About Karen Gabay
Karen Gabay is a broadcaster, TV producer, podcast host & producer, award winning film maker, exhibition curator and radio host.
Karen’s specialisms in radio are focused on presenting and producing features particularly within the arts, film, social affairs,travel and sport for local & network radio, Radio credits include reporting & presenting for BBC Radio Manchester, BBC 5 Live, BBC England, BBC UK Black & Kiss FM. Karen interviews emerging musicians, 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 features include conversations with music legend Candi Staton, singer/songwriter Jalen Ngonda, American trio SaySheShe. Infinity Song, the cast of the Lion King, actor Kerry Washington, known for her role as Olivia Pope in Scandal, R&B star Omarion and Afrobeats musician Dele Sosimi.
Her radio work & activism on racism in football led to the introduction of the Rooney Rule in the UK.
Karen champions women in music, emerging talent, Manchester musicians and creatives. She is also passionate about amplifying Manchester and the north’ s hidden histories, black music histories and to giving a voice to the rising stars in music, stage and film. She is passionate about Manchester’s music scene, music education, the arts & mental health.
Karen is especially interested in developing & curating projects that celebrate nostalgia, memory, American & Caribbean social affairs & pop culture.
Karen’s television producer credits include producing for UK TV channels & Viacom/Reelz in the USA & she series produced the acclaimed 3 part BBC documentary series First Ladies of Hip-Hop, Sing Gospel for BBC1 and Garms, Black Culture’s Influence on British Fashion for BET.
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 the 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.
Photo: Gladstone Minzie/Soulfunktion
Karen with Sharlene Hector at rehearsals for Young Voices 2019 at the Manchester Arena
Greater Mancunians
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 with The Hitmaker Nile Rodgers of Chic at Abbey Road Studios, 2019.
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.
Purple Reign Conference Panel at University of Salford.
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 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 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.
