Legendary BBC DJ Johnnie Walker has passed away at the age of 79. Walker was known for his extensive career across the radio waves, hosting Radio 2’s Sounds of the 70s and the Radio 2 Rock Show. The U.K. native began his career as a pirate DJ in the 1960s, working for Swinging Radio England (SRE), an offshore commercial station that some consider the “world’s most powerful” of its kind.
Walker went on to work a brief stint with Radio Caroline before moving to Radio 1 in 1969. The prominent DJ later found himself broadcasting stateside in California before heading back to England in the 80s. Those who knew Walker have shared heartwarming messages about her husband’s life in the wake of his death.
Walker’s wife, Tiggy, released a statement, praising her late husband. “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,” she said.
She continued, stating that he was spinning records with music’s greatest artists on the other side of eternity. “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,” she said.
Walker’s friend and colleague Bob Harris broke the news of his death live on air. After playing David Bowie’s track Golden Years, Harris told listeners, “I’ve known Johnnie since the 1960s when I first started listening to him on pirate radio and we know what an incredible, wonderful, superb broadcaster he was.” He added, “We also know how passionate he was about his music, went out on a limb many times to defend the music that he loved, and he was passionate about radio, and as the 60s moved into the 70s he and I became increasingly close friends, a friendship that endured right up to the present day.”
“Johnnie and I were exchanging texts through the time after I took over the show, he wished me well at the beginning of the first programme that I did. ‘Sending you lots of love,’ he said, ‘relax and enjoy, the listeners are lovely, and they’ll look after you, all the very best from Johnnie.’” the broadcaster continued. Furthermore, BBC director general, Tim Davie, spoke about their loss, stating, “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.”
He continued, “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.” Others in the music industry reacted to Walker’s death, including Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, who wrote on X, “so long Johnnie Walker, all across the years ..a defender and gatekeeper of great musical taste .. a cool, kind man who kept the bar high for all of us who loved him ….”
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Watch Walker’s final interview with his wife below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.