Johnnie Walker, the legendary radio DJ, has died at the age of 79. The news comes after he presented his final Sounds Of The 70s show on BBC Radio 2 and hosted his last episode of The Rock Show, retiring due to ill health.
In early October, Walker announced his retirement from radio after a remarkable 58-year career, having been previously diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Born in Birmingham, Walker left school at 15 to train as a mechanic before finding his passion for music and starting his radio career in 1966 on Swinging Radio England.
He later became a household name on Radio Caroline, hosting a popular night-time show. His illustrious career included a stint at BBC Radio 1, a move to San Francisco where he recorded a weekly show for Radio Luxembourg, and finally returning to the UK to present Radio 1’s Saturday Stereo Sequence.
The DJ was awarded an MBE in 2006
(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
After working across various BBC stations, he left Radio 1 for good in 1995 and was offered his own weekly show on Radio 2 three years later, before taking over Drivetime. Walker was known for prioritising the records he played over chat between tracks, and is credited with pioneering artists such as Lou Reed, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles.
Back in October 2003, Walker had to undergo chemotherapy and an emergency operation for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He shared his diagnosis live on air with his listeners and later revealed that he “died” on the operating table three times during surgery to repair his burst intestine.
The condition IPF is one “in which the lungs become scarred and breathing becomes increasingly difficult”, according to the NHS. The NHS website states it’s unclear what causes the condition and while treatments can slow down its progression, there is “currently no treatment that can stop or reverse the scarring of the lungs”.
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