KYGO Remembers Bob Kingsley
By JJ Pellini on October 18, 2019
Bob Kingsley, a broadcast legend and host of the Country Top 40, passed away October 17th at the age of 80. Country music fans, who recognize Kingsley as the voice of country music, tuned in to hear him countdown the biggest songs in Country music every weekend since 1978. Here in Denver, Kingsley and his countdowns have been a part of KYGO for almost all of the near 40 years that the station has been on the air.
A couple of weeks ago, Bob stepped away from the mic to battle bladder cancer only to never return to the air. His career started as an announcer on the Armed Forces Radio network, while in the Air Force. He later programmed radio stations in Los Angeles before taking over the host position of American Country Countdown in 1978. While hosted by Kingsley, the show was 16 consecutive Billboard Radio Awards for Country Program of the Year.
Kingsley’s other awards included ACM (Academy of Country Music) Major Market On-Air Personality of the Year in 1966 and 1967, CMA (Country Music Association) National Broadcast Personality of the Year in 2001 and 2003, the 2012 President’s Award from the Country Radio Broadcasters, as well as, the Wounded Warrior Project’s Tony Snow award for the impact he made in the lives of injured service men and women.
Kinglsey’s life will be celebrated in Nashville on Thursday, November 14th at 1p (CT) at the CMA Theater at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
