Brummie radio DJ Johnnie Walker has died at the age of 79, it has been announced. Walker’s death was announced on air by his friend and colleague, BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, who took over presenting Sounds of the 70s in November.
Radio veteran Walker was born in Birmingham and left school at the age of 15 to train to become a mechanic, later taking a job as a car salesman. He found an outlet for his passion for music with a Friday night slot as a disco DJ under the name Peter Dee.
He later earned a reputation as a DJ who accorded more importance to the records than the chat between tracks, with names he pioneered including Lou Reed, Fleetwood Mac and The Eagles. After his death on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, his wife Tiggy said “what a day to go” as she paid an emotive tribute to her husband.
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She praised his “dignity and grace” as he carried broadcasting on almost until the end. She 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. 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.” At the end of October, he presented his final Sounds Of The 70s show on BBC Radio 2 and hosted his last episode of The Rock Show as he retired due to ill health.
Walker had announced in early October that he was retiring from radio after 58 years, having been previously diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The BBC’s director general, Tim Davie, said: “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.”
Walker began his radio career in 1966 on Swinging Radio England, an offshore pirate station. He later moved to Radio Caroline, where he became a household name hosting the hugely popular night-time show.
Walker went on to join BBC Radio 1 in 1969, continuing until 1976, with him later moving to San Francisco, where he recorded a weekly show broadcast on Radio Luxembourg.
He returned to the UK in the 80s and presented Radio 1’s Saturday Stereo Sequence. After working on various BBC stations, he left Radio 1 for good in 1995 and three years later he was offered his own weekly show on Radio 2, before taking over Drivetime.
In October 2003, Walker underwent chemotherapy and an emergency operation for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
He told his listeners live on air of the diagnosis and later revealed that he “died” on the operating table three times during surgery to repair his burst intestine.