A lifelong music lover and Roch Valley Radio presenter has captured the hearts of millions online after a candid video of him dancing in his record room went viral.
Phil Salter, 68, who presents a Tuesday lunchtime show on Roch Valley Radio and also manages Northern Air Hospital Radio, has become an unexpected social media sensation. A short video posted by his daughter, jazz vocalist and vocal coach Hannah Salter, shows him dancing joyfully to Raye’s R&B hit Where is My Husband, surrounded by his vast personal vinyl collection.
Within 48 hours, the 16-second TikTok had attracted nearly 700,000 likes and over 3.5 million views. The clip, posted on Hannah’s account @hannahrachelsings, caught the attention of major brands including Spotify UK and Krispy Kreme, and prompted thousands of viewers to comment on both Phil’s musical passion and his impressive wall-to-wall record library.
“I’m a bit embarrassed to post my own singing now because everyone just wants my dad back,” Hannah joked.
Phil, who described the reaction as “a bit weird but lovely,” started collecting records more than 60 years ago. “I already had 40 singles before I turned 10,” he said. “I counted them recently – around 11,500 singles and 3,500 albums now. It’s a bit obsessive, but it keeps me going.”
His radio career has spanned nearly five decades, largely in a voluntary capacity. As station manager of Northern Air, he helps broadcast to hospitals across Greater Manchester. “It’s a non-paying hobby now I’m retired, but I love discovering new music,” he said.
Phil broadcasts each week on Tuesday lunchtime between 12pm and 2pm on Roch Valley Radio, offering local radio for Bury alongside coverage across Rochdale, Oldham and Bolton on DAB.
The viral clip, which features Phil lip-syncing, dancing, and miming cymbal crashes in time with the beat, has been praised for its sheer joy and authenticity. One viewer described it as “the definition of enjoying life.”
The video also offered a glimpse into Phil’s unique record room, with towering shelves that some viewers likened to the famous Criterion Collection. Hannah said guests often challenge her dad to find rare tracks. “Nine times out of ten, he has it,” she said.
For Phil’s recent birthday, Hannah arranged a surprise visit to a vinyl pressing plant in London. “It was a dream come true,” Phil said. “They even made an exception and gave us a private tour. It was just fascinating.”
Hannah, who runs Hannah Rachel Vocal Studio, regularly performs across Manchester at venues including Matt & Phreds, Band on the Wall, and The Fitzgerald. She said the moment with her dad came just days after setting a New Year’s resolution to post more music on social media, though she didn’t expect it to be her dad who stole the spotlight.
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