Saying Goodbye To Ed Walker
From his days as a pioneering student at American University through his last time hosting WAMU 88.5’s “The Big Broadcast,” Ed Walker’s love of radio resonated every time he took the microphone. He died early on Oct. 26 at age 83, hours after listening to his final show. Explore Ed’s life and legacy and share your remembrances of him below.
Ed’s family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Maryland School for the Blind.
Ed’s Final Show
Listen To The Entire Episode Of “The Big Broadcast” From Oct. 25, 2015
An Inside Look At The Show From WAMU’s “Metro Connection”
Ed Walker Spent 65 Years On The Radio. His Last Program Was Unlike Any Other. (The Washington Post)
5 Stories To Celebrate Ed Walker For His Last Turn On ”The Big Broadcast”
His Life And Legacy
‘We Are The Joy Boys’: Willard Scott Remembers Co-Host, Friend Ed Walker
Remembering Ed Walker: Six Decades of Making Radio in Washington
Ed Walker, Washington Radio Fixture, Signs Off After More Than 60 Years (The Washington Post)
Interviews and Multimedia
From WAMU’s “The Kojo Nnamdi Show”: Ed Discusses Old-Time Radio (2014) and Ed Talks About His Career On Air (2009)
NPR: A Lifelong Radio Man Wins New Fans With “Big Broadcast”
StoryCorps: Host Of “The Big Broadcast,” On His Early Start In Radio
Remembering Ed Walker on Twitter
TheJoyBoys.com, Dedicated To Ed Walker And Willard Scott’s Classic Show
Remembrances
“This is a remarkable end to a career — I listened to his last broadcast on Sunday night. Couldn’t miss it. I had been a listener online for years, appreciating his great input into programming from the Golden Age of Radio. He saw it all so well and shared his perceptions on the great shows with his listeners like no one else on radio today, despite the fact that Ed was blind since birth. Radio was lucky to have had all of these programs, but especially fortunate to have had broadcasters like Ed Walker.”
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“I loved the Big Broadcast so much, and will really miss hearing Ed Walker on Sunday nights. I always looked forward to that opening theme, with Ed’s reminder to forget about the troubles of the past week and not worry about the troubles of the week to come. So saddened by this news :(. Sundays will never be the same.”
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“Listening to Ed last night was really a treasure. I am so sorry to hear that he didn’t make it through today, but so glad that he got to hear his final show with his family. He was like a family member to us, and we will miss him terribly. His knowledge of radio was priceless for those of us who remember listening to the radio as kids.”
