The name Brian Richmond needs no introduction. Most famous for his 50-year radio and television career, he officially retired from the radio scene in 2022.
Brian is unassuming, for someone who has been a celebrity for so much of his life. He matter-of-factly shares his age – 76 years old – and the things that matter to him.
His stardom didn’t start in broadcasting.
Brian was part of the National Youth team playing for Malaysia (Singapore was one of the states of the federation in 1964). After a match, Selangor captain Mazlan Harun, son of Selangor’s then Chief Minister Harun Idris invited him to play for Selangor.
Brian was tempted, but that would mean that he would have to move out of Singapore.
Unfortunately, Brian’s football career was stalled by an accident that caused a bad leg injury during a game with South Korea not long after that trip.
His leg did not get any better despite multiple treatments.
It was only after prolonged absences from soccer practice months later that a concerned fan got his company driver to send Brian for treatment at the Singapore General Hospital.
Brian is self-deprecating about his football career.
During the time when Brian was healing from his leg injury, he started freelancing for radio – both Rediffusion, as well as the nascent FM radio stations. In fact, Brian got his start at Radio Five, a classical radio music station, now known as Symphony 92.4FM!
His football career also opened up other opportunities for him.
Despite having no experience in television, Brian jumped in for this opportunity.
But he did such a good job that when the Games were over, Brian was invited to be joint presenter for the weekly Friday night Sports Parade with Fong Hoe Beng, another household name. That was a must-watch programme to get the latest news on local and international sports.
After that, Brian’s television career took off.
That was THE biggest local television show then, as just about everyone watched Talentime. It was the launch pad for anyone who wanted a career in entertainment because vinyls would be cut for the participants and they would get performance gigs after the show.
After Talentime, Brian sealed his reputation as a emcee with many other television shows and live events like Telefun, Countdown 1986 and even the Asia Pacific Country Rock ‘N’ Roll Charity Music Festival in 2005.
Brian’s most enduring legacy must surely be his radio career which spanned over 50 years.
He may have started off at classical radio station Radio Five, but his stint there did not last long – Brian was so exhausted juggling his many commitments that he fell asleep on-air.
The effect was a few minutes of quite literally, radio silence.
The sound engineer monitoring the station ran into the studio and woke him up.
He got his wish: Four weeks later, Brian was invited to work at the English pop station Radio One (there was only one at the time).
The name for Radio One was changed to One FM 90.5 and eventually Gold 90.5FM that we know today in 1998. Brian had his own shows over the years at Gold 90.5 FM – The Vintage Showcase, Gold Breakfast Show, Gold Afternoons, Sundays with Brian. It was during this time that he developed a strong fan base.
Brian is also likely the most awarded radio personality today. In 2005, he was recognised with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Singapore Radio Awards. He had also won other accolades like Most Popular Radio Personality and Friendliest Radio Personality over the years as well.
Despite so many successes, Brian is quick to add that he shies away from being feted and recognised.
Despite giving the impression of taking life as it comes, family has always been important to Brian, possibly because of his own history.
As such, he made a conscious effort to be actively involved with his family. In fact, he has had such influence on his sons that both Mark and Don followed his footsteps to become radio deejays at different points in their lives.
These days, family remains his focus and the apple of his eye is clearly his grandson Sol, who lives in Orlando pursuing a pro-golf career. Brian lights up as he talks about Sol.
Brian Richmond is on air at Vintage Radio every Mondays to Fridays, 10am – 12pm.
