Veteran radio DJ Johnnie Walker, who hosted BBC Radio 2’s Sounds Of The 70s and The Rock Show, has died aged 79.
Known for championing artists like Lou Reed, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles, Walker in October announced he would retire from radio after 58 years – having been previously diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
Weeks later, he presented his final Sounds Of The 70s show on BBC Radio 2 and hosted his last episode of The Rock Show as he hung up his headphones due to ill health.
Tiggy Walker, Johnnie’s wife, said: “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.”
She added: “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.”
The DJ was awarded an MBE in 2006. Pic: PA
Walker’s death was announced on air by his friend and colleague, BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, who took over as presenter of Sounds of the 70s in November.
Helen Thomas, head of BBC Radio 2, called him a “much-loved broadcasting legend” with a “wry sense of humour” and “warm, open style”.
“He loved radio and inspired a generation of presenters, passionately promoting the artists and music he cared about so deeply.”
The BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, said the organisation was “deeply saddened” by the passing of a “pop radio pioneer and a champion of great music”.
“No one loved the audience as much as Johnnie, and we loved him back.”
Born in Birmingham, he left school aged 15 to train to as a mechanic, later becoming a car salesman.
But his passion for music was already bubbling away, and he picked up a Friday night slot as a disco DJ under the name Peter Dee.
He began his radio career in 1966 on an offshore pirate station, Swinging Radio England.
But it was with Radio Caroline that he became a household name, before joining BBC Radio 1 in 1969.
After a stint in San Francisco, where he recorded a weekly show for Radio Luxembourg, he returned to the UK in the 1980s, working on various BBC stations until landing his own weekly show on Radio 2, and then taking over Drivetime.
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