Meet Dez

The passionate voice behind The Collection. Born from a lifelong obsession with music—especially the roaring 70s rock that soundtracked his youth—Dez brings decades of live concert memories and deep musical knowledge to the airwaves. For Dez, every track tells a story, and every gig leaves a mark.

The Collection with Dez Smith

Tune in for two hours of unadulterated musical obsession. Hour one challenges your inner music geek with a mystery theme hidden in the playlist—can you guess it before the reveal? Hour two dives straight into Dez's personal vault, packed with handpicked tracks, backstage facts, and incredible artist stories.

Expect fan-favorite regular features:

Living Legends: Celebrating three iconic tracks from all-time greats.

T-Shirt Track: Playing music from bands Dez spots people wearing on the street.

Radio Rarity: Unearthing forgotten gems rarely heard on the airwaves.

Stage & Screen: Showcasing standout tracks from famous TV shows and movies.

How Did You End Up on the Radio?

Dez’s journey behind the mic started decades ago. In his teens and 20s, he was the go-to party DJ, carefully curating vinyl albums and singles to keep the turntable spinning and the crowd dancing—a role that even led him to meet his wife.

Fast-forward 50 years, and that lifelong passion found a new home. When Durham On Air was launched, Dez jumped at the chance to join the station. Today, he loves nothing more than sharing his deep music archive and stories with fellow listeners across Durham—the community he proudly lives in and loves.

What Are Your Top 3 Songs of All Time?

Free - Alright Now

Queen - Liar

Boston - More than a feeling

That's not to say so many more aren't pushing for a top 3 place.

What Does Your Perfect Weekend Look Like?

Saturday begins with a sunny breakfast in the back garden alongside his wife, followed by a fun family outing with their young grandchildren. In the afternoon, he's off to support one of his two local football teams—either South Shields, his hometown club, or Sunderland AFC, with whom he shares a lifelong "up and down" relationship!

The evening is always dedicated to live music, whether that’s catching a legendary headliner, discovering an exciting new artist, or enjoying a local band playing in a pub.

Sunday is reserved for relaxation: a long, refreshing walk along the stunning Northumberland Coast with his wife, finished off with a trip to the movies in the evening.

Hear Dez every Friday night at 9pm and Sunday evenings from 8pm.

Catch Up

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