This article is about the BBC radio host and jazz critic. For the British archaeologist and numismatist, see Peter A. Clayton. For the American blues singer, see Doctor Clayton.
Peter James Clayton (25 June 1927 – 10 August 1991)[1] was an English jazz presenter on BBC radio, jazz critic, and author. From October 1968 until his death in August 1991, Clayton presented jazz recordings, interviews, studio performances, and live performances on BBC Radio 1, 2, and 3, as well as the BBC World Service. He co-authored several books about music and jazz with Peter Gammond and was a frequent contributor to jazz magazines.[2][3][4]
Early life
After leaving school in 1945, Clayton served three years in the RAF, serving mainly in Iraq and Kuwait. After demobilisation in 1948, Clayton was employed for a short while as a catering assistant with a hydroelectric scheme in the Scottish Highlands – "a porridge stirrer" was his job description – before joining the staff of Greenwich Public Library, where he remained for seven years. In the 1950s he worked for Decca Records as a music editor.
Broadcast career
After leaving Decca, Clayton began presenting or hosting jazz music on BBC Radio in October 1968, with a programme called Jazz on One which was broadcast on 247 metres (1215 kHz) medium wave on Sunday evenings on Radio 1.
Clayton went on in 1970 to present Jazz Notes. In October 1973, the BBC added back Radio 1 as a carrier for jazz and other shows, while continuing to carry those shows on Radio 2. That same month, the BBC launched Clayton's best remembered jazz programme, Sounds of Jazz, Sundays at 10 pm, with its own theme music composed by Laurie Johnson.[5] His also presented a Sunday programme on Radio 2, Album Time.[6]
According to Alyn Shipton in 2012: "Throughout the 70s and 80s, Peter [Clayton] became synonymous with jazz on BBC Radio."[2] In addition to playing jazz records, Clayton organised and presented live jazz recordings with studio audiences, with sets lasting about 30 minutes recorded at BBC's Maida Vale Studios in London during the week. Frequent artists included clarinetist Dave Shepherd and his quintet, pianist Colin Purbrook (1936–1999), pianist Brian Lemon and his octet, tenor saxophonist Danny Moss and his wife, vocalist Jeanie Lambe, and trumpeter Kenny Baker. The Mike Westbrook Orchestra made several broadcasts and filled the studio.
Broadcast interviews
On 12 April 1974, Clayton interviewed the jazz pianist Oscar PetersononBBC Radio 3. During the programme, Peterson performed and played some of his records.[7] Clayton interviewed Sarah Vaughan on his Sounds of Jazz programme on 11 July 1977, when Vaughan sang a tribute to the music of George Gershwin.
Sounds of Jazz and Jazz Record Requests
OnBBC Radio 3, he succeeded Steve Race as the presenter of the Saturday afternoon programme Jazz Record Requests, and played requests from an international audience on Jazz for the Asking on the BBC World Service. In a 2005 Jazz UK article about the BBC's influence on jazz in the UK, authors Brian Blain and John Fordham stated:
Informed presenters like the late Peter Clayton and Charles Fox served jazz superbly, and were looked on with real affection. For many years a long procession of bands, in all styles, made their way to the BBC's Maida Vale studios to record jazz, often in a near gig setting in front of enthusiastic audiences.[8]
When Clayton became ill from cancer, Charles Fox took his place in 1990. Then Fox died on 9 May 1991, and Clayton resumed the show, recording segments at home from a wheelchair.[2] His show Sounds of Jazz continued to be heard on BBC Radio 2 until his death. When Clayton died, ninety-three days after Fox died, Geoffrey Smith took over.[2]
Writing
Throughout his broadcasting career, Clayton wrote several books with a colleague, Peter Gammond (1925-2019).
Selected published works
Books
101 Things, by Peter Gammond & Peter Clayton, London: Elek Books (1959); OCLC30246604
