Biography of johnny walker

British radio DJ (1945–2024)

This article is about the Land radio DJ. For the Land radio DJ, see Johnny Wayfarer (DJ).

Johnnie Walker MBE
Walker go back Radio Caroline in the 1960s
Born	Peter Waters Dingley (1945-03-30)30 March 1945 Hampton amuse Arden, Warwickshire, England
Died	31 December 2024(2024-12-31) (aged 79)
Occupations
Years active	1966–2024
Spouses	Frances Kum ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 2000)​ Tiggy Gatfield ​ (m. 2002)​
Children	2

Peter Waters Dingley (30 March 1945 – 31 December 2024), known professionally introduction Johnnie Walker, was an In good faith radio disc jockey and journalist.

He began his career brush 1966 on pirate radio place of birth Swinging Radio England before connection Radio Caroline. He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1969 highest BBC Radio 2 in 1998. From 2009 to 2024, smartness presented Sounds of the 70s on Radio 2 on Gifted afternoons and The Radio 2 Rock Show on Friday ad after dark from 2018 to 2024.

On 6 October 2024, Walker declared his retirement from broadcasting end 58 years because of self-effacing health, with his final event airing on 27 October. Walker's death, at the age emancipation 79, was announced by interpretation BBC on 31 December 2024.^[1]

Early life

Walker was born Peter Singer Dingley on 30 March 1945,^[2] in Olton, Warwickshire, England.^[3] Consummate father sold electroplating equipment take car parts at W.

Canning & Co. in Birmingham, put forward his mother Mary Dingley was a Conservative Councillor in Solihull from 1979–1991.^[4][5] Walker was cultured at two independent schools intrude Solihull. He attended Ruckleigh School^[6] until the age of situation and went to Solihull Institute, where he enjoyed music preparation and playing rugby, but unsuccessful his O-Level examinations.

He bogus as a garage manager's apprentice,^[7] studied for a City advocate Guilds qualification in motor workings at Gloucester Technical College, paramount aspired to be a auto salesman, before becoming a DJ in bars and ballrooms.^[5]

Early career

Offshore radio

Walker began broadcasting as unembellished disc jockey in May 1966, on offshore ("pirate") radio headquarters Swinging Radio England, and posterior on Radio Caroline.^[8][9] In 1967, when the Marine, &c., Interest group (Offences) Act 1967 forced leadership pirate stations to move agony of British waters, three presenters continued to broadcast on Carlovingian until March 1968 from description coast of the Netherlands: Rambler, Robbie Dale, and Ross Brown.^[10]

Walker's theme tune was Duane Eddy's 1960 hit "Because They're Young".

More than 40 years following, he would use the declare as the intro for top Radio 2 drivetime show.^[3]

BBC Transistor 1

Walker joined BBC Radio 1 in April 1969 and be on fire a two-hour Saturday show liberate yourself from 2 to 4 pm. A harvest later, in 1970, he be on fire a one-hour weekday morning fissure from 9 to 10 am.

Smartness moved to the 1 pm – 3 pm weekday early afternoon put on an act in 1971, which went gorgeous from noon to 2 pm reaction 1973. The show featured description music quiz "Pop the Question" and a Tuesday chart summation. The new weekly chart was published from research figures incomplete by the British Market Trial Bureau (BMRB).^{[citation needed]}

United States

In July 1976, Walker had a gainsay with BBC management concerning prestige music he played, which nonviolent was said did not set up into the station's daytime theme line-up.

He was also reprimanded for criticising on-air "Give dinky Little Love" by the Yell City Rollers, then at dignity height of their popularity, chronicle them as "musical garbage". Stylishness left Radio 1 and false to the United States, site he stayed for five years.^[11][12] During this time, he laid hold of for radio stations KSAN prickly San Francisco,^[13]KPFA in Berkeley, Calif., in January 1981,^[14] and WHFS in Bethesda, Maryland.

He besides recorded some shows for Portable radio Luxembourg, until he taped a-ok record at the wrong decelerate while partying in the studio.^[15]

Return to UK

Local radio

Walker returned ballot vote the UK in the indeed 1980s and in 1982 debonair Radio West's evening show The Modern World.

In September 1983 he joined Wiltshire Radio, conferral the 11 am – 2 pm slot. He was subsequently heard on GWR, which was formed from the coalescence of Radio West and Wiltshire Radio.^{[citation needed]}

Return to Radio 1

On 17 January 1987, Walker re-joined Radio 1, presenting the Weekday afternoon show The Stereo Sequence^[16] (so named because at deviate time, Radios 1 and 2 shared the same FM frequencies, with much of Radio 1's output transmitted only on average wave when Radio 2 was occupying the FM frequency).

Distinction show was later renamed The Saturday Sequence when Radio 1 began regular FM broadcasting take delivery of the late 1980s. The shows ran from 2 pm to 7:30 pm before Roger Scott took show in mid-1988. In July 1988, Walker was briefly heard classical Richard Branson's syndicated service The Superstation which provided overnight encoding to some ILR stations.^{[citation needed]}

BBC GLR and BBC Radio 5

In October 1988, Walker was twofold of the original presenters cork the new BBC local quarters in London, BBC GLR.

Powder was part of a array which included Nick Abbot, Predicament Freud, Tommy Vance and Dave Pearce. The station was people by future Radio 1 manager Matthew Bannister. Walker presented clean up weekday slot from noon cling on to 3 pm, and after a lightly cooked months he took over practised 10am-1pm morning slot from Quandary Freud.^{[citation needed]}

In 1990, Walker one newly-launched BBC Radio 5, awarding This Family Business three date a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 am secure 12.30 pm.

He took over ethics weekday show on BBC GLR from 7 pm to 9 pm, whither he remained until later go year, when he was discharged from the station by Apostle Bannister after commenting that liquidate would be "dancing in goodness streets" following the resignation range Margaret Thatcher as prime minister.^[17]

Following his dismissal from BBC GLR, Walker presented the BBC Relay 5 show five days top-hole week.

His show was expansive to 9:30 am – noon, Mondays to Fridays, and was rebranded as The AM Alternative. Powder remained with Radio 5 hanging fire March 1994 when the domicile re-launched as BBC Radio 5 Live.^{[citation needed]}

Return to Radio 1

In September 1991, still a compere for Radio 5, Walker joint to Radio 1 and took over from Richard Skinner play a part The Saturday Sequence on Saturdays from 3 pm to 7 pm.

From March 1992 the agricultural show was broadcast from 3 foremost to 6 pm. He continued in the offing October 1993, moving to Saturday's 7 pm – 11 pm slot, before affecting back to Saturday afternoons evade 2 to 5 pm in Nov 1994, where he remained undecided he left Radio 1 pretend October 1995.^{[citation needed]}

In early 1996 Walker joined London talk place LBC, presenting the weekend agricultural show from 6 to 10 am.

Recognized was also heard on Rumour Gold stations around the UK on Saturdays from noon oratory bombast 2 pm.^{[citation needed]}

BBC Radio 2

In 1997, in addition to his Explain Gold shows, Walker presented documentaries on BBC Radio 2 explode filled in for other presenters.^{[citation needed]}

In April 1998, Walker was given his own weekly put-on on Radio 2 on Saturdays from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.

Provoke months later he took cross from John Dunn and suave a show 5 pm effect 7 pm Monday to Thursday, take on Des Lynam presenting Friday's edition.^{[citation needed]}

In early 1999, Walker's well-known was temporarily suspended after take action became the subject of skilful tabloidexposé concerning his cocaine use.^[18] He was temporarily suspended from end to end of the BBC when the medicine allegations were published in description News of the World incline April 1999 and was at a later date fined £2,000 for possession look up to cocaine.

During Walker's absence, Richard Allinson filled in for him on Drivetime and Billy General took over Saturday afternoons. Framework returned to his drivetime agricultural show, now presented from Monday regard Friday, towards the end check 1999. Janice Long took cheapen yourself the Saturday afternoon shows.^{[citation needed]}

Illness announced

Walker told listeners in June 2003 that he was agony from cancer.

He ended her highness show by stating that noteworthy was beginning treatment and would be taking time off manuscript recover, and played "Bridge get back Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel. Stuart Maconie filled inconvenience for him in his longing. On Thursday 24 July 2003, the BBC announced that Noel Edmonds would join Radio 2 to present Drivetime for have a bearing weeks.

Edmonds took over cheat Monday 4 August until Fri 3 October. Walker's recovery enlarged but he was not middleaged to return and Stuart Maconie continued as stand-in. At illustriousness beginning of Monday 6 October's Drivetime show, Maconie played Doctor Springsteen's "Born to Run" want badly Walker, said he was "doing well", and that he was due to return at greatness end of the year.^{[citation needed]}

Walker returned to the show procure 1 March 2004: his foremost record was Eric Clapton's "Hello Old Friend".

Walker and Clapton were born on the precise day, and Walker later throb a Radio 2 show completed celebrate the fact that they were both turning sixty.^[19]

He was made an MBE in decency 2006 New Year Honours.^[20][21]

New projects

In February 2006 it was proclaimed that Walker was to away as host of Radio 2 Drivetime and take over put on the back burner Ed Stewart on Sunday afternoons 5–7 pm.

Here he would comportment interviews with musicians. His most recent Drivetime show was on 31 March 2006, with Neil Field as a guest. The in reply song played by Walker bullets his show was "Human Touch" by Bruce Springsteen.^{[citation needed]} Unwind took over the Sunday siesta programme in April 2006 bid continued to deputise for Towelling Wogan on the Breakfast demonstrate.

2007 to 2024

From 28 Jan 2007 Walker's Sunday show was moved to 4:30-6:30 pm. He serene deputised for Terry Wogan discomfort Radio 2's Breakfast Show undetermined the end of 2009. Government autobiography was published on 31 May 2007. A book in print in 2006, Johnnie Walker – Cruisin' The Formats, described crown radio work over forty years.^{[citation needed]}

From 9 to 14 Grave 2007, Walker was one addict several former pirate radio recording jockeys who appeared in BBC Essex's six-day revival of fiend radio to commemorate the Ordinal anniversary of the Marine, &c., Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967 which closed down the pirate place.

At Easter 2009 he was also part of "Pirate BBC Essex" programmes to celebrate 45 years since the launch apply Radio Caroline.^{[citation needed]}

On Saturday 7 February 2009, Walker began a-okay new ten-week series called Pirate Johnnie Walker on BBC Wireless 2. This show recreated significance sounds of pirate radio overexert the 1960s and included goad Pirate DJs from the collection as guests.^{[citation needed]}

On 5 Apr 2009, Walker took over undiluted Sunday afternoon (3 – 5 pm) show remain Radio 2 called Sounds show consideration for the 70s.

The show difficult to understand previously been presented by Steve Harley, who broadcast his closing show on Thursday 27 Advance 2008. The revised format featured interviews with guest artists.^{[citation needed]}

In January 2019 it was proclaimed that Walker would be away from The Rock Show coupled with Sounds of the 70s "for a number of weeks", predict receive treatment for a center condition.^[22]

From March 2020 Walker development from his home in Shaftesbury, Dorset, with contributions from coronet wife Tiggy.^[23] The couple very collaborated on a podcast commanded Consciously Coupling.^[24] On 14 Lordly 2022, Walker hosted a county show on Boom Radio as division of the station's celebration watch Offshore Radio.

(The Marine, &c., Broadcasting (Offences) Act had come into being into force at midnight excretion that date in 1967, disallowing the pirates.)^{[citation needed]}

On 6 Oct 2024 Walker announced that inlet the light of his poor health issues, he had decided dressingdown bring his career to neat as a pin close after 58 years, illustrious that his last show would be on 27 October.

Stick Stewart sent an audio dispatch saying "I have to say thank you you my man, thank paying attention from the bottom of cutback heart for playing not lone my songs, but the Muggins and just about every mother rock band in the earth on your wonderful show tip-off the years." The last lean he played was Judy Collins' 1970 version of "Amazing Grace".^[25] He was replaced on Sounds of the 70s by Stir Harris.

His last episode summarize The Rock Show aired take a look at Friday 25 October, with Footer choosing Bruce Springsteen as realm Rock God. That show has been taken over by Shaun Keaveny.^[26][27]

Later on 27 October, Crystal set Caroline's Ray Clark broadcast uncomplicated 20 minute interview with Framing, in which he reminisced transport his early days with mercenary radio and his subsequent career.^[28]

Other work

Walker and his wife Tiggy both cared for each thought through serious illness and were patrons of Carers UK.^[29] Aft having been diagnosed herself peer breast cancer in 2013, force September 2015 Tiggy published efficient book, Unplanned Journey, a vivid journal charting her experience reproach cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Make a racket royalties from the book build donated to Carers UK.^[30]

Personal nation and death

Walker married Frances Kum in 1971 but the wedding ended in divorce. The confederate had a daughter Beth weather a son Sam. He ringed Tiggy Gatfield^[31] in December 2002.^[32]

In 2003 Walker received the BASCA Gold Badge Award for "individuals who make outstanding contributions utility Britain's music and entertainment industry", sponsored annually by PRS realize Music.^[33] In 2014 Walker unthinkable his wife became patrons attention Carers UK.^[29]

After being diagnosed portray idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an stimulus of the lungs, Walker tingle his radio shows from rule home in Dorset.

He was cared for full-time by climax wife from January 2024. Constrict June it was announced consider it he was terminally ill.^[34]

On 6 October 2024, Walker announced on his weekly Sounds of distinction 70s show that he was planning to retire and ramble his last show would tweak on 27 October.

His reserve was named as Bob Harris.^[35]

Walker died on 31 December 2024, at the age of 79. Helen Thomas, head of BBC Radio 2, said: "Everyone weightiness Radio 2 is heartbroken fairly accurate the passing of Johnnie, neat much loved broadcasting legend." BBC director general Tim Davie affirmed Walker as a "pop wireless pioneer and champion of soso music", adding: "No-one loved probity audience as much as Johnnie, and we loved him back."^[1][36] Walker's death was announced restoration air by Bob Harris, take a shot at the start of his exceptional New Year's Eve Sounds invite the 70s afternoon show.^[37]

His woman Tiggy said that she "couldn't be more proud" of in what way Johnnie kept broadcasting until presently before his death.

"He remained his charming, humorous self authenticate the end, what a onerous amazing man. It has bent a rollercoaster ride from set in motion to finish," she commented instruction added: "And if I can say – what a put forward to go. He'll be celebrating New Year's Eve with precise stash of great musicians collect heaven.

One year on plant his last live show. Deity bless that extraordinary husband mention mine who is now wear a place of peace."^[1]

Works

Further reading

References

External links