Johnny Roadhouse: The Sax Man Behind Manchester’s Music Shop
In this interview, I’m joined by Helen Roadhouse, daughter of the late Johnny Roadhouse — a legendary Manchester character best known for the long-running music shop on Oxford Road, and for being a working musician long before most people knew his name.
Helen paints a vivid picture of a man who lived and breathed music.
Johnny was a self-taught saxophonist, with alto sax as his main instrument, but could play almost any woodwind instrument — “anything he could blow,” as Helen puts it. Born in 1921 and originally from Sheffield, Johnny moved to Manchester as a boy and went on to build a lifetime of playing, hustling, and making connections across the city.
We talk about Johnny’s early years playing dance band and swing music, and how his career moved through the 1930s and 40s into a later world of radio, recording, and live performance. Helen shares how he worked in Trafford Park during the war years, and how music remained a constant throughout his life — always gigging, always working, never missing a performance.
Johnny was known as a true professional. Helen describes him as a workaholic who somehow still managed to be the “fun dad” at home.
One of the most fascinating parts of Johnny’s story is his work with the BBC. Helen explains how he helped form a radio band that became the Northern Dance Orchestra, rehearsing and recording at the BBC Playhouse in Hulme (now the NIAMOS / NIA Centre). She also talks about Manchester’s studio world at the time, the musicians Johnny worked with, and the sheer range of people who passed through those rooms over the decades.
Of course, we also dive into the music shop — how it evolved, how it survived, and why it became a Manchester institution. Helen tells the story of Johnny losing everything during a difficult period in the 1960s, then rebuilding from scratch with pure grit and entrepreneurial energy. If you remember the “I BUY” signs, the wild house clearances, and the treasure-hunt feel of the place, you’ll love this part.
There’s even a story involving a goose — because yes, Johnny really would buy anything.
We also talk about the shop’s place in Manchester culture — from bands passing through on the way to local venues, to the Oasis “Masterplan” reference, and the everyday stories that only someone like Johnny could generate.
Helen’s memories bring him to life: the saxophone at all hours, turning up to play Happy Birthday whether you asked or not, the larger-than-life vehicles he loved, and the way he seemed to know everyone.
This is the backstory many people don’t know — not just the shop, but the musician and character behind it.
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