Bob Kingsley Has Died, He Was 80 Years Old

Sad news for country music as a whole, Bob Kingsley has passed away.

According to Country Aircheck, Bob Kingsley died today in Weatherford, TX following a battle with bladder cancer. The 80-year-old started his career in the late 1950s and maintained an active presence on the radio until a few weeks ago. He was the voice of Country Top 40 for decades, which is airs on Q98.5.

Kingsley's radio career began in with the Armed Forces Radio Service station in Keflavik, Iceland in 1959 while serving in the Air Force. His early career stops included Country KGBS/Los Angeles and KLAC/Los Angeles, programming the latter following its flip into Country in 1970. Four years later, Kingsley became the producer of nationally syndicated American Country Countdown started one year earlier by Casey Kasem and Don Bustany. In 1978, Kingsley succeeded the show's original host, Don Bowman, where he remained until 2005. In 2006, Kingsley launched Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40, which he hosted until his passing.

His personality, love, and level of talent earned him many awards throughout his life.

Two-time CMA National Broadcast Personality of the Year

ACM National Broadcast Personality of the Year

16-time Billboard's Network/Syndicated Program of the Year 16 times. The Three-time

CRB/Country Aircheck Awards  National Air Personality of the Year

CRB Presidents Award

Country Radio Hall of Fame in (1998)

National Radio Hall of Fame (2016).

First recipient of the Living Legend Award, later named for him, in 2014.

The country music and radio world lost a good one today. No doubt, there's a new CT40 about to debut in Heaven with legends of country music's past.

A celebration of life will be held at the CMA Theater in the Country Music Hall of Fame  Nov. 14 at 1pm. 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.

Rest easy, Bob Kingsley

JB Love is ½ of  Q98.5's Lil Zim & JB In The Morning, weekday mornings from 5:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.