Crewe radio DJ Dave marks 80th birthday at the turntable

DJ Dave with Cat Radio colleague Sheila

Dave Prince, presenter of Coffee Bar Classics on The Cat Radio, is marked his 80th birthday with a truly stellar celebration, spinning a galaxy of his all-time favourite tunes.

Broadcast every Sunday afternoon at 4pm, Coffee Bar Classics takes listeners back to the late 1950s and early 1960s, celebrating the music that shaped the baby boomer generation. It was an era born out of huge social change, as soldiers returned home from war, families grew, and a new wave of young people came into the world — bringing with them new tastes, new energy and a soundtrack all of their own.

Dave’s first show aired on 27th June 2025, and since then Coffee Bar Classics has gone from strength to strength, with 45 shows and counting.

A retired accountant and semi-professional musician for 64 years, Dave has spent a lifetime with a guitar in his hands, performing as a solo artist, in bands and in duos.

His journey to radio began after he was interviewed by The Cat Radio about retiring from music following his final gig at the Nantwich Jazz and Blues Festival in 2025.

During that interview, Dave spoke about a gap in the music genre being represented on air — and the rest, as they say, is history.

Today, Coffee Bar Classics has listeners far beyond Crewe and Nantwich, with fans tuning in from across Europe, South Africa, North America, Australia and New Zealand.

“Even as far as Bangladesh,” Dave says. “There’s a lady in Chittagong, Bangladesh’s second-largest city and its main port city, who listens.”

Asked about the secret recipe behind the show, Dave says it is simple: “Relaxed presentation, timing is everything… and coffee. Or maybe a cheeky brandy. The listeners that is…not me!”

For Dave, the greatest joy of presenting is the connection it creates.

“It’s communicating with people you don’t know,” he says.

Dave, who has been married for 56 years, was asked whether his wife listens in. His answer was a simple: “No.”

With a smile, he adds: “She’s heard too much of my music over the years.”

But the power of music is something Dave sees every week. He shared the story of two listeners who met through the Coffee Bar Classics Facebook group he set up — proof that the music of the era still has the ability to connect people, spark memories and even bring new friendships together.

When it comes to the most popular songs of the genre, Dave points to Bobby Darin’s 1959 classic Dream Lover. His own personal favourite, however, is Del Shannon’s 1961 hit Runaway.

To mark this milestone, Dave played all his favourite tracks from the era in a special birthday edition of Coffee Bar Classics.

All shows are available on Catch up – Catch Up – The Cat