The Country Music community is mourning the loss of an icon, Bob Kingsley, who passed away this week.

He was one of those amazing people, who attained great fame, but remained a genuinely nice guy. Bob Kingsley hosted the American Country Countdown for decades before developing 'Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40.' I remember when the show came to the station on albums. You know, vinyl? He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2016, and had been inducted into the Country Radio Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1996.

During the years that I made annual trips to a national radio seminar in Nashville, I always made sure that Bob Kingsley's party was on my agenda. His were the best, with lots of surprises. Billy Ray Cyrus showed up at the party where this picture was taken, and pulled a stellar practical joke on me, thanks to my boss.

But it was another party that stands out in my memory. It was a songwriters night, where several of Nashville's best writers would sit around with their acoustic guitars, telling stories and singing songs they had written for others. After about an hour and a half, Bob got up on stage and said that the writers needed a break, but he'd brought in some Nashville 'newcomers' to keep us entertained. The ovation was deafening when Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Phil Vassar walked into the performing circle. He was a class act, like no other.

Billboard announced that one of the most recognizable voices in our format had gone silent on Thursday when Kingsley died of bladder cancer. May you rest in peace, sir. Thanks for keeping us entertained for so many years. We'll never forget you.

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