John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was a British disc jockey, radio presenter, and journalist.

He was one of the original DJs of BBC Radio 1 in 1967 and of those the only one remaining on Radio 1 at the time of his death. Known for the extraordinary range of his taste in music and the occasional mistakes (such as playing records at the wrong speed or playing the wrong track entirely) that marked his shows, John Peel was one of the most popular and respected DJs and broadcasters in the world. He was one of the first to play reggae, punk and hip hop on British radio. Artists whose careers he helped to launch include Jimi Hendrix, Joy Division, The Smiths and The White Stripes. His profound influence on alternative rock, pop and dance music is widely acknowledged.

He is sorely missed by all those he touched and helped by playing truly original music.

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