ROBIN YOUNG
ON AIR: 6pm-7pm
SHOW: The Crooners
YOU’LL HEAR: Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole and more
ROBIN YOUNG
ON AIR: 7pm-9pm
SHOW: The Scottish Show
YOU’LL HEAR: Scottish bands and singers including local artists
I was born in Lybster in 1948 – same year as King Charles so does that give me a bit of Royalty in my blood?
I started playing piano accordion when I was ten, then moved up to Thurso when I was 12 and started playing my father’s button accordion. I have stayed on button accordion up until now and I play in a band called Fusion.
Did my five-year apprenticeship at Johnston’s bakers when I left school aged 15. I worked a year at Dounreay but was not keen on that as we were shut in labs all day so went to work with Donnie Reid in Castletown bakery for a year. Then did two years with Scott’s Electricians during building of the Prototype Fast Reactor at Dounreay. In 1972 jumped the fence to Vulcan, Rolls Royce and spent my last 41 years there before retiring at 65, the first three as a sparky’s mate and the last 38 years on Security. I was also a shop steward and chairman of the safety reps on site for over 30 years
I joined the Caithness FM in 2007 doing a Scottish show on Monday nights, playing all the Scottish bands and singers plus all the local artists.
The show is usually made up with requests from the listeners. I often get phone calls to the house before going to the studio as people say once show starts, they have a problem getting through as the phone is always engaged with other listeners phoning in (which is a good thing in a way). Scottish music is very very popular in this part of the country.
Got great many stories from my listeners as to where they get best reception, one lady in Orkney has to go out to the byre with the cows as she can’t get reception in house. Another lady and hubby from Latheron used to go up to first the layby on the road to the Causeymire to listen to show. I also do competitions on my shows with various different prizes.
I’m the Chairman at Caithness FM and I do maintenance at the studio including building repairs and cutting grass.
INTERESTS OTHER THAN RADIO:
I’m a blue nose (Glasgow Rangers) and I also go to Wick with my mates Donnie Murray and Sandy Gordon every week when Academy (The Scorries) are playing.
FAVOURITE RADIO PRESENTERS:
As well as Caithness FM I listen to radio 2.
FAVOURITE MUSIC:
I cover other shows when presenters are on holidays, love the 60s era and early 70s. I have too many favourite country songs to name individually. I have met so many of the great country singers through me doing the radio. One of the nicest (they are all nice) artist I met was Charlie Landsbourgh, a pure gentleman.
Thanks to the hundreds of listeners who tune into my shows.
JOHNNY PYLE
ON AIR: 9pm-11pm
SHOW: Johnny’s Eclectic Graveyard Shift Vinyl Mash Up
YOU’LL HEAR: Deep cuts from any genre and brand-new releases from the alternative music scene
A member of the first Primary 1 intake at the then brand new Canisbay school in 1974 and then a pupil at Thurso High until 1985, I served my time locally as a brickie before venturing out into the wide blue yonder in 1989. For a long time, it seemed all I could think about was getting enough funds together for the next overseas adventure, and if I could somehow scratch a living out of it at the same time, then so much the better. Germany, Australia, the Philippines, Peru, Guatemala and latterly Mexico have all been called home at some point over the years, until summer 2024, 35 years after leaving Caithness, things came full circle as I headed back to my real home once again, this time with Mexican family in tow. And after being out of the game for 15 years, I’m even a brickie again.
I got back into buying vinyl again when living in Mexico City around 2015 and ever since then every trip I take revolves around tracking down and digging in record shops. For those who say record collecting is some kind of sickness, I concur.
It’s still early days for my show, but listeners can expect to hear those “deep cuts” that you just don’t seem to hear on the radio, from any genre, and selected for the most part from my own record collection, and I’ll also be playing some brand-new releases from the alternative music scene. Every show will also feature an Album of the Week slot when I do a deep dive into a chosen LP.
I’ve always loved radio and favourite stations and presenters over the years include BBC 6 Music, Triple J (out of Sydney), Vic Galloway and Mark Radcliffe.