While much of the later Dire Straits material wasn't quite my cup of tea, those first few times I heard Sultans of Swing are indelibly etched on my consciousness, and while my interest in Parker's work tapered after he parted company with The Rumour, I remain a huge fan of Elvis Costello to this day.
But if there's one thing that apparently set him apart from most of his mainstream radio presenter colleagues it was the fact that Gillett only played music that he actually liked, and in that regard was one of the prototypes for the people who present their own shows on community radio, playing (largely) selections from their personal collections.
As such, I can claim him as, more or less, the spiritual godfather of Fools Gold and High Class Music/Just Another Sunday, the two weekly shows I presented on the local community radio station.
Like most community radio presenters I went seeking interesting new material to play over the airwaves, but not many of us searched as far and wide as Gillett, whose discoveries included Youssou N'Dour, Salif Keita and Portuguese fado singer Mariza.
When it comes to the I play what I like and I like what I play mindset, nothing sums it up better than Gillett's rejection of the offer of the presenter's chair for the long-running BBC TV music show The Old Grey Whistle Test.
Now why on earth, you may be wondering, would someone knock back a chance like that?
Simple.
Given that the position would involve interviewing the likes of Yes and Emerson Lake & Palmer, Charlie Gillett felt that he wouldn't have anything to discuss with them.
Says it all, doesn't it?