Bob Kingsley, the legendary longtime host of the country music radio show, “Bob Kingsley’s Country Top 40,” died Oct. 17 at age 80.
He started hosting the show in 2005 and stepped down last week after announcing he had bladder cancer. He started in radio while in the Air Force and then worked in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. He became the host of “American Country Countdown” in 1978 before becoming host of “Country Top 40.” He was elected to the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2016.
According to the obituary in Rolling Stone magazine, “A celebration of life is scheduled for November 14th at the CMA Theater in the Country Music Hall of Fame, beginning at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Kingsley’s name to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum or the Grand Ole Opry Trust Fund.”
Kingsley was an avid cutting horse enthusiast and he lived and worked in Weatherford on the Bluestem Ranch with his wife and business partner Nan.
From Legacy.com, some tributes:
“Bob Kingsley NOOOOO! I just can’t believe this! You are and will always be such an inspiration to me!!! OMG! My heart just hurts so much right now…” – Country radio DJ Shawn Parr
“I will never forget hearing Bob Kingsley say my name the 1st time I broke Top 40 in #AmericanCountryCountdown with “Life’s A Dance.” That’s when I knew I had made it! As a kid, I couldn’t wait to listen to him every weekend. Thank you for the memories. Rest in Peace.” – Country music artist John Michael Montgomery
“My friend, Bob Kingsley, countrytop40 , passed away. That hurts. He was as passionate about music as anybody I’ve met and shared that with the world! He took care of us and our songs.” – country music artist Jack Ingram
“We lost a country broadcasting legend. Back when I started in country radio – I’d never miss a Sunday. American Country Countdown with Bob Kingsley. He taught me everything I needed to know. Praying for his family and friends.” – country radio DJ Amy Paige
For more on Bob Kinglsey from the FWBP archives:
www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/briefs/countdown-to-country-living—horse-sense-lands-c/article_a887184e-f10f-11e9-a8c1-038d60cb4b47.html