Viv Broughton

Viv Broughton (born 24 May 1943) is a British studio owner, music entrepreneur and writer, who is CEO of The Premises Studios, described by London Jazz News as "a vitally important and popular London recording and rehearsal venue".^[1] A one-time early member of rock group The Pretty Things, Broughton went on to help launch The Voice newspaper in 1982, as well as being a gospel historian, and author of the Channel 4 book Too Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (1996).

Viv Broughton
Born	(1943-05-24) 24 May 1943 (age 82)
Nationality	British
Other names	Viv Andrews
Occupation(s)	Music entrepreneur and writer
Known for	Owner and CEO of The Premises Studios
Notable work	Too Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (1996)

Background

Broughton had an early career as a musician in the 1960s, under the name Viv Andrews, playing with David Bowie^[2] and with rock group The Pretty Things as a drummer.^[3][4]

In 1982, he helped launch The Voice,^[5] a weekly newspaper aimed at the British African-Caribbean community, being brought in as marketing manager by founder Val McCalla, and from April 1983 Broughton wrote a column in the newspaper called "Soul Stirrings", which featured many up-and-coming artists.^[6] He was also a mentor and manager to groups and singers including Mica Paris,^[7][8] who has said: "Viv Broughton has done a lot for gospel music, and there has been a total lack of recognition for his incredible contribution to pushing and contributing to its growth."^[9]

As a gospel music historian, Broughton is the author of the books Black Gospel: An Illustrated History of the Gospel Sound (1985) and Too Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (1996), which tied in with a Channel 4 television series.^[10] According to Tony Cummings of Cross Rhythms magazine, he "brings real overview to a story populated with hundreds of major figures and as a starting off point in exploring the absorbing history of possibly THE most important musical stories of the 20th century it's unlikely there'll be a better book than this....Britain's Viv Broughton is to be congratulated for coming up with a vivid history of a music in a work that no American writer has come close to equalling."^[11]

Since 1996, Broughton has been owner and chief executive of The Premises Studios near Haggerston, in Hackney, London, transforming it into a musical institution that is much sought after by high-profile artistes for rehearsal space and recording, with innovative ventures including the installation of solar panels and the opening of a café.^[12][13] In addition, he launched The Premises Music Education Programme, partnering with other not-for-profit organisations to provide workshops and courses.^[14] Broughton once characterised The Premises as "…between a hotel and a crèche for noisy overgrown children".^[15]

Broughton is a trustee of jazz music education and artist development organisation Tomorrow's Warriors.^[16]

Bibliography

• Black Gospel: An Illustrated History of the Gospel Sound, Blandford Press, 1985, ISBN 978-0713715408.
• Too Close to Heaven: The Illustrated History of Gospel Music (A Channel Four Book), Midnight Books, 1996, ISBN 978-1900516006.