Too Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (1996)
Viv Broughton is a British studio owner, music entrepreneur and writer, who is CEO of The Premises Studios, described by London Jazz News as "a vitally important and popular London recording and rehearsal venue".[1] A one-time early member of rock group The Pretty Things, Broughton went on to help launch The Voice newspaper in 1982, as well as being a gospel historian, author of the Channel 4 book Too Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (1996).
Broughton had an early career as a musician in the 1960s, under the name Viv Andrews, playing with David Bowie[2] and with rock group The Pretty Things as a drummer.[3][4]
In 1982, he helped launch The Voice,[5] a weekly newspaper aimed at the British African-Caribbean community, being brought in as marketing manager by founder Val McCalla, and from April 1983 Broughton wrote a column in the newspaper called "Soul Stirrings", which featured many up-and-coming artists.[6] He was also a mentor and manager to groups and singers including Mica Paris,[7][8] who has said: "Viv Broughton has done a lot for gospel music, and there has been a total lack of recognition for his incredible contribution to pushing and contributing to its growth."[9]
As a gospel music historian, Broughton is the author of the books Black Gospel: Illustrated History of the Gospel Sound (1985) and Too Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (1996), which tied in with a Channel 4 television series.[10] According to Tony CummingsofCross Rhythms magazine, he "brings real overview to a story populated with hundreds of major figures and as a starting off point in exploring the absorbing history of possibly THE most important musical stories of the 20th century it's unlikely there'll be a better book than this....Britain's Viv Broughton is to be congratulated for coming up with a vivid history of a music in a work that no American writer has come close to equalling."[11]
Since 1996, Broughton has been owner and chief executive of The Premises Studios near Haggerston, in Hackney, London, transforming it into a musical institution that is much sought after by high-profile artistes for rehearsal space and recording, with innovative ventures including the installation of solar panels and the opening of a café.[12][13] In addition, he launched The Premises Music Education Programme, partnering with other not-for-profit organisations to provide workshops and courses.[14] Broughton once characterised The Premises as "…between a hotel and a crèche for noisy overgrown children".[15]
Broughton is a trustee of jazz music education and artist development organisation Tomorrow's Warriors.[16]
