris Difford | Jeff Berlin | Pete Atkin | The Skids |
Chris Harley | Jeff Duff | Pete Kircher | The Smiths |
Chris Hillman | Jeremy Meek | Pete Sinfield | The Sound |
Chris Maclachlan | Jerry Lee Lewis | Pete Trewavas | The Spinners |
Chris Masuak | Jesse Colin Young | Peter Calicher | The Strawbs |
Chris Parren | Jesse Winchester | Peter Filleul | The Style Council |
Chris Rea | Jethro Tull | Peter Frampton | The Teardrop Explodes |
Chris Squire | Jim Capaldi | Peter Gabriel | The Tourists |
Chris Stein | Jim Croce | Peter Wolbrandt | The Truth |
Christine McVie | Jim Diamond | Phil Chen | The Tubes |
Chuck Mangione | Jim Rodford | Phil Collins | The Undertones |
Claire Hamill | Jimmy Cameron | Phil Lynott | The Vibrators |
Clark Datchler | Jimmy Destri | Phil Spalding | The Wailers |
Clem Burke | Jimmy Griffin | Phil Walden | The Waitresses |
Clem Clempson | Jimmy Hastings | Philippe Catherine | The Waterboys |
Cliff Williams | Jimmy Lockhart | Phillip Goodhand-Tait | The Weather Prophets |
Clifford T. Ward | Jimmy Page | Planxty | The Who |
Climax Blues Band | Jo Dunne | Poco | The Winterbabies |
Clive John | Joan Armatrading | Prefab Sprout | Thin Lizzy |
Cockney Rebel | Joan Jett | Premiata Forneria Marconi | Thomas Dolby |
Cocteau Twins | Joe Ely | Public Image Ltd. | Thompson Twins |
Colin Bentley | Joe Jackson | Queen | Tim Buckley |
Colin Blunstone | Joe Partridge | Rab Noakes | Tina O'Neill |
Colin Gibson | Joe Walsh | Rachel Sweet | Tina Turner |
Colin Tully | John Cale | Rain Parade | Todd Rundgren |
Country Joe McDonald | John Cooper Clarke | Ralph McTell | Tom Barlage |
Cousin Joe Pleasant | John Densmore | Ramones | Tom McGuinness |
Cozy Powell | John Dummer | Randy Newman | Tom Paxton |
Crawler | John Dunsterville | Ray Sawyer | Tom Petty |
Crazy Horse | John Entwistle | Raymond Froggatt | Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers |
Crowbar | John Etheridge | Reg Brooks | Tom Robinson |
Curtis Mayfield | John Evan | REO Speedwagon | Tom Verlaine |
Dan Hartman | John Giblin | Ric Sanders | Tom Waits |
Danny Baker | John Gifford | Rich Gilbert | Tommy West |
Danny McIntosh | John Goldrosen | Richard Digance | Tony Banks |
Daryl Hall | John Goodsall | Richard Strange | Tony Butler |
Daryl Stuermer | John Halsey | Richard Thompson | Tony Colton |
Dave Cousins | John Hiatt | Richie Havens | Tony Connor |
Dave Evans | John Kay | Rick James | Tony Fernandez |
Dave Kelly | John Lennon | Rick Jones | Tony Hughes |
Dave Lambert | John Martyn | Rick Vito | Tony Kaye |
Dave Lloyd | John Mayall | Rick Wakeman | Tony Stevens |
Dave Mason | John McBurnie | Rickie Lee Jones | Toyah Willcox |
Davey Johnstone | John McVie | Ricky Nelson | Trace |
David A. Stewart | John Mellencamp | Rik Elswit | Trevor Rabin |
David Ackles | John Oates | Rita Coolidge | Trevor Williams |
David Bowie | John Otway | Ritchie Blackmore | Trust |
David Foster | John Prine | Robby Krieger | Tubeway Army |
David Gates | John Valentine Carruthers | Robert Farrar | Turning Point |
David Lawson | John Ware | Robert Gordon | Tygers of Pan Tang |
David McWilliams | John Weider | Robert King | U2 |
David Sancious | John Wetton | Robert Plant | Udo Lindenberg |
David Sinclair | John Wolters | Robert Smith | UFO |
David Stewart | Johnnie Walker | Robert Vincent | Ultravox |
Dean Friedman | Johnny Fean | Robert Wyatt | Upp |
Debbie Harry | Johnny Rivers | Roberta Flack | Uriah Heep |
Dee Murray | Johnny Winter | Robin Guthrie | Utopia |
Del Shannon | Jon Anderson | Robin Trower | Van Halen |
Dennis Locorriere | Jon Lord | Rock & Roll Allstars | Van Morrison |
Denny Laine | Jonathan Kelly | Rod Argent | Vickie Perks |
Devo | Joni Mitchell | Rod Stewart | Victory Tischler-Blue |
Dick Morrissey | José van Iersel | Rodney Crowell | Vinegar Joe |
Dickey Betts | Judas Priest | Roger Chapman | Violent Femmes |
Dini Lamot | Judd Lander | Roger Daltrey | Walter Egan |
Dire Straits | Judee Sill | Roger Dean | Wang Chung |
Dobie Gray | Judi Pulver | Roger Glover | Whitesnake |
Don McLean | Judie Tzuke | Roger McGuinn | Wildwood Kin |
Don Van Vliet | Jules Shear | Roger Newell | Wilko Johnson |
Dory Previn | Karsten Vogel | Roger Taylor | Willem Ennes |
Dr. Feelgood | Kate Bush | Roman Holliday | Windle Davis |
Dr. Hook | Kate McGarrigle | Ronnie Lane | Winston Hislop |
Duane Eddy | Kazuhiko Kato | Ronnie Leahy | Wishbone Ash |
Duncan Browne | Keith Gemmel | Ronnie Van Zant | X-Ray Spex |
Duran Duran | Keith Mulholland | Rory Gallagher | XTC |
Eamon Carr | Keith West | Roxy Music | Yella Cameron |
Earl Cate | Kenny Craddock | Roy Buchanan | Yes |
Eddie and the Hot Rods | Kevin Ayers | Roy Dyke | Yukihiro Takahashi |
Eddie Jobson | Kevin Bacon | Roy Harper | Yvonne Elliman |
Eddie Money | Kevin Coyne | Roy Young | |
Edgar Winter | Kiki Dee | Roye Albrighton | |
Edward King | Kim Menzer | Rupert Hine | |
Elizabeth Fraser | Kim Wilde | Rush |
Anne Nightingale ran a live John Lennon tribute on The Old Grey Whistle Test, i think they struggled to find people to come in on air
Bob Marley in 73, that must have been one great episode
The Old Greys, as in playing new tracks to doormen, why where they so influential one wonders