Gerry Anderson to receive the 2024 Outstanding Contribution to Music Award at the NI Music Prize event

Oh Yeah Music Center has announced that this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Music Award will be presented posthumously in honor of the late television host and musician Gerry Anderson.

The presentation will take place at the Northern Ireland Music Awards on Wednesday 13th.^th November at the Ulster Hall, Belfast.

The presentation will also generate support from IMRO of £3,000 in the form of a special scholarship in Gerry Anderson’s name.

Gerry Anderson was an award-winning radio and television presenter from Derry. He joined BBC Radio Foyle in 1984 and became one of the most loved, familiar, funny and fearless voices on air for the next 30 years. He was a household name and, along with co-presenter Sean Coyle on BBC Radio Foyle, he gave listeners some of the best radio to ever come out of BBC Radio Ulster. So much so that it inspired the hilarious animated TV show Live, which uses real-life dialogue from some of his show’s best moments in recent years.

Although Jerry was best known as a television personality, he was also an accomplished musician. His journey in music began when he taught himself to play guitar and began playing in several local bands in the early 1960s. He then moved to Manchester to spend some time with the Gay McIntyre Showband, where he became a bassist for the first time. Time with the Grafton band followed and then Dublin came calling and he joined The Chessmen. He then traveled to Canada with Brown and O’Brien’s band, where he met and played with Ronnie Hawkins and the famous The Hawks of The Band. Upon returning to Derry, he formed Toejam with his longtime friend Colum Arbuckle and Jim Whiteside, playing Irish rock for 10 years. Having done all this, it was inevitable that he would be so supportive of musicians throughout his radio career. He understood life as a musician and brought that with him into the studio, always making time for local artists in his show.

Gerry Anderson’s son David said of receiving the award: “We are honored that Oh Yeah Music Center has chosen to present this year’s Outstanding Contribution to Music Award posthumously to my father, Gerry Anderson. Music was at the core of everything Dad did – whether on air or on stage, he always championed local talent and celebrated creativity. He had an unwavering passion for nurturing musicians and sharing their stories and talents. This recognition is a wonderful tribute to his legacy and our family is incredibly touched by this gesture. Thank you for keeping his spirit alive with this award.”

Kate Johnson, Director of Marketing and Membership, IMRO.

“Gerry Anderson was a true champion of music and creativity, not only as a broadcaster, but as a musician who understood the challenges and triumphs of being an artist. IMRO is proud to support this scholarship in his name, honoring his remarkable legacy and continuing its commitment to developing new talent. Jerry’s unique voice and passion for music will forever be remembered, and this scholarship will ensure that his dedication to nurturing musicians will live on.”