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Profile: David 'Kid' Jensen. David is a Canadian, and comes from Vancouver. He is a descendent of the inventor Robert Louis Stevenson. It is a little known fact that he was chosen as the ideal anchorman for America's first ever satellite station, WTBS. He used to spend some time with broadcasting boss Ted Turner in the director's box of the Atlanta Braves, was nominated for an Emmy, fielded job offers from Los Angeles and presented documentaries for CNN (one of them shown to American Congress.) The first record he every played on radio, was on CJOV-FM in Kelowna, British Columbia - it was Dvorak's 'New World Symphony'.
His international reputation was founded by making a transatlantic transition to Radio Luxembourg, at the age of 18. It was here that he got the name 'The Kid' when he became the youngest DJ in Europe - and the name stuck. Positions with a number of UK radio stations followed, including Nottingham's Radio Trent back in the 1970's, (during which time he became a trustee of Derby Hospital Radio - Radio Link) BBC Radio 1 and Independent Network Radio and 95.8 Capital FM from 1984 - 1998 where his hosted the Drive Time show and The Nescafe Network Chart Show prior to Neil 'Dr' Fox. He then moved to Heart 106.2 FM.
His broadcasting talents have promoted and arguably launched an array of some of the pop industry's most prominent artists, particularly 1980s bands such as The Police, The Pretenders, Prefab Sprout, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Thin Lizzy, Culture Club, Bryan Adams, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Wham!, Gary Numan, Big Country, Vanessa Paradis, Soft Cell, Simply Red, Big Country, Elvis Costello, Lloyd Cole, Tears For Fears, Take That, Lloyd Cole and Van Morrison just to name but a few. His own music tastes include the aforementioned Van Morrison as well as Steve Earle. Beth Orton, The Doves and Billy Bragg.
David has turned his hand to most radio formats in his career so far, including talk, chart and classical, and in doing so has received many accolades - namely four Sony Awards, others from the TRIC, Melody Maker, Spotlight and from the New York Radio Festival. There's also been a nomination for an Emmy in the mix too. He's also done his fair share of television work, some of which has mixed in a musical theme. Many of us remember David on 'Top Of The Pops', but other general and music shows include 'The British Rock & Pop Awards', the short-lived ITV equivalent to TOTP called 'The Roxy', and he's also appeared on ITV Children's show 'Razzmatazz', 'Afternoon Club' and 'City Sounds' for defunct south-west TV station TVS, 'Sky Trax' and 'Jensen's Dimensions' for SKY TV, 'Canadian Crossing' for the Discovery Channel, 'Nightline' for Tyne Tees and he even spent time controlling animosity and argument on Central Television's debate show 'Central Weekend'.
An interest in sport has seen him on a whole host of sports shows including Baseball shows for both SKY & Channel 4, National Hockey League play-offs, 'Champions of the Future' (a junior go-karting show sponsored by McLaren F1) for SKY TV, and 'Run The Gauntlet' for ITV plus motor racing coverage for NBC, SKY and STAR TV. He also makes appearances on the globally syndicated 'Gillette World Sports Special' programmes. You might also have seen David presenting commercial shopping presentations for music CDs or maybe even compering or voicing major awards presentations for public and business events. He even presented 'Lumberjack', a series of programmes about the lifestyle and history of Canadian lumberjacks produced for Channel 4 and David was amongst the ground-breakers of the now prominent satellite auction channels, having presented on SKY's 'Auction Channel'.
Pay close attention to newspapers and magazines, and you might also read David's editorial contributions. He's written music articles for national and London based papers including The Mirror, The Star, The People, The Telegraph and The Evening Standard.
David has retained a strong interest for motor racing - one of his dreams has been to own an F1 team, but at present he is the Team Principal of 'Budweiser Kid Jensen Racing.' During the first season in 1998, the team took part in the Formula Opel Euroseries (a junior F1 series) and also recently entered the Formula 3000 series which support all F1 European Grand Prix the following year. His other sporting links are with football - David is the vice-president of Crystal Palace FC: 'The Eagles' having been elected to the post in 1984. He loves Italian food, (being particularly involved with the operation of the 'Renzo' chain of restaurants) and enjoys playing the saxophone and baseball, but otherwise, David is a frustrated athlete!
David is married to wife Gudrun and together, they have three children.
To those budding jocks trying to get into radio, David advises...'Just be yourself, and try helping out on a hospital radio station to get your foot in the door'
Whereabouts: As of May 27th 2002, David Jensen returned to the Capital group after four years away with Chrysalis Radio's Heart 106.2 in London and networked shows on the West Midlands sister station 100.7 Heart FM. He rejoined Capital on the AM/Digital Capital Gold network to initially present 22:00-01:00 Monday to Thursday before moving to his current more prominent slot from 10:00 - 13:00.
Capital Gold's Programme
controller Andy Turner, has poached Jensen from London's Heart. He joins an
already strong line up of radio personalities including Mike Sweeney, Mike
Osman, Mick Brown and Tony
Blackburn.
David Jensen said "I am really excited about returning to Capital. I
spent 14 happy years there, and so in many ways it's like returning home. I
can't wait to get started on Capital Gold. I'm, very flattered to have received
this offer and opportunity to work alongside some of London's best on-air
talent."
Andy Turner, Capital Gold Programme Controller said: "David Jensen is
one of British broadcasting's radio legends and I am thrilled to be
welcoming him to the home of music legends - Capital Gold. His
appointment highlights Capital Gold's commitment to bringing listeners
quality music presented by quality broadcasters. Over the years David has
presented various formats ranging from classical and talk led programmes to
specialist music shows and chart driven programming, he is a mine of musical
knowledge and his diversity and past accolades make him a perfect fit at Capital
Gold. I'm sure he will be a big hit with our listeners."
Rob Lubbock writes: I had the chance to meet The Kid when he was at Heart 106.2. He actually signed my copy of The Heart of the 80's and 90's CD for me, he is such a nice guy! We talked about the days when he was at Trent in Nottingham in the early days before he went to Radio 1.
My
cousin who is a London Black Cabby has often picked David up to take him to Capital
Radio when they were at the Euston Tower! It's good to have The Kid
back at Capital this time on Capital Gold where not only London listeners
can hear him but the rest of the Capital Gold Network and on Sky Digital
863.
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