Johnny Walker Obituary, Legendary Austin Rock & Roll Deejay Johnny Walker Has Died

Johnny Walker Obituary, Death – One of Austin rock radio’s most influential individuals and a longtime KLBJ deejay, Johnny Walker passed away on Monday at the age of 68. Sissy Walker revealed to the Chronicle that her husband recently experienced a string of strokes that caused his health to slowly deteriorate. Darek Walker was raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, where he was born. Only Tyler remains. Walker’s memorial performance is being prepared by family and friends in the music business. Sissy Walker likened her brother as a hippie searching for the upcoming concert van. After working in radio in Spokane, Lubbock, Albuquerque, Reno, and Albuquerque, Walker hosted The Breakfast Flakes on Z102 in Austin in 1987. In 1991, Walker relocated to KLBJ, the city’s main rock station.

On 9/11/02, Johnny Walker (Image credit: John Anderson) His popularity peaked on KLBJ, where he supported local performers such as Soulhat, Joe Rockhead, and others. At 5 p.m. to wrap up listeners’ workweeks, Walker’s Friday radio shows included Soulhat’s nine-minute “extended bone” version of “Bonecrusher.” Walker’s KLBJ coworker Dale Dudley says: “like when the national anthem is played in small towns at midday. At that time, playing that song became customary. He regularly urged, “Now that you are off work, go out and party. Walker’s on-air persona was lauded by Dudley and other people. Dudley thinks his Texas accent was beneficial in a number of ways. He wasn’t a fan, but he turned rock & roll into country music. He developed become a skilled interviewer and listener.

Following the 2003 sale of KLBJ to Emmis by the Johnson family, Walker’s standing there suffered. Walker lost his full-time status in 2006 and was fired in 2007. The Chronicle’s Kevin Brass wrote in an article titled “The Last Rock & Roll Deejay: KLBJ Cans Johnny Walker”: It put an end to many periods. Walker belongs to a rapidly dwindling type of hard-rock DJs who are inseparable from their music. He was influenced by the Allman Brothers and Led Zeppelin. They established late-night performances, hangovers, and excessive cannabis use as acceptable on television by being approachable and friendly. Lord. Walker quit radio to focus on voiceover, acting, and sales. The strokes he experienced also required recovery.

Sissy recalls that he cherished music “He began in Albuquerque and then relocated to KLBJ. During KLBJ events, Lady Bird Johnson frequently asked for his escort. He liked that family before the station was sold, despite the rocker’s strange relationship with them. “He was happy to contribute to the programming of the station and the growth of live music in Austin. He cherished participating in the station’s musical scene.” Walker, who also had a recording studio, met Lowe while serving as a host on KLLL-FM. DJ Lowe works for ACLR. In the 1990s, they reconnected at Austin’s KLBJ. According to Lowe, Walker’s trips on the KLBJ bus to San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas were “crazy celebrations on wheels.”

He is described by Lowe as “rock and roll” and “an honest man without pretense.” He made acquaintances with numerous regional bands as a result of his big fan following. Rockers could relate to it since he’d been there. He was honest and talked about partying and being hungover, unlike many deejays who put on airs. An ex-ACL Radio DJ named Andy Langer recalls Walker’s practice of releasing Monday’s flight times after SXSW to celebrate Austin’s reclaiming of foreign competition in the music and IT industries. In the era of the Downtown Sixth Street rock clubs, Walker was one of the most ardent supporters of local musicians.

According to Langer, since morning radio is not required of an afternoon DJ, they can stay out till two in the morning. He had not been used to working seven nights a week. You might then stroll between the downtown clubs. As he approached the door, Johnny waved. He backed the Ugly Americans, Little Sister, Joe Rockhead, Soulhat, and the band. The following day, he broadcast the artists from in front of the audience so that everyone in the city could hear them. Walker transferred from Z102 (KPEZ FM) to KLBJ, and prior program director Jeff Carroll’s duties were scaled back by the new ownership group in 2004 before being terminated in 2007. Carroll claims that while Walker battled commercial radio’s constrictive playlists, his support of local music helped him connect with listeners.

He had a lifelong passion for music, was acquainted with the performers at gatherings, and wished KLBJ would play more complex songs. I recall him saying that we ought to do that in meetings “Carol can recall. Although he had a bear’s size, he actually had a big heart. They mistook him for a KLBJ rocker when he was much more than that.

Johnny Walker Obituary, Death – One of Austin rock radio’s most influential individuals and a longtime KLBJ deejay, Johnny Walker passed away on Monday at the age of 68. Sissy Walker revealed to the Chronicle that her husband recently experienced a string of strokes that caused his health to slowly deteriorate. Darek Walker was raised…