Johnnie Walker, BBC radio DJ, passes away aged 79|Johnnie Walker

The professional BBC DJ Johnnie Walker has actually passed away at the age of 79, it has actually been introduced.

Walker, that organized Radio 2’s Sounds of the 70s and the Radio 2 Rock Show, started his profession as a pirate DJ in the 60s on Radio Caroline, prior to signing up with Radio 1 in 1969. He left the terminal after triggering conflict by defining the Bay City Rollers as “musical garbage” and encountering his employers over a persistence on playing cd tracks.

After a duration broadcasting in California, he went back to the UK in the very early 80s and rejoined Radio 1 in 1987 to provide a Saturday mid-day program, The Stereo Sequence, in addition to working with various other terminals consisting of Radio 5 (currently 5 Live), prior to signing up with Radio 2, at some point handling the Drivetime port.

Walker’s fatality was introduced on air by his good friend and coworker, Radio 2’s Bob Harris, that took control of presenting Sounds of the 70s in November.

Walker’s better half, Tiggy, stated: “I couldn’t be more proud of Johnnie – how he kept broadcasting almost to the end and with what dignity and grace he coped with his debilitating lung disease. He remained his charming, humorous self to the end, what a strong, amazing man. It has been a rollercoaster ride from start to finish.

“And if I may say – what a day to go. He’ll be celebrating New Year’s Eve with a stash of great musicians in heaven. One year on from his last live show. God bless that extraordinary husband of mine, who is now in a place of peace.”

In June 2003, Walker introduced to the country that he was taking some time off to be dealt with for cancer cells, at some point defeating his medical diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the colon. He returned 9 months later on and won the Gold honor at theSonys In 2006 he was granted an MBE in the Queen’s brand-new year honours checklist.

In 2020, Walker started transmitting his programs from his Dorset home as an outcome of being detected with idiopathic lung fibrosis, a swelling of the lungs.

The BBC’s supervisor general, Tim Davie, stated: “We are deeply saddened by the news of Johnnie’s passing and our thoughts are with his family and friends, as well as everyone at Radio 2.

“Johnnie was a pop radio pioneer and a champion of great music, entertaining millions of beloved listeners on the BBC across decades, most recently hosting two shows on Radio 2. No one loved the audience as much as Johnnie and we loved him back.”

In June 2024, Walker and his better half spoke about having actually been notified by physicians that the problem was incurable. On their podcast, Walker and Walker: Johnnie and Tiggy, Tiggy stated her other half had actually been informed by a specialist to “prepare to go at any moment”.

“[Tiggy] very lovingly helps me get into bed and gives me a nice kiss goodnight, and then she has to wonder whether I’m still going to be alive in the morning. Which must be pretty hard for her,” Walker stated.

Walker was birthed in Birmingham and left institution at 15 to educate to end up being a technician, later on taking a task as a cars and truck salesman.