It is with great sadness that we here at 101.3 WNCO announce the passing of national radio host Bob Knigsley. It was only a week ago that Kingsley announced he was battling bladder cancer and would be setting up a series of fill-in hosts for his weekly Country Top 40 show. The show, once known as The American Country Countdown, aired on WNCO since Kingsley took over the hosting duties in the late 70's.I When I started in 1980 , among my duties was to oversee the playback of the countdown which back then arrived to us on 12-inch vinyl records. As technology advanced so did the delivery method. We received the show on a set of cd's then later it was sent via a satellite feed. What didn't change was Kingsley's passion for Country Music and his knowledge of the songs and artists which he presented to his listeners, myself included, with love. He will be missed. -Matt Appleby - Program Director WNCO-FM Ashland/Mansfield.
The following appeared today at AllAccess.com.
Beloved Country music broadcaster and longtime countdown show host BOB KINGSLEY died today (10/17) at his home in WEATHERFORD, TX at the age of 80. He was being treated for bladder cancer, which he had revealed earlier this month.
KINGSLEY enjoyed a broadcasting career that spanned six decades. He became a member of the COUNTRY RADIO BROADCASTERS HALL OF FAME in 1998 and THE NATIONAL RADIO HALL OF FAME in 2016. He is the namesake and was the first recipient of the BOB KINGSLEY Living Legend Award, presented each year since 2014 at the GRAND OLE OPRY HOUSE and benefitting the OPRY Trust Fund.
While in the AIR FORCE, KINGSLEY get his start in radio working as an announcer for ARMED FORCED RADIO. lHis career included stops at LOS ANGELES stations KFOX, KGBS, KFI, and KLAC, and he served as the voice of DRAKE-CHENAULT's "Great American Country" format.
He took over as host of the syndicated “American Country Countdown” in 1978 after four years as the show’s producer. Under KINGSLEY’s watch, the show was named Network/Syndicated Country Program of the Year in the Billboard Radio Awards for 16 consecutive years. In 2006, he launched “BOB KINGSLEY’s Country Top 40," which is syndicated globally to more than 320 stations by his own KCCS PRODUCTIONS and distributed by WESTWOOD ONE.
Survivors include his wife of 30 years and business partner, NAN KINGSLEY.
A celebration of his life will be held in NASHVILLE on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 14th at 1p (CT) at The CMA Theater at the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in KINGSLEY’s name to the COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM or the GRAND OLE OPRY Trust Fund.