Johnnie Walker (DJ)

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Johnnie Walker (DJ) : biography

30 March 1945 –

From 5 April 2009 Walker started a new Sunday afternoon (3-5pm) show on Radio 2 called "Sounds Of The Seventies". This show is similar to the show previously presented by Steve Harley who broadcast his final show on Thursday 27 March 2008, but parts of the format are different and often features interviews with guest artistes.

Launched podcast Alternative Johnnie Walker on 30th March 2012 which aims to "Open the door to an alternative view of the world featuring inspirational and radical thinkers dedicated to improving life on Planet Earth.". Available at altjohnnie.com or via iTunes.

Early career

Offshore Radio

Walker’s broadcasting began in 1966 on offshore (pirate) radio station Swinging Radio England, before moving to Radio Caroline. When Government action forced the pirate stations to close in 1967, three presenters were still broadcasting: Walker, Robbie Dale and Ross Brown. At midnight on 15 August 1967, addressing an estimated 20 million listeners, they said the station belonged to the audience and that it would continue .

BBC Radio 1

Walker then joined BBC Radio 1 in April 1969, presenting a two-hour Saturday show from 1-3 pm. A year later, in 1970, Walker presented a one-hour weekday morning slot from 9-10, moving to the weekday early afternoon show in 1971, from 1-3 pm, which then went out from 12-2 pm in 1973. The show featured the music quiz ‘Pop the Question’ and the Tuesday chart rundown as the new weekly chart was published on Tuesdays instead of Sundays at this time.

In 1976, station bosses fell out with Walker over the music he played and about how it was seen not to fit the station’s daytime music line-up. He was also told off for criticizing The Bay City Rollers – then at the height of their popularity – on air, describing them as "musical garbage". As a result, he left Radio 1 and moved to the U.S.A. where he stayed for five years. During his time in the states Walker worked for radio stations KSAN in San Francisco, WHFS (historic) in Bethesda, Maryland and also recorded some shows for Radio Luxembourg. He was also involved in other enterprises.

Returned again to Radio 1

In September 1991, as well as presenting for Radio 5, Walker returned to Radio 1, taking over from Richard Skinner on the ‘Saturday Sequence’, every Saturday from 3-7 pm. He went out from 3-6 pm in March 1992.

He remained until October 1993, moving to Saturday 7-11 pm, before moving back to Saturday afternoons in November 1994 from 2-5 pm, where he remained until he left Radio 1 for good in October 1995.

In early 1996, Walker was on London’s Talk Station LBC, presenting the weekend programme 6-10 am. In addition, he was heard on Classic Gold stations around the UK on Saturday from 12-2 pm.

Personal life

Walker admits to a turbulent life. He has two children, Beth and Sam, from his first marriage to Frances Kum in 1971 which ended in divorce. He is now (since 21 December 2002) married to Tiggy Jarvis Walker (born 26 December 1960) who was previously the girlfriend of folk musician Gordon Haskell.

Walker’s hobbies include photography, backgammon and travelling in a camper van. He is also known for his love of Harley Davidson motorcycles.

Return to UK

Local radio

Walker returned to the UK in the early 1980s and in 1982 presented Radio West’s evening show ‘The Modern World’. In September 1983 he joined Wiltshire Radio presenting the 11 am-2 pm slot. He was subsequently heard on GWR,which was formed out of the merger of Radio West and Wiltshire Radio.

Return to Radio 1

In January 1987, Walker re-joined Radio 1 presenting the Saturday afternoon show ‘The Saturday Sequence’, before Roger Scott took over in mid-1988. In July 1988, he was briefly heard on Richard Branson’s syndicated service The Superstation which provided overnight programming to some ILR stations