Born in Glasgow in 1951, Ken Bruce attended Hutchesons' Boys' Grammar School, before training as a chartered accountant.
He always felt most comfortable in a radio studio, starting out with the Hospital Broadcasting Service in Glasgow, before becoming a staff announcer for BBC Radio 4 Scotland.
When Radio Scotland was launched in 1978 he joined as presenter of Nightbeat, as well as presenting a Saturday morning show. Subsequent roles on the channel included the mid-morning slot and a daily afternoon entertainment show.
His Radio 2 career began as presenter of the Ballroom programmes in 1980 and standing in for other broadcasters, but a he landed permanent role on Saturday late night show in 1984. Following a stint on The Radio 2 Breakfast Show, replacing Terry Wogan, he took on the job for which he would become famous in 1990 – hosting the mid-morning slot.
Other than a short-lived move to the early morning slot in 1992, he has remained in the slot until this year when he announced he would be leaving the BBC – taking his PopMaster format with him.
Here are 11 quotes from the master of radio.
5. Ken Bruce on...his upbringing in Glasgow
I grew up in Glasgow, where my father was a tobacconist and supplied shoes to local stores, and where I started out in hospital radio. I think of radio as showbiz for shy people." Photo: BBC
6. Ken Bruce on...broadcasting when he's going through tough personal times
“I’ve gone through all that, and had to go on air, but you just kind of rise to it. You come out of whatever it is you’re going through for the half a minute you’re speaking, and then you can go back down into it again when the music is playing." Photo: BBC
7. Ken Bruce on...his famous guests
“Most guests nowadays are great – they’re so media-trained, it makes my job easy. I have had a couple of people not playing the game, though, people who wear sunglasses indoors throughout the interview, or just give one-word answers." Photo: BBC
8. Ken Bruce on...his love of music
"I love good old 60s and 70s soul music. The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, people like that. But I genuinely do love nearly all the stuff we play. I mean, most people listen to music and have a chat for relaxation, and here I am doing this for pay. It doesn’t really get any better than that." Photo: BBC