Johnnie Walker (DJ)
| Johnnie Walker MBE |
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | Peter Waters Dingley |
| Born |
30 March 1945 Birmingham, England |
| Station(s) | BBC Radio 2, BBC Essex |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Kum (1971–?; divorced; two children) Tiggy Jarvis (2002–present) |
| Children | Beth, Sam |
| Website | Johnnie Walker's Sounds of the 70s |
Johnnie Walker MBE (born Peter Waters Dingley 30 March 1945 in Birmingham) is a popular English veteran radio disc jockey and broadcaster.
He is noted for his knowledge and love of music, his championing of new artists, and his attributing more importance to songs he plays rather than the chat in between.
On 27 February 2006, Walker announced his departure from the BBC Radio 2 drive time slot he had occupied for several years. He now presents a Sunday show specialising in music from the 1970s, and occasionally deputises for other presenters when they are on leave.
During his seven years on the drive time slot, Walker conducted many interviews, stories and features—covering less glitzy topics and bringing attention to environmental issues, spiritual experiences, musicians and artists outside of the mainstream, even alien theorists.
He took over the show from John Dunn. Dunn had been popular and had an established listener base before retiring from ill health. Walker retained listeners and increased listening figures during his seven years.
Walker's father sold electroplating equipment for car parts, at W. Canning & Co. Johnnie Walker was educated at the independent Solihull School, where he enjoyed music lessons and playing rugby, but he failed his O-Level examinations. He was then employed in the motor trade, studied for a City and Guilds qualification in motor mechanics at Gloucester Technical College and aspired to be a car salesman, before becoming a DJ in bars and ballrooms.
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.
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