CDR

The London Pirates

CDR (88.6 FM) 1986 - 1988

39 Byam Street

London SW6 2RB

Coverage: West London/Londonwide

DJs: Kevin (aka Double K), Special K, KG, DJ Cybertron, Night Hawk, Norman G, Longas, Sugar Ken, Gazzer G, Daddy Rocky, Twizzle, Prince AO, DJ Uncle Zouk (aka The Zouk Master), Uncle, Floyd Freud, LB, Chuck E, CJ Kool, IG, David D, Norman & Co, Styler G, DJ RD (aka Roger D).

CDR (Community Development Radio) appears to have begun in late 1986 and over the next year managed to maintain regular 24 hour broadcasts (in stereo from Feb 1987) throughout the week with only a few times off the air due to raids. Between the music it featured educational programmes, a children’s show, black history lectures and also sponsored programmes as a way of raising revenue. A broad spectrum of music was covered, from Soca to Reggae, Jazz, House, Rare Groove and Hip Hop. They stopped broadcasting by about August 1988. Unfortunately, CDR’s contribution to the London Hip Hop scene seems largely forgotten.

Several DJs played Hip Hop, most notably KG and Double K in 1987. KG’s shows went out on Mondays between 9-11pm and featured requests and dedications, news, Rare Groove, breaks, the latest releases, and his own impressive mixes. He occasionally stood in for Double K.

From at least February 1987 Double K hosted the ‘Future Funk Show’ on Mondays and Tuesdays between 6-8pm, and his catchphrase was ‘88.6, don’t touch that dial!’, and ‘Future Funk Special’. There was minimal chat but plenty of good tunes including Hip Hop, Rare Groove, breaks, and Go-Go, as well as dedications and mega-mixes. By August ’87 his show could be heard every day of the week at the same 6-8pm slot.

The schedules were apparently subject to change, so later on in 1987 DJ Cybertron had a Monday-Thursday show from 9-11pm playing Funk, House, and Hip Hop. Additionally, Roger D had a Sunday show called ‘The JB Experience’ on which he played Rare Groove.