Legendary DJ Johnnie Walker broadcast his last Sounds of the 70s show on Sunday and left listeners in tears as he signed off for a final time due to ill health
Veteran DJ Johnnie Walker left his listeners in tears on Sunday 27 October as he hosted his final Sounds of the 70s show on BBC Radio 2. Johnnie had announced earlier this month he was retiring from radio after a 58 year career due to ill health, having previously been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis , a condition that causes the lungs to become scarred and makes breathing increasingly difficult, according to the NHS.
“So thank you for being with me all these years and take good care of yourself and those you love, and may we walk into the future with our heads held high and happiness in our hearts. God bless you.” Johnnie had opened his final show with George Harrison’s song What Is Life, and ended his broadcast with Judy Collins’ version of Amazing Grace. During the show he said: “It was just great spending Sunday afternoons with you and it’s going to be very strange for me next Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock to think that I won’t be speaking to you. It’ll be somebody else, namely Bob Harris, who’ll be doing Sounds Of The 70s. So I’ll miss you a lot and it’s been great connecting up for all these years.
“By doing so, you propelled the careers of a bunch of unknown layabouts to the top of the charts, and overnight fame and everything that goes with it. It goes without saying, without your support, we never may have got there.”
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