Trevor Nelson - Misplaced Pages

British DJ and radio presenter (born 1964)

Trevor NelsonMBE
Nelson in 2004
Born	(1964-01-07) 7 January 1964 (age 60) Hackney, London, England
Children	2
Career
Show	Trevor Nelson
Station	BBC Radio 1Xtra
Time slot	11:00–13:00 (Sunday)
Show	Trevor Nelson's Rhythm Nation
Station	BBC Radio 2
Time slot	22.00–0.00 (Monday-Thursday)
Style	R&B, soul, hip-hop, dance
Country	United Kingdom
Previous show(s)	BBC Radio 1, Kiss FM

Website	trevornelson.com

Trevor Ricardo Nelson, MBE (born 7 January 1964) is an English DJ and presenter.

Early life

Born in Hackney to a family of St Lucian heritage, Nelson attended Central Foundation Boys' Grammar School (now known as Central Foundation Boys' School) in Cowper Street, Islington, and Westminster Kingsway College. His first job was in a shoe shop, but his love of music meant a part-time role as a DJ.

Nelson found daytime work at a record importer in 1985, and widened his DJ experience putting on "warehouse parties" at the weekends.

Trevor was the club promotions manager for Cooltempo / EMI promoting artists such as Gang Starr and Arrested Development. He went onto become head of A&R and was instrumental in the careers of artists such as D'Angelo, Mica Paris and Lynden David Hall;.

Radio career

As a pioneer in the urban music scene, he set up his Madhatter Soul Sound System in the 80s. Nelson started his broadcasting career on the fledgling London's Kiss FM, originally a pirate radio station. Nelson helped the station become legal and gain a licence in 1990. Nelson was both a daytime DJ and director. In 1996, Nelson moved to BBC Radio 1 to present the first ever national R 'n' B show, The Rhythm Nation and a year later began the first ever R&B Chart Show on a Saturday afternoon. Nelson stayed at Radio 1 until 2013.

From 2007 Nelson presented the Breakfast Show on the newly launched BBC Radio 1Xtra and in 2008 launched a weekly soul show on BBC Radio 2 whilst also presenting shows on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 1Xtra. July 2019 Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation began broadcasting four nights a week on BBC Radio 2, replacing his Wednesday evening soul show.

Nelson currently broadcasts across two radio networks. Trevor’s Soul Nation airs Mon-Thurs 10pm-12am on BBC R2. He also has a weekly Sunday show on BBC R1 Xtra from 11am-1pm. He previously presented weekdays, Monday to Friday 10:00am until 13:00 show on BBC Radio 1Xtra between 2008 and 2016.

In November 2016 it was announced that Nelson would be leaving his weekday 10 am – 1 pm show on 1Xtra and moving to Saturday and Sundays 4 – 7 pm, showcasing the best in new and old R&B music, with DJ Ace taking over his slot. He had held this slot since 2011 after leaving the 1Xtra breakfast show which he presented with Gemma Cairney and previously Zena McNally.

In 2010 he was awarded with the special gold lifetime achievement award for his services to broadcasting, at the Sony Radio Academy Awards.

On 21 March 2017 he was a presenter for Sara Cox's Red Nose Day danceathon from 2 am to 5 am.

In August 2017, April 2018, and again in August 2018, Trevor sat in for Ken Bruce on his Radio 2 show.

On 29 October 2018 it was announced Sara Cox would take over drivetime on Radio 2. As a result, from January 2019 Trevor Nelson's Rhythm Nation would move to Monday-Thursday 22:00–0:00.

In the summer of 2022 Nelson hosted Exodus: Bob Marley Reimagined; the BBC concert took place to mark the 60th anniversary of Jamaican Independence.

From January 2025 Trevor be taking over the afternoon show 2-4pm on BBC Radio 2 from Scott Mills as he’s moving to Breakfast on the station.

Club career

Nelson set up his Madhatter Soul Sound System in the 80s (warehouse) Behind the decks Nelson cut his teeth as a DJ at the Africa Centre with Soul II Soul and promoted numerous club nights such as:

MTV Lick parties, hosted for 5 years in the 90s around the UK & Europe.
11 Years residency in Global Room nightclub in Pacha, Ibiza.
Dance Wicked residencies at The Wag Club & Borderline.
Promoted numerous warehouse parties in the 80s.

Nelson continues to DJ around the UK and Europe. Nelson currently owns and promotes his touring club brand 'Soul Nation' which is popular up and down the country.

Television career

Nelson first appeared on television in 1998 on MTV UK and presenting The Lick on MTV Base off the back of his first RnB show on Radio 1. He featured on the judging panel for Channel 4 programme Chancers in 2004, and Just the Two of Us in 2006 and 2007.

Nelson has worked on numerous BBC shows that include: Holiday: you call the shots, Trevor Nelson's Urban Choice, The Players club series, and he presented the coverage of the FIFA World Cup concert in South Africa for BBC Two in 2010.

Nelson holds the distinction of being the first black person to appear on Channel 5, appearing at 10:37pm on The Jack Docherty Show.

Nelson regularly appears as a pundit on programmes where celebrities recall their detailed memories of popular culture. He also provided commentary on the 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony and 2012 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony that was criticised by some.

TV Credits

Trevor Nelson’s Urban Choice – BBC3
Trevor Nelson’s Lowdown – BBC
Soul Nation series. – CH4
Players Club series – BBC3
Holiday: you call the shots- BBC1
Just The Two of Us – BBC1
5 things I hate about out – BBC2
Panic Mechanics- BBC2
BBC3 Grammy’s
“The Lick” MTV
Mobo Awards / EMA MTV red carpet LIVE
All Eyes on Tony Blair – MTV
NFL UK – Channel 5

Awards

Best DJ – MOBO Award 1996, 1997, 1999 & 2008
2002 - Honoured an MBE for his work with millennium volunteer
The Gold Award - Sony Radio Academy Awards 2010
The Arqiva Hall of Fame 2014
Best presenter - APAs Awards 2018 & 2019
Music Magazine Award
Boisdale DJ Lifetime Achievement Award 2024
The Ivors Academy Gold Badge - 2019
ARIA Award - Windrush 75, marked the 75th anniversary of Windrush and celebrated the impact of Caribbean culture on British life

Personal life

Trevor is married. He has two children. He owns a dog and a cat. Nelson lives in London, and is a fan of Chelsea. He also has a home in Saint Lucia.

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2002 for his contribution to the Millennium Volunteers programme.

Compilations

Nelson has released nine compilation albums, INCredible Sound of Trevor Nelson, The Soul Nation and Lick compilations. His most recent compilation album is The Trevor Nelson Collection. Picking up where his Lick compilations left off, he shares his favourite R&B, Soul and Rap classics from over the decades.

1997 - Nu Classic Soul
1999 – INCredible Sound of Trevor Nelson
2000 – Trevor Nelson’s Rhythm Nation
2003 – Trevor Nelson’s Soul Nation
2003 – The Lick: Best of
2013 – The Trevor Nelson Collection
2014 – The Trevor Nelson Collection 2
2015 – The Trevor Nelson Collection 3
2016 – Trevor Nelson Club Classics
2019 – Soul Selection

Bibliography

Sounds Like London: 100 Years of Black Music in the Capital, 2013. (Contributor)

References

^ "Trevor Nelson: My Life in Media", The Independent, 8 October 2007.
Radio Rewind – BBC Radio 1 People – Trevor Nelson Archived 12 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine
"Trevor Nelson moved to weekends on Radio 1Xtra". RadioToday. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
"Exodus: Bob Marley Reimagined". bbc.com. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
Williams, Precious (23 October 2004). "The only way is up". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
Paul McCann (31 March 1997). "Shock and pop as Channel 5 goes live with modern mix". The Independent. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
Sam Wollaston (27 July 2012). "Olympic opening ceremony: the TV review". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
"Nelson excited by reunion of Legends". Chelsea F.C. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
"Music Review – The Trevor Nelson Collection".

External links

Official website
Trevor Nelson's Rhythm Nation (BBC Radio 2)
Trevor Nelson (BBC Radio 1Xtra)

Media offices
Preceded byN/A	MTV Africa Music Awards host 2008	Succeeded byWyclef Jean

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