Dave Cummings
Northern Soul Floor FillersI got into Northern Soul through a school friend and even though we were only 15 years old, we managed to get into some of the Northern Soul nights in the Durham area, thanks mostly to my mate looking a lot older than he was. I very quickly became hooked on the music, and the scene in general, and began visiting the big venues such as Wigan, Blackpool and Cleethorpes in 1974 as a guy called Alex Lowes, a local collector, DJ and promoter used to run regular coach trips to them.
My attendance stopped around 1984 when I turned professional with my magic act and started working cruise ships, theatres and theme parks around the world. This lasted for elven years, and my wife and I decided to travel less, and I got involved with the corporate entertainment business, which meant I could once again get around the local Northern Soul nights when not working.
We emigrated to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in 2005 and that was where I began broadcasting my first radio show on QFM. It broadcasted locally for residents and tourists, and the show became quite popular. We had to return to the UK in 2007 because of the recession, and work dried up in the hotels. I began my radio show once again with a local community station in county Durham called 105.9 Bishop FM and continue my weekly show with them now. It used to broadcast live, but we moved back to Fuerteventura in 2016 and since then it is pre recorded.
Neil Greaves approached me in 2018 and asked me if I would be interested in joining the team at Love Soul Radio London and I jumped at the chance.
I love the music, the people, it’s history and of course, spreading the word that nowt beats a bit of Northern Soul.
Join me on my Friday show ‘Northern Soul Floor Fillers’ at 6pm to 8pm. 