Scott Huskey, Vice-President/Consulting Services at Rusty Walker Programming has just confirmed that the family is once again dealing with tragedy. Rusty Walker died today after suffering a heart attack Saturday morning while riding his bike with friends. Walker is one of the radio industry's top consultants and a friend to so many people. Walker had to deal with tragedy earlier this year when his 18 year old daughter passed away.
Jaye Albright comments on the passing of a friend. "As someone who had actually been consulting for at least a decade longer than Rusty, thanks to an opening at Drake-Chenault in Los Angeles where I learned what Bill Drake, Jim Kefford and Denny Atkins considered the right way to work with radio stations, I had a front row seat to Rusty's start, first as a winning and creative Program Director and then as a consultant. He reinvented the business and took the art of working with country radio to a level no one had ever done before. The proof is in the success and sound of his radio stations, of course, but it's also in the depth of the relationships he forged. His knowledge and spirit were infused in everything he did. I loved him and his family, respected his abilities and as someone who probably competed with him directly in more markets than anyone over a 25 year period, I have to say that there is a big hole in my heart today and in country music radio. He lived his life in so many ways that have made him a role model for hundred and hundreds of people. His legacy, of course, lives on in all of us. He coped with the loss of two of his children in such a loving, courageous way. He not only taught us how to program, to win in the ratings, to build what became the largest country consulting business in the history of our format, but in the end, he taught us all how to live."
"In Heaven today, I am sure that Rusty Walker is regaling the Angels with his endless supply of wonderful tales of radio wars.""I knew Rusty well ... McVay Media competed against Rusty, and we served together on the Country Radio Broadcasters board of directors, as well as were professional friends. He was the type of person that you wanted to compete against because he was fair, very good and raised everyone's game. His family has suffered much tragedy with the loss of a son a few years ago, then his daughter most recently and now Rusty himself."Michael A. McVaySenior Vice-President
Corporate/Programming
Cumulus Media
