All-day Monday, BBC Radio 2 is pulling out all the stops to celebrate not only the British holiday, but the music of Michael Jackson with a number of special shows.
Here’s how the schedule looks:
6.30am: The Chris Evans Breakfast Show… Mark Goodier sits in
Mark Goodier starts the countdown on this Bank Holiday special celebrating the music of Michael Jackson – with Radio 2’s 60@60 showcasing his top 60 best-selling singles in the UK.
9.30am: Ken Bruce
Aloe Blacc, the Grammy and two-time BRIT-nominated singer-songwriter from California, picks the Tracks of My Years with songs from Bob Marley and Donny Hathaway.
Aloe released his debut major label album Lift Your Spirit in 2014 to huge acclaim, where it hit the top five on the UK and US charts. It followed the incredible success of singles I Need A Dollar and Wake Me Up, his collaboration with the late DJ/Producer Avicii which became the fastest-selling single that year and a chart-topper in 100 countries. His last album also featured the number one record The Man, which reached the Top 10 in the US, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. His new album includes the latest single Brooklyn In The Summer which Aloe says is: “electric with all kinds of energy” as he looks to celebrate the love in his life with the new music.
Plus, Ken continues the countdown on this Bank Holiday special celebrating Michael Jackson – with Radio 2’s 60@60 showcasing his top 60 best-selling singles in the UK.
12pm: Ana Matronic’s Dance Devotion
Ana Matronic brings her new Saturday night Dance show to daytime Radio 2, and continues the countdown on this Bank Holiday special celebrating Michael Jackson – with Radio 2’s 60@60 showcasing his top 60 best-selling singles in the UK.
3pm: Trevor Nelson – Michael Jackson Special
In this Bank Holiday special, Trevor Nelson brings to an exciting close BBC Radio 2’s day-long Michael Jackson celebration, marking what would have been the King of Pop’s 60th birthday this week. At the time of his death in 2009 aged 50, Michael was the best-selling artist of all time – with more than 40 UK Top 10 hits as a solo artist alone.
In this unmissable two-hour show, Trevor counts down the music icon’s 20 best-selling tracks in the UK – mixed in with surprise appearances from celebrity fans, memories from those who knew and worked with him, plus an archive of Michael in his own words.
Trevor offers this timely reminder of the King of Pop’s incredible musical output spanning four decades – from child star with The Jackson 5 to his prolific solo career – with the countdown figures especially provided by the Official Charts Company for this special occasion.
Everyone has a favourite Michael Jackson track: from Seventies classics such as ABC and I Want You Back to dancefloor gems like Billie Jean and Thriller, from ballads like Ben and You Are Not Alone, through to his star collaborations with the likes of Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, Siedah Garrett and more.
The show is the grand finale to BBC Radio 2’s cross-show celebration – which covers Michael’s 60 best-selling tracks, as a nod to what would have been his 60th birthday.