He wrote: ”Credit should be given where credit is due, but after Stateside murmurings & closer examination of content & music sourcing, I came to the conclusion that more than one person was involved in the planning & scripting of the programme. The spectre of an author at work permeated the whole thing. The subtle use of plugs for a book & namedropping throughout, showed a shrewd & unscrupulous marketing genius. And I, in my sheer ignorance & innocence, thought the BBC didn’t allow advertising. Thankfully, at least there was nothing untoward in the dialogue.“
I guess I should feel flattered that Mr. Bussey thinks I am a "marketing genius." But as has been his pattern over the years, David's imagination has run away with him.
For the record, (1) I had no role whatsoever in scripting that show, other than to implore the producer to include mention of Bea Terry's role in helping Jim — a story which I revealed in my book but which heretofore has been wholly unknown by the vast majority of fans. (2) If I HAD put my stamp on the program, it would have included a plug for VoiceMasters (as the show drew heavily from music and Jim's spoken words I have released on various CDs), but the BBC did not mention my label.
I did not hear the program ahead of time and was only sent a copy by the producer after it aired. I thought they did a good job of bringing in new voices, from people who offered interesting and insightful comments about Jim and his music. It was a first-class production from beginning to end.
One last thing: In his latest excursion into fantasyland, Mr. Bussey says the BBC told him last March it was planning a tribute show to Jim "for next year." But he goes on to write "Imagine my surprise when I was contacted a mere 4 days before the programme by a friend to tell me there was a Jim Reeves broadcast going out on Radio 2 on bonfire night, Tuesday, 5th November 2013." So he admits to being caught completely by surprise by the recent airing of the show.
Yet this contradicts the assertion made on the same Holland website on November 5th in which it was claimed that the reason David Bussey "is not featured on tonight's programme, is because he chose not to be. He was approached by the Manchester producer for an interview, and after serious consideration, turned the offer down, as he felt he'd had his radio days years ago, got his tee shirt, and would leave the programme in the hands of the new kids on the block. He has diametrically opposed views & opinions to some of those on the programme and did not wish to stir the waters and spoil their moment of glory."
Whoops.
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