My former colleague Ken Evans, who has died aged 86, was a dedicated radio producer. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, he left school at 16 and joined Station 2CH in Sydney, initially as a studio assistant, moving to record librarian and progressing to programme director of the station. He also became a presenter with his own show, Composer's Gallery, each Sunday for five years until he resigned in 1962 to tour the US and the UK.
Arriving in Britain in 1963, he joined Radio Atlanta, the pirate offshore station, as record librarian. It soon merged with Radio Caroline, whereupon Ken became its programme director. Hired by Radio Luxembourg in 1966 to produce its EMI-sponsored record shows, he was later appointed programme director for Luxembourg's British Service. This entailed overseeing all programmes on the 208 wavelength, supervising broadcasting personnel and compiling specialist shows, including the Elvis Presley Show – a result of his visit to the US in 1973 to attend an Elvis Presley Convention, where he met Elvis himself.
After 11 years' service, Ken left Radio Luxembourg to become public relations manager for ABC/Anchor Records and later its managing director. In 1979, he joined Radio 2 as a producer and was assigned to Pete Murray's Open House, progressing through programmes with David Hamilton and Jimmy Young, and then Family Favourites.
From 1982, he produced many major documentaries about Hollywood's film industry and was also assigned to produce programmes presented by David Jacobs, with whom he had first worked at Luxembourg in 1967. They had identical tastes in music, so the following five years were highly productive and they continued working together until August 1987 when, having reached the mandatory BBC retirement age of 60, Ken had to leave.
Ken soon returned on contract to script a radio biography of the US composer Hoagy Carmichael, using interviews he obtained in New York, Los Angeles and Indiana. He maintained a busy freelance life for three years until, at the personal invitation of the station's owner, Lord Hanson, he accepted a new full-time job as a producer with Melody Radio.
In 2004, following health setbacks, he made the decision to return permanently to his homeland and settle in a retirement village in the delightful Sydney resort of Mona Vale.