´óÏó´«Ã½

The Organist Entertains marks four decades of organ music from around the globe with a very special concert from the Blackpool Tower Ballroom to be broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 2 on Tuesday 23 June.

The special one-off concert features star performances from presenter Nigel Ogden, the resident Blackpool Tower organist Phil Kelsall, and the glorious sounds of the Howard Beaumont Trio.

Howard will be playing on a very special Hammond B3 organ in its first major public appearance in the UK as the Hammond Organ company celebrates its 75th anniversary.

The concert will be held on Friday 29 May 2009 at Blackpool Tower Ballroom.

The Organist Entertains has been running as a regular weekly programme on Radio 2 since 1969, following a pilot show in April that same year.

Nigel Ogden took over as the regular presenter of the show in 1980, following the retirement of the programme's founder and first host, Robin Richmond.

Nigel Ogden says: "It's wonderful to be able to celebrate this very special anniversary at a venue which has played such a significant part in the lives of both the general public and lovers of organ music for so many years.

"I'm delighted that the 40th anniversary of The Organist Entertains is being celebrated in the grand surroundings of the Blackpool Tower, home of one of the most famous Wurlitzer organs in the world."

Nigel started playing the organ when he was just 12, having studied the piano for a number of years. But it was the family trips to see Reginald Dixon at the Wurlitzer in the Blackpool Tower Ballroom that really got him hooked on the instrument.

Lewis Carnie, Head of Programmes, Radio 2 and 6 Music, says: "´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 2 is dedicated to bringing specialist music to a mass audience.

"After four decades of The Organist Entertains celebrating organ music, I can't think of a better way to mark this wonderful anniversary than with this very special birthday concert."

Notes to Editors

The Organist Entertains 40th anniversary concert is broadcast on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 2 on Tuesday 23 June 2009 at 10.00pm.

Radio 2 Publicity