Charlie Gillett, BBC Presenter and Champion of World Music, Dies at 68
Charlie Gillett, the BBC Radio 3 World on 3 presenter and host of the BBC World Service program Charlie Gillett's World of Music, has died, after a long battle with an autoimmune disease, at the age of 68, reports the BBC.
Through his work, Gillett was an ardent and longtime champion of many Nonesuch artists. He helped to introduce renowned performers of world music (a term he first helped popularize) like Youssou N'Dour, Oumou Sangare, and Rokia Traoré to a much wider audience.
Traoré will appear on tonight's episode of the BBC World Service program The Strand, along with Salif Keita and Roots magazine's Ian Anderson, to remember Gillett and reflect on his legacy. The show airs tonight at 10:32 PM GMT and can be heard live online at bbc.co.uk.
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The world has lost an embassador whose love of music overpowered any barriers which might otherwise have existed. Charlie cannot be replaced, but he'll be remember as the man who enlightened us musically.
Charlie, had an educational/pedagogical approah to broadcasting, much like I sought to do while doing years of world music radio in the States; I insisted on it. I only found out about Charlie when I returned to Ghana, and I took to his "orientation" approach to the music. He sought to bring fans to the music, to inculcate appreciation in his listerners, I'd venture to say. Job well done, Charlie!
Most treasured genius of the millennium in the world of music, Charlie still is! U still are a surviving & LIVING legend even in yo absence from the face of the Earth. It should have taken life a century to get another Gillet, but u still live.
The gap left by yo vocal presentation is ,however, abyssimally yawning.
Parodoxically, yo glottal voice shall alwz be missed by all at the real hour of yo progamme which makes it forlony.
GOD bless his family.
Bob from Uganda (EAst AFRICA)
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