Lawrence John

The Country Collection.

Name: Lawrence John

Show: Country Collection on 5, 6, 7 and Q101FM.

More about Lawrence:

A native of Holywood Co. Down, Lawrence began his broadcasting career with Downtown radio in 1976, presenting the oldies show "Yesterday's Favourites" and later the Top 40 Countdown and Downtown Country, before relocating in 1981 to Dublin, where he worked on country music station TTTR .

This was followed by a three year stint on Dublin's legenday Radio Nova and then a managerial role in a new Dublin radio station Q102, before jetting off to work on Riviera 104, broadcasting to the rich and famous on the French Riviera.

Lawrence says "after two years sunning myself on the beach every day I got a bit "browned off" and in 1987 decided to return to Ireland to work on KISS FM broadcasting from Monaghan into Belfast".

This was followed by five years of afternoons on Belfast's BCR, before it was rebranded as Citybeat and then seven years on pop/dance station Energy 106 until 2005.

In 2006 Lawrence began a new career as a songwriter and record producer and headed off to Nashville, where he struck lucky finding a good friend in Gary Carter, a renowned steel player, who also has his own recording studio and production company. Gary started playing steel with Lori Morgan, then spent 10 years with Randy Travis, three years with Faith Hill and currently plays with Connie Smith.

Gary opened quite a few doors in Nashville for Lawrence, including the backstage door of the Grand Ole Opry.

With Gary's help Lawrence soon began work on an album of his own songs, using some of the best singers and session players in Nashville.

This was followed by production work on a number of tracks and album projects for both Irish and American artists, including songs and productions for Mike Denver, John McNicholl, Cliff Austin, Chris Blair and Keri Hemingway.

Immersed in all this country music, Lawrence was already considering a return to radio when he was offered the Country Collection show on Northern Media Group stations FIVE, SIX, & SEVEN FM and Q101.

Lawrence says "this was a case of perfect timing and a golden opportunity for me to bring my knowledge of and passion for "country", to a local audience thirsty for Irish and American country music.

The added bonus, is that with the show also available online, we have an audience in Nashville too, an audience eager for the more traditional kind of country music not available on Nashville's contemporary country stations".

The Country Collection is aired nightly Mon-Fri, 7-9pm on FIVE, SIX, & SEVEN FM and Q101 and online at the station websites.