Black Country DJ Mike Hollis has been left singing the blues after his shows were axed from the airwaves.
Mike, from Pedmore, Stourbridge, is one of a number of presenters at Smooth Radio who have found themselves without a job after bosses decided to replace regional shows with ones broadcasting across the whole network.
But fans of his show have called for the popular DJ to be reinstated.
He was on air between 8pm and midnight Monday to Friday and also had a weekly soul show on Saturdays between 5pm and 8pm, which have all been cancelled.
He said: “We were told of the possibility of networking shows. But within seven days of being told that was it. It is basically a cost-cutting exercise.”
Mike, who finished at the station in Hagley Road, Birmingham, after 14 months on June 7, said he was particularly sad about the loss of the soul show.
Mike’s soul show has been replaced with a similar programme called The Soul Train presented by Andy Peebles and Smooth spokeswoman Alison Halstead said the station hoped listeners would like the new show.
She said: “We are still committed to providing local output and the majority of our output is local.”
But fans seeking Mike’s reinstatement are asked to write or email John Simons, Group Programme Controller, Smooth Radio, Sterling Court, Tingley, Wakefield, WF3 1EL.
By Mark Mudie
31 Comments
Relocated from Wolverhampton to Yorkshire in August 2007, return “Home” to the West Midlands every other week, one of the best parts of the weekend was listening to “The Mike Hollis Soul Train”, (Sorry Mr Peebles but it will never be your show), Mike was in touch with the local Soul scene and was on 1st name terms with many of the people who frequent the local soul clubs, again somthing Mr Peebles will struggle to achieve.
A back ward step by “Smooth Radio”, but as one door closes another opens, let’s hope Mike is quickly given a contract by another Midlands based radio station (BRMB / Beacon here’s your chance)and back broadcasting the Soul music we all want to hear.
Will go one better than e-mail “Smooth” in Wakefield i will call in to their office, it,s only 3 miles from where i now live !
Echo that Andy. I’d bombard them if it was worth a shot, but being so far up their own backsides it’s patently evident they have no affinity with local people’s views. Also they don’t deserve guys like mike or Jeff Harris and never did.
The guy’s the best in the biz and he’ll be back soon.
And by the way, if you get to read this “Flower” give us a bell or email soon eh?
MO
XX
So sad that Mike Hollis, Jeff Harris & Mike Baker have gone.
It would be nice to think that other stations would pick them up, but Heart & Galaxy are also doing this networking, so are The Wolf and BRMB and Beacon start on June 30th.
Not many slots left for local anymore on what are supposed to be local radio stations.
Writing to Smooth is a waste of time, writing to your local MP or Ofcom wil have better results
I was gutted to switch on the radio to find no Mike Hollis.
He will be back
Maureen
mike is the best soul dj around,has a rare gift won’t somebody give him another show so once again we can have decent music to listen to
Please post the email address for John Simons on this website so that we can bombard him with emails!
Thank you
What are they doing?Terrible news,tremendous mistake,smoothe have really taken the “soul” out of my soul/motown nights,I,ve even got into my wife’s love of northern soul thro’ listening in to mike’s shows.If there is any justice in this world HE should be re-instated,and if smoothe have any sense,they should in fact,be networking him on his show across the various regions. Can anyone give me his contact sources so that I and my friends can catch some of his local club shows hopefully nearer to our area(bit selfish that hey? Life will not be the same until this wrong has been put right..Does the Pope have any power over these decisions?(selfish again ’cause I’m not Catholic)………Seriously though,lets all hope for the best,bring back mike…
The Smooth Radio Mike Hollis Soul Show on a Saturday teatime will be sadly missed. To deliver soul music, a DJ does not only have to be an expert on the subject (i.e. having collected many soul recordings over the years and some very rare indeed) just like Mike has done since a lad but a‘specialist’ DJ such as Mike is also required to be in touch with the needs of listeners.
The basic need of soul music listeners is that the DJ comes over as having soul him/herself.
Whilst I do not doubt Andy Peebles being of excellent DJ calibre, I note his lack of soulfulness.
Without this unique inner spirit there is no ‘real’ soul show.
Really upset to see Mike Hollis go.There was rarely a record played that I disliked . The show provoked lots of memories of my youth and really made my week.I have e mailed the station but I will also write to them .I only started listening six months ago by accident and was really chuffed to have found such a great show.Why do people always have to change something thats so obviously brilliant.
Not been in the area during June until today, tuned in to hear the ’soul show’ which is local to the West Midlands, places to go, names to remember, but no it’s the robotic ‘andy peebles’ with no local information (is he in this world ???) sorry but goodbye.
I used to really enjoy soul with mike and his week night shows. He was really in touch with his listeners and played outstanding soul music many smooth fans looked forward to saturday nights smooth you got this one so so wrong smooth is just not the same with out mike please get him back before its to late
I cannot agree more, smooth have got this so wrong - Mike Hollis is he best Soul dj ever - for the first time since I was in my teens I listend to radio instad of turning on the TV Mike has so much soul and his knowledge of the subject was so vast - this cost cuttin has gone to far, that smooth will lose listeners
ive tuned to 105.7for 6 years and im shocked anddisgusted to see mr soul mike hollis and jeff harris .mike baker etc to bereplaced by well what can one say .im hoping maybe beacon radio will have mike as i dont listen now on week days or to andy peebles come on smooth get the best back only got great mike wyer carlos and nick.but want mike hollis back .smooth not the same now francess
im so sad to know mike went on 7th june i lost my grandson that same day age 26 with bone cancer and mike used to spend a few minutes to talk so very sad hes gone im not listening alot evenings now come on smooth .you got rid of the best for what reason ?mike was best dj for soul motown
i cant believe im not tuned to smooth radio in evenings now why dont they listen to people who have been true listeners to the station.jeff harris was also one of best .roger day. bill bingham bevbevans .mike baker and ofcourse mike hollis. i like carlos and nick piercey but miss the ones ive been used to for 6 years.no late 50s music any more ?and only mike wyer left. is there an email address for mike hollis?bill bingham etc? would like to stay in touch great presenters .thank you francess
I for one will not be listening to this station again.i work every Saturday/Sundays, and on my way home from work on Saturdays which is an hours drive i listened to Mike Hollis. What better way of getting into an evening of soul music and dance. We soul fans travel miles to venues across the country and
Mike’s programme set the evening off to a great start.
What is going on with smooth radio, we had some great dj’s like mike hollis bill bingham, the radio is not the same bring them back, as mike hollis said keep smiling makes other people wonder what you have been up to.
I may be late in voicing my opinion but come on smooth radio you must have lost thousands of listeners with your demolition of the once great station, i cant believe that Mike Hollis has been sacked for want of a better word from the station he is the best soul dj in the west mids i want him back at once if not sooner. And my old mate Jeff Harris whom ive lost count of the e mails and texts i have exchanged with him he is a brilliant presenter SMOOTH RADIO I DONT LISTEN TO YOU ANYMORE AND IM AFRAID THAT LOTS OF MY FRIENDS DONT EITHER.
no way is the soul train anywhere near as good as mikes nothern soul show NO WHERE NEAR. KEEP THE FAITH mike and good luk and all the best
TIPTON SOULY
I am totally dissappointed to find out mike hollis as gone, he was the best DJ out the lot of
your broadcasters what you playing at smooth radio
I absolutely loved the soul night on a saturday between 5-8, the rest of your shows will never be that good, i have now moved to heart fm as they play better music since mike as gone. terrible and disgracful smoooth.
i only tune inmornings for hour its a disgrace getting rid of mike hollis best soul man and jeff harris .to make way for what ?ive loved smooth for 6 years but it not the same now we want mike and jeff back listen to your fans smooth and i speak for many people here .miss mike and jeff and dont tune in much now thank you francess
Virtually ALL the old and original staff at Smooth have been “ethnically cleansed” including Mike Hollis.
GMG who took over are no better than callous savages.
I thought these sort of crimes were confined to Georgia and the Balkans
We echo all the sentiments above, These has beens (even local boy Tarrant) should stick to main stream radio, I see that tarrant is trying to be the Chris Evans/Jonathon Ross (don’t listen to him the p–t) of smooth radio, True music fans don’t want to listen to their banal rantings. presenters like Ken Bruce are better and the way things are going it looks like Radio 2s fans will grow. Jeanette says the only reason she listens to smooth now is Mike Wyer. I suppose he’s on the hit list. Wasn’t the original idea of local radio to be LOCAL. Get rid of them and get the best back. As for Nick Piercy he’s not even good enough to present in a hospital (unless it’s closed).Yet more irate listeners about to move on
I couldn’t agree more with the comments above. I only listen to Mike Wyer now otherwise its Radio 2 for me. I used to be an avid listener until the cull occurred. I refuse to listen to Smooth on principle but what do they care? No replies to my e-mails of complaint.
My reaction to the comment above from les griffiths is les i have sent smooth radio a great many e mails and do you know what mate they do not even have the balls to make one reply whatsoever what a load of non entities.
They will regret that they let one of the best dj:s ever … go. I listen to Mike Hollis when he was on Radio Luxembourg in the 80’s. Does anyone know where Mike is today?
Mia, Malmoe, Sweden
i agree with everyone! we have e mailed smooth and had no replies whatsoever! IGNORANT B*******!
Dont give em the satisfaction mike of ever going back and move on to another station! They dont deserve such talent x
Has anybody witten to smooth and had a reply?
I dont believe it Mike Wyer has gone now what are these people doing to all the favourite dj,s on this once great station, im gutted Mike has now gone he was the only one left to text or e,mail and get a responce
nice to know true fans of mike hollis still emailing and mike wyer gone now .i cant believe chris tarrent is c p and fiona bruce it gets worse .your all right the besthave gone jeff harris bev bevan roger twiggy day .i used to listen all the time but no more.and i also loved mikes show.smooth has got to have lost an awful lot of listeners
l have never missed a radio prog as much as l miss Soul Train and our lovely Mike Hollis.its been almost 5 mths and the pain never leaves me.Smooth Radio have messed up BIGTIME and l hope they are still losing listners.Sat nts will never be same again unless they reistate Mike Hollis.