Canadian-born disc jockey “Daffy” Don Allen (born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in March 1939 to Romanian parents) took a course in announcing in Chicago after leaving school and, on graduating at 18, became an announcer with a Canadian radio station.
Allen later became a freelance disc jockey and was heard over the air in the USA and Mexico before moving to England, where he achieved iconic status in the British offshore pirate-radio scene of the 1960s and 1970s – initially broadcasting from the Radio Caroline South ship before moving to Radio Caroline North, anchored off the Isle of Man.
Known for his rapid-fire delivery and deep love of country music, he famously presented “The Big Wide Wonderful World of Daffy Don Allen” and hosted the “Country & Western Jamboree”, proudly bringing what he called “The Biggest Country Show This Side of Nashville” to a massive UK audience.
In the 1970s, he returned to the high seas aboard the ship Mebo II, serving as Senior DJ and Programme Director for Radio Northsea International (RNI).
He subsequently moved to land-based broadcasting, joining Manx Radio on the Isle of Man and contributing to BBC Radio Merseyside.
In the 1980s, Allen permanently relocated to Ireland, where he lent his famous voice to a multitude of popular Irish pirate and independent land stations, including Radio Carousel in Navan and Radio West.
During his peak, he was widely regarded by listeners as one of Britain’s top offshore DJs. His dedicated fan club was historically run by a close companion known as ‘Nutty Norah’.
Don Allen died in Ireland in May 1995 after suffering a fatal heart attack at the age of 56.
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Known for his rapid-fire delivery and deep love of country music, he famously presented “The Big Wide Wonderful World of Daffy Don Allen” and hosted the “Country & Western Jamboree”, proudly bringing what he called “The Biggest Country Show This Side of Nashville” to a massive UK audience.
In the 1970s, he returned to the high seas aboard the ship Mebo II, serving as Senior DJ and Programme Director for Radio Northsea International (RNI).
