Soulsorts

Where it began to where it is now . . .

Roger is from Kendal (Cumbria) and started collecting soul/disco music in 1978. At that time there were no dedicated soul radio stations (although like many of us he tuned in to very poor reception on Radio Luxembourg in the vague attempt to hear 'some') - there were also no specialist soul record shops where he lived so he bought all of his new found love of soul and disco records ‘blind’ following recommendations and playlists from the big names at the time, Pete Tong, Jeff Young, Robbie Vincent, Colin Curtis etc, always felt safe with their recommendations.

He moved to Bournemouth and then London and a whole new world of music opened up having access to the Bournemouth Soul Centre, and then in London it was Groove Records, Record Shack, City Sounds, Bluebird and all the other little import shops dotted about. He was a regular listener to Robbie Vincent, Jeff Young and Greg Edwards and a host of pirate stations and bought records incessantly week in week out having developed a serious passion for all things black music.

He moved back to his home of Kendal and in the mid/late 80s discovered that wonderful man Dean Johnson and his Expansion Records shop in Manchester, Richard Searling’s radio shows and columns in Blues & Soul and in turn the immense Parkers gig in Manchester, and then subsequently met his wife Collette and started doing the Southport weekenders when it was a soul weekender twice a year, first one in 1989 witnessing the likes of Regina Belle, Rockie Robbins and all the big names they had on during the years he went, watching artists like Sam Dees, Garland Green, Dramatics, Prince Gideon, Glenn Jones and so many others soul superstars.

In the early to mid 90s he moved to Merseyside to live and discovered the rare soul scene and some amazing north west people who shared their music, none of which he'd ever heard, it was a whole new exciting world of music to discover. After a visit to Goldmine Records in Shambles Square he got involved doing artwork with Andy Love’s excellent Love Music Review magazine which led onto Tom Smith from the shop asking if he'd like to do a Goldmine CD artwork and that kicked off what is currently nearly a quarter of a century of soul music design work for Goldmine, Kev Roberts and Richard Searling and their Togetherness magazines. In 2000 he was contacted by Ralph Tee asking if he'd be interested in doing Expansion work which he's still very proud and honoured to be still doing today. Along the way he has worked with Dome Records, Funkytowngrooves and lifelong soul man and legendary Blues & Soul columnist David Nathan on just about every one of his Soulmusic Records CD reissue projects and box sets. Roger is currently working on music graphics and album covers for indie artists on a regular basis, forging very strong personal relationships with them all. He is particularly proud of his association with the great Preston Glass in particular.

Roger first started club DJ'ing in 1990 for Eddy Edmondson in Kendal and then with the KRL (Kev Roberts) / RS (Richard Searling) / Togetherness connection he got on board their line ups as a modern soul DJ and did the Togetherness all nighters, Cala Gran Weekenders and then the amazing Luxury Soul Weekenders at Blackpool and Birmingham of which he is one of a small handful of DJ's to have done every one to this day and of course still producing all the design graphics and programmes. Since the late 90s he has been resident and guest at most quality modern soul or northern/modern two room events up and down the UK, Soul Underground, Bass Museum, Hardinge Arms, Prestwich, Lowton, Lightwater, Vybe, Freestylin’ and many more, mainly playing new/upfront soul but also the quality side of classic 70s and 80s vinyl in more recent times at venues and weekenders in the north west UK where he still lives.

'Soulsorts' started as a website in 2004 and entered radio in 2005 on Starpoint Radio, subsequently moving to Solar Radio for a good few years in various timeslots, but because of the work commitments it wasn’t always possible for him to commit to regular shows so he has moved around a few stations for short periods of time, Stomp Radio, Brian Hurst’s SoulAndJazz, Hot FM, Mike Shaft's reactivated Sunset Radio in 2015 and then onto MiSoul Connoisseurs which became Global Soul and then in 2018 he returned to Starpoint Radio where he is currently producing a weekly Soulsorts Sunday Soul Collection and a monthly Wednesday Wind Down Zone and championing and supporting new artists he believes in, he is very proud of his connection in particular with James Day and Jarrod Lawson amongst others.

Roger’s shows are current every Sunday on Starpoint Radio 10pm til midnight UK time where he varies the playlists between the quality side of classic 70s 80s and 90s, 2000s and his pick of what he believes is the best quality current and recent music. He also hosts the final Starpoint Radio Wednesday Wind Down Rotation of each month featuring his great love of the mellow side of all era quality soul music.