Who is Bernie O'Brien ?- DJ Profile

Bernie O’Brien — The Heart Behind The Groove Connection on Love Soul Radio London

A Lifetime Dedicated to the Groove
Few voices in soul music broadcasting carry the warmth, authenticity, and deep-rooted knowledge of Bernie O’Brien. A true ambassador for soul culture, Bernie has spent more than five decades living and breathing the music — from packed dancefloors and treasured vinyl discoveries to connecting with listeners every week through The Groove Connection on Love Soul Radio London.

Today, Bernie also serves as Station Manager at Love Soul Radio London, playing a major role both on and off air. Since the station’s launch in 2018, he has been instrumental in helping develop, shape, and grow the station into the respected soul music platform it is today. Through his experience, musical knowledge, guidance, and passion for quality broadcasting, Bernie has helped build the strong sense of identity and community that listeners associate with the station.

For Bernie, soul music has never simply been entertainment. It’s community, memory, history, and emotion all wrapped into one timeless groove.

Where It All Began
Bernie’s journey started back in 1968 at Bell Hall Youth Club in Warrington, where he first stepped behind the decks and discovered the incredible connection between music and people. What began as a passion quickly became a lifelong mission.

Throughout the 1970s he built a strong reputation across the North West, playing soul, Motown, funk, jazz-funk, and Northern Soul to devoted crowds in clubs, pubs, halls, and community venues. His ear for quality records and his instinct for reading a room made him a respected figure on the growing UK soul scene.

That passion soon expanded beyond DJing when Bernie opened Music Medley on Padgate Lane — a specialist record shop that became a meeting point for collectors, dancers, DJs, and music lovers searching for rare imports, hidden gems, and the latest soul releases. For many local soul fans, it wasn’t just a shop — it was an education.

More Than a DJ
What makes Bernie O’Brien special is that his contribution to soul music goes far beyond simply playing records.

Over the years he became a trusted promoter, curator, and supporter of the wider soul community, helping keep the culture alive through events, collaborations, and passionate advocacy for the music. Bernie has always understood that soul music is about bringing people together — something reflected perfectly in the ethos of Love Soul Radio London itself.

As Station Manager, Bernie has also been heavily involved in mentoring presenters, supporting programme development, maintaining musical quality, and helping create the welcoming atmosphere that makes the station feel like family to so many listeners around the world.

The Groove Connection — A Show with Soul at Its Core
Bernie’s acclaimed programme The Groove Connection perfectly captures his musical personality — sophisticated, soulful, uplifting, and deeply knowledgeable without ever feeling pretentious.

Listeners can expect a seamless blend of:

Timeless soul classics
Rare groove gems
Jazz-funk favourites
Modern soul and contemporary R&B
Independent artists and fresh new talent
Deep cuts that only true collectors remember
What makes The Groove Connection so compelling is Bernie’s ability to make every record feel important. His presentation style is warm, conversational, and genuine — the sound of someone who truly loves the music and wants listeners to feel part of the experience.

There’s no ego. No gimmicks. Just pure soul passion and expertly curated music.

A Trusted Voice in Soul Music
Bernie’s knowledge comes from decades spent collecting records, supporting artists, studying the scene, and living the culture firsthand. That authenticity shines through every show.

Listeners trust Bernie because he represents the true spirit of soul music broadcasting — informed, passionate, welcoming, and always respectful of the music’s history while embracing its future.

At a time when radio can often feel disposable and automated, The Groove Connection feels personal. Real. Human.

Still Flying the Flag for Soul
More than 55 years after first touching a pair of turntables, Bernie O’Brien remains one of the UK soul scene’s genuine originals.

Through The Groove Connection and his continuing role helping grow Love Soul Radio London since its beginnings in 2018, he continues to introduce listeners to incredible music, preserve the heritage of soul culture, and help shape the future of independent soul radio.

Away from his purpose-built home studio — a treasure trove of soul memorabilia, vintage magazines, towering shelves of vinyl, and enough records to make the floorboards nervous — Bernie enjoys life at a slightly gentler tempo.

When he’s not cueing up rare grooves or guiding the sound of Love Soul Radio London, Bernie can often be found holidaying with his wife Trish, tending lovingly to the garden, or enjoying the occasional glass of good wine… purely for “research purposes,” of course.

And while many people unwind with television, Bernie’s idea of a relaxing evening is sitting among thousands of records debating whether the original pressing sounds warmer than the reissue — usually while his wife Trish gently reminds him that the kitchen table was originally designed for eating dinner, not storing soul albums from 1974.

But whether he’s behind the decks, in the garden, or pouring a well-earned glass of red after another successful broadcast, one thing remains constant — Bernie O’Brien lives and breathes soul music.

For soul fans, Bernie O’Brien isn’t just a presenter.

He’s part of the soundtrack.