About Karen Gabay

Karen Gabay is a broadcaster, TV producer, podcast host & producer, award winning film maker, exhibition curator and radio host.

Reporting and producing features on music, the arts, film, social affairs and sport for local & network radio, Karen has a broad portfolio. Radio credits include reporting & presenting for BBC Radio Manchester, BBC 5 Live, BBC England, BBC UK Black. & Kiss FM. Karen interviews emerging artists, actors, writers and performers, as well as influential leaders in local, national and international social affairs, high profile entertainers, film directors & authors.

Karen’s recent radio conversations include international film star Kerry Washington, Jazz musician & composer Branford Marsalis. theatre director Ryan Calais Cameron.

Corey Hawkins of The Color Purple movie, musicians SaySheShe, House Gospel Choir, Bettye Lavette, Melba Moore, PP Arnold, Ashanti, Mica Millar, Reuben James, Dee Cee Lee,Asa, Adekunle Gold, Emeli Sande, Hip Hop icon Pete Rock.

Her radio work & activism on racism in football led to the introduction of the Rooney Rule in the UK.

Karen champions women in music, and rising stars in music, stage and film. Her passion for music, and Manchester’s music scene, arts & mental health has attracted an eclectic range of musicians and actors as well as social activists who have been interviewed by Karen on TV & radio.

These include A’Lelia Bundles, Kevin Powell, Wunmi Mosaku (Loki), Fala Chen (Marvel) , Bjorn Ulvaeus, Robin Thede, Dorothy Koomson, John Boyega, Lil Nas X and Joy Crookes,.

Karen is especially interested in developing & curating projects that celebrate nostalgia, memory, American & Caribbean social affairs & pop culture.

Karen’s producer credits include producing for UK TV channels & Viacom/Reelz in the USA.

She series produced the acclaimed 3 part documentary series First Ladies of Hip-Hop

Additional career highlights include BBC2’s When Bob Marley Came to Britain, & the UNESCO award winning documentary Reggae Britannia (BBC).

ITV’s The Nation's Favourite Motown Songs and Nation’s Favourite Beatles Songs, 7 Up & Me (Michael Apted), & ITV’s Christmas Carols .

Not only has Karen contributed to some of TV’s most insightful popular culture documentaries of the last decade, she is also an award winning filmmaker and curator.

Credited for her unique work combining archive film with public & community engagement, Karen has created and curated oral histories, video content, events and soundscapes for exhibitions on Disabled Living, Manchester’s Belle Vue, Strawberry Studios and illustrator Emory Douglas of the Black Panther movement.

Karen has led on several projects over the last decade that have captured the cultural heritage of the North West of England’s with film and oral histories, winning awards and commendations for this ground breaking work. Karen is also passionate about enhancing the contributions of women in the music industry. and black musicians in the North of England.

 

Photo: Gladstone Minzie/Soulfunktion

Karen with Sharlene Hector at rehearsals for Young Voices 2019 at the Manchester Arena

Karen with Sharlene Hector at rehearsals for Young Voices 2019 at the Manchester Arena

Karen interviewing US based music academic Prof. Mike Alleyne at the Purple Reign Conference.

Karen interviewing US based music academic Prof. Mike Alleyne at the Purple Reign Conference.

Karen at the Z Arts Centre advising for Marcus Hercules HLF Project.

Karen at the Z Arts Centre advising for Marcus Hercules HLF Project.

Karen with soundsystem DJ Daddy Geddes at The Coach House, Southampton. This is the location where The Wailers performed to a small and packed club in 1973.

Karen with soundsystem DJ Daddy Geddes at The Coach House, Southampton. This is the location where The Wailers performed to a small and packed club in 1973.

Marcia Griffiths of the I Threes of Bob Marley & The Wailers in Brixton, March 2020.

Marcia Griffiths of the I Threes of Bob Marley & The Wailers in Brixton, March 2020.

Karen with the legendary reggae DJ & Producer Lloydie Coxsone, Battersea, 2020.

Karen with the legendary reggae DJ & Producer Lloydie Coxsone, Battersea, 2020.

Purple Reign Conference Panel at University of Salford.

Purple Reign Conference Panel at University of Salford.

Karen with The Hitmaker Nile Rodgers of Chic at Abbey Road Studios, 2019.

Karen with The Hitmaker Nile Rodgers of Chic at Abbey Road Studios, 2019.

Reggae band The Skints at Manchester Museum with Karen Gabay.

Reggae band The Skints at Manchester Museum with Karen Gabay.

Karen with Atherton born and raised singer/songwriter Laura White at Manchester Central Library.

Karen with Atherton born and raised singer/songwriter Laura White at Manchester Central Library.

Karen Gabay on the panel of the first academic conference on Prince:- Purple Reign in Salford.

Karen Gabay on the panel of the first academic conference on Prince:- Purple Reign in Salford.

Karen Gabay at the old BBC Radio Manchester studio on Oxford Road, Manchester.

Karen Gabay at the old BBC Radio Manchester studio on Oxford Road, Manchester.

Karen on location for the reoording of BBC Radio Manchester's 50th anniversary programme with the BBC Philarmonic. Pictured with conductor Robin Wallington, presenter and poet David Scott, and Rowetta of the Happy Mondays and house/soul/rindie scene

Karen on location for the reoording of BBC Radio Manchester's 50th anniversary programme with the BBC Philarmonic. Pictured with conductor Robin Wallington, presenter and poet David Scott, and Rowetta of the Happy Mondays and house/soul/rindie scene.