There’s a good reason Bob Harris is known to his fans as ‘Whispering Bob’. His voice is delightfully mellifluous – velvet coated, soothing and engaging.

Whether he is regaling you with an anecdote about his wild rock & roll years – when he partied with John Lennon, Bob Marley and David Bowie – or sharing a tip about a new artist you really ought to listen to, he does so with a lilting, almost hypnotic tone – and you can’t help but hang on every word.

The face – and voice – of The Old Grey Whistle Test, he pioneered serious music broadcasting in the 1970s. Now aged 73 – he has just celebrated his birthday – he is championing country music.

The darling of Nashville and Austin, he is successfully introducing a new generation of US country stars to the British, and vice versa, and helping the genre become the phenomenon it has become.

He spends his time zig-zagging between his home in Steventon, near Abingdon – where he records his hugely popular Bob Harris Country show for BBC 2 – and the United States. In recent months he has recorded from former Fairport Convention guitarist Richard Thompson’s home in Malibu, Judith Owen’s house in New Orleans and Beth Nielsen Chapman’s place in Nashville.

This week, Bob changes things around by inviting over to his place one of country music’s biggest stars – Kimmie Rhodes.

The pair’s Radio Dreams show will give us a chance to hear the broadcasting legend in conversation with Kimmie, sharing stories about her life and career, and that of her late husband and soul mate, US radio personality Joe Gracey Jr. It will also see her playing some of her own tunes live.

They will be joined by one of Bob’s current hotly-tipped artists, Robert Vincent.

The tour starts tomorrow at Bush Hall, London, moving on to The Stables in Milton Keynes on Sunday and The Cornerstone, Didcot – a guitar pick’s throw from his home – on Tuesday.

“It’s going to be fabulous,” he says.

“We thought that if Kimmie was going to come here and do a few gigs, it would also be nice for me to be there to chat to her. It’s a format that works at The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. It will be a gentle evening of music and reminiscences.”

He will be joined by his wife Trudie, son Miles, and trusty assistant producer – and The Oxford Times photographer – Marc West, who help run his Whispering Bob Broadcasting Company (WBBC) from Bob’s Under the Apple Tree studio – appropriately situated in the middle of an orchard in his garden.

One of the greats of country, Kimmie’s contribution to music cannot be overstated.

Raised in Lubbock, Texas – the hometown of Buddy Holly – she has recorded 16 albums, contributed to a string of film soundtracks and had her songs covered by Willie Nelson, Wynonna Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Waylon Jennings, Peter Frampton, Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris.

The platinum-selling songwriter will share tales of her and Joe’s three decades together. It’s a story of triumph and tragedy, ending in Joe losing a hard fought battle with cancer.

“Radio Dreams is the result of a collaboration between Kimmie and Joe, who was a hugely important figure in the emergence of the country scene in Austin in the 70s,” says Bob. “He sort of did what I do – playing what he liked and discovering new artists. And he touched a chord.

“Sadly he got cancer and lost his tongue, which took away the very thing that made him famous, so he moved into production.

“Radio Dreams is the story of all of this and the acknowledgement of an incredible legacy.”

Bob, who himself fought off prostate cancer, has recorded a companion audio documentary and retrospective CD with Kimmie.

The project follows a fruitful period for Bob, which saw him once again at the helm of The Old Grey Whistle Test for a one-off show to mark the 30th anniversary of its final broadcast.

“It was such a dream to do it,” says Bob. “The look of the show was the same as when we started out – and there was so much love in the room.

“It made a huge impact. It saw one of BBC4’s biggest audiences ever, with well over a million people watching it, and it showed how much love there is for the programme.

“It was quite moving.”

It also shows the popular presenter at the top of his game.

He adds: “You are always going to have ups and downs but there are so many wonderful moments, and I am keeping fit, walking five miles a day around the village. That’s the reason I’ve got so much energy to sustain all this.

“WBBC has become a real energetic force. Miles is doing really well, Trudie puts so much energy into it and Marc is also an important part of things. Between us we have created this amazing thing.”

And broadcasting remains a passion. “I love doing it,” he says. “I love getting the CDs every morning, going to the studio, finding out about new albums and putting on a show.

“Country music is so vibrant right now – and it’s great to be a part of that.”

  • Where and when:

Radio Dreams – Kimmie Rhodes & Bob Harris in conversation at the Cornerstone, Didcot, on Tuesday. Tickets: £17 from cornerstone.arts-org

  • Bob hosts stage at new country festival:

Country music fans get their own festival this summer – with the launch of a new event showcasing a mixed bill of American and homegrown names – and a stage hosted by this week’s Weekend cover star, Bob Harris.

Taking place at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from September 7-9, The Long Road will present one of the UK’s largest, most authentic celebrations of country, Americana and roots music featuring five stages of live performances, along with appropriate food and themed outdoor activities.

Curated by Tennessee-born country music specialist and radio presenter Baylen Leonard, the bill features includes US country star Lee Ann Womack, political singer-songwriter Billy Bragg, multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter and member of the Pistol Annies, Angaleena Presley; British country duo The Shires; popstar turned country music singer Una Healy; and Texan singer and winner of The Voice USA Danielle Bradbery.
Reflecting a surge in the popularity of country music in the UK in recent years, The Long Road will also feature a strong contingent of rising star UK acts including Twinnie, London-based duo Ferris & Sylvester, Yola Carter and the acclaimed Treetop Flyers – who also play Oxfordshire’s Wood festival.

Bob, who presents his own BBC Radio 2 country music show, will showcase some of the UK’s best unsigned talent on a BBC Music Introducing stage.

More fun comes in the shape of moonshine and bourbon tasting sessions, instrument and songwriters’ rounds, lake swimming, a Southern-inspired food and more American-style antics.

The Shires said: “We are very excited to be playing the first Long Road festival. Country music in the UK is starting to really gain momentum and an outdoor festival dedicated to it will be great fun.”

Angaleena Presley agreed, saying: “I’m so excited to be a part of The Long Road Festival. I love the inclusive vibe. I’m not only looking forward to performing, but also hanging out and enjoying all the fixins’. Great Food, good old-fashioned country music and salt of the earth people. It’s gonna be yeehawsome y’all.”

The festival’s creative director Baylen Leonard said: “Being from Tennessee and having lived in the UK for close to 20 years, I’m thrilled to bring the music and culture of both together in one festival.

"The dedication and passion of the UK country community is so amazing, we wanted to put together a festival that celebrated the music and lifestyle they love as a thank you to the fans for supporting country music.

"Whether you’re a country fan, an Americana fan, or a fan of great music in general, we wanted a welcoming place where everyone could come together to celebrate. This is a festival for the fans and we’re excited to share it with you.”

Tickets from thelongroad.com
 

Line up so far: 
Angaleena Presley 
The Shires
Billy Bragg
Striking Matches
Danielle Bradbery
Una Healy
Ashley Campbell
Brent Cobb
Aaron Watson
Lee Ann Womack
Danny and The Champions of the World
Catherine McGrath
The Wandering Hearts
The Wood Brothers
Megan O’Neill
Two Ways Home
Holloway Road
Kevin McGuire
Twinnie
Laura Oakes
Ruby Boots
Jess and The Bandits
Gary Quinn
Parker Millsap
Yola Carter
Treetop Flyers
William The Conqueror
The Arlenes
Joana Serrat
Ferris & Sylvester
Kasheena Sampson
Danni Nicholls
Cardboard Fox
Worry Dolls
The Lone Bellow
Frontier Ruckus 
Folk Soul Revival
Amythyst Kiah
Andrew Alli