Video tributefrom Downtown Radio - published 21/11/2025
Trevor 'Big T' Campbell
Trevor Campbell, better known as 'Big T', was on air from Day One at Downtown Radio, Northern Ireland, on Tuesday 16th March 1976, presenting two programmes in the same day. The Dinner Spinner from Midday and that evening the Downtown Country show, which he was still presenting 48.5 years later, up till November 2024, just days before his very sad passing.
Trevor graced the airwaves of Downtown Radio and later Downtown Country in Northern Ireland and touched so many peoples lives here and further afield including Nashville with his love of music, his knowledge of music, and his wonderful personality. He truly was a broadcasting legend.
I am a member of the Friends of Downtown Radio 1976 - 2025 Facebook Group and one night while posting a link to a show I uploaded, I was inspired to create a webpage with ALL known links Audio and Video of Big T and Downtown Radio - on Mixcloud, Facebook, YouTube, NVTV, UTV etc while I have them in my mind. As a resource, to commemorate the legend that is and was Big T.
'Your Musical Host on the County Down coast' :-)
Photo is by Bobbie Hanvey - March 16th 1977.
Long time fan of Trevor's shows and style of presenting. Have about 15 C90s (all digitally transferred) of highlights of Golden Greats Featured Years and various tapes from various years, also transferred. And Birthday shows from 78 and 79.
Anyone out there with some interesting recordings?
Selected Radio Shows from 1977 to 2024
1977 - The Big Tree Show
1978 - Dial Downtown Phone-in
1981 - 5th Birthday
1981 - Interviews
1984 - 8th Birthday Show
1986 - 10th Birthday Show
1986 - Featured Year 1966
1988 - Classic Oldies
1991 - 15th Birthday Show
2012 - St Patrick Day's Show
2013 - Farewell to Candy Devine
2024 - 48th Birthday Show
Big T Radio interviews (2013 and 2016)
2013 - Siobhan McGarry interviews Big T
in 'My Kind of Music'
2016 - 40th Anniversary of Downtown Radio Interview with David Gordon
Ken Bruce's tribute to Trevor
Ken Bruce pays tribute to Trevor Campbell on November 21st 2024, just 4 hours after the sad news. Here's a 40 minute edited version with all the tributes, stories and also several poignant tracks.
Selected Audio Highlights
Big T Show - 16/3/1981 (5th Birthday)
Excerpt from the 5th Birthday, 18th March 1981, with 'Falling Apart at the Seams' by Marmalade, 'I only wanna be with you' by Dusty Springfield, 'Queen of the Mardi Gras' by Tony Christie', 'Take good care of yourself' by the Three Degrees and the start of Candi Devine's show.
Featured Year 1976 covering March 16th of course. Big T chatting about the start of Downtown Radio eight years earlier with complete songs - 'Mr Jordon' by Charlie Ross, 'Movie Star' by Harpo, 'Midnight in the Morning' by Bill Ryan and Buckshot and 'Falling Apart at the Seams' by Marmalade.
Big T's Saturday Show on St Pat's Day - 2012 (36th Birthday)
'Bringing on back the good times' by Love Affair - Big T Intro - 'Falling apart at the seams' by Marmalade.
'The trouble with me' by Barry White - 'The Single Girl' by Sandy Posey.
'Walk Away' by Matt Monro - 'Catch Me if you can' by Brendan Shine - 'Letter from America' by The Proclaimers.
My request - 'Like a Movie I've seen before' by The Drifters - 'I Love to Love' by Tina Charles.
'Downtown' by Petula Clark - 'The Same old Feeling' - Pickety Witch - 'Mississippi' by Pussycat - Three Degrees end of show.
Fuller version of the show - with LOTS of chat and dedications - available on Mixcloud
Interview with Siobhan McGarry - 2013 (37th Birthday)
Discovering pop music and Elvis - his sister Norma - very funny dog story - learning ballroom dancing.
Pirate radio - school detention - making demo tapes - first discos - Matt Monro - his time on pirate radio station Radio North Sea
Joining Downtown Radio - meeting the big stars of country music - Lynda Jayne meeting Johnny Cash - 'Man of Action'.
Meeting and falling in love with Lynda Jayne - being typecast with country music but loving all kinds - Trevor being playfully told he's 'got far too many shows'.
The song 'As time goes by' - recalls a happy memory of Lynda Jayne.
Ultimate dinner party guests - Elvis Presley - the first song he played for his partner Vi - how he would like people to think of him.
Country music tastes - always disliked the sound of his own voice - recording Desiderata - and then a live version in the studio.
Interview with David Gordon - 2016 (40th Birthday)
Friendly introductions while Trevor and 'his people' get ready - why Trevor first wanted to be a radio presenter.
Earliest memories of music - 'Hello Happiness' by The Drifters - making demo tapes - doing discos - the interview to join Downtown Radio.
1976 - 'Falling Apart at the Seams' by Marmalade - memories about the start of Downtown Radio - 'Love really hurts without you' by Billy Ocean.
The connection with listeners - "A make believe world... between the radio broadcaster and the listener ... a make believe sort of happiness type thing".
Meeting his country music heros - preparing questions for interviews - becoming blasé at meeting so many legends - advice for new radio presenters?
Big T's final 'Birthday Show' - 14/3/2024 (48th Birthday)
Every year, on the anniversary of Downtown Radio's first broadcast in March 16th 1976, Trevor played old jingles and records from those early years and more recently, talked at length about his memories. I always felt that some of these words should be preserved, so I wanted to do that in this section of the Tribute page.
1
First record played on the first Downtown Country Show (16th March 1976) - 'Canadian Pacific' by George Hamilton IV - Intro - the Second record played, 'Where the blue and lonely go' by Roy Drusky - memories of old Downtown - 'End of the world' by Skeeter Davis
2
'Daddy Was an Old Time Preacher Man' by Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton which was the
third record played - meeting the country stars
3
Setting up Downtown, literally finding 'Boil Them Cabbage Down' by Buck Owens (which became the Downtown Country theme) on the first day.
4
Postal requests - Moira at reception - the Country Cousins
5
'Bandy the Rodeo Clown' by Moe Bandy - ordering the original Downtown Jingles from composer Tony Hatch who wrote the 1964 hit
6
'Blanket on the Ground' by Billie Jo Spears - Wembley - 'Wish I didn't have to miss you' by Jeannie Seeley and Jack Greene
7
'It's Four in the Morning' by Faron Young - Reading out requests and mentioning old friends
8
'Tammy Time' - 'I'll be thinking of you' by Tammy Wynette - 'Waltz across Texas' by Sammi Smith
9
More chat then - 'Downtown' by Connie Smith - 'Crystal Chandelier' by Charlie Pride
10
Memories of meeting 'Whispering' Bill Anderson followed by 'Mama sang a song' and 'Sometimes' (with Mary Lou Turner)
11
Old Downtown jingles and chat about Charlie Pride (mentions Vi)
12
"I'm Big T, this is Downtown Country, used to be Downtown Radio. Well, I used to be".
'Burning Bridges' by Frankie McBride - 'True Life Country Music' by Razzy Bailey
13
Searching Smithfield for obscure records and phoning Moira. The Statler Brothers - 'Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott'
14
'That was 1976' by Alan Jackson - 'Midnight in the Morning' by Bill Ryan & Buckshot - 'It Takes People Like You (To Make People Like Me)' by Buck Owens & His Buckaroos
15
St Patrick's Day opening. 17/3/2024 - McNamara's Band by Bing Crosby - '40 Shades of Green' by Frankie McBride)
16
Patrick's Day - Trevor mentions our (Friends of Downtown) Facebook Group and the
webcam video I sent him on DVD
A fabulous and friendly Facebook Group about all things Downtown Radio from 1976 to the present day. Members include ex employees of Downtown Radio, current presenters including those from Downtown Country and other local radio stations. A great group about all things Downtown 293.
Friends of Downtown Radio 1976 - 2025 | Facebook
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