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Bill Burkett

K

knoxbob

I just found out earlier today that Bill Burkett is in bad health with cancer. I first met him when he was at U-102 in the early 80's. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.
 
Sad news guys. Radio just lost a great friend tonight (12/8). Bill was certainly mine for about 25 years. He never knew a stranger and truly was one of the good guys in radio. He was also my mentor and boss for a time. Bill we luv ya...you will be greatly missed my friend.

Please pass the word along because the family mentioned that some of his friends may still not have known about his condition. Not surprisingly, Bill didn't want much fuss made over him...true to his character throughout his life.

No word yet on any services or plans locally...but I will pass it along what I find out.
 
Sad Loss, one of the best of East Tennessee Radio. U-102 in those days was an awesome station. Bill was an awesome person, warm and friendly.
 
This is truly saddening. I only knew Bill because he offered me a job at Mix 105. The timing didn't work out but he kept in touch with me occasionally and we even met a couple of times at the station not only to discuss opportunities but just to chat about radio in general. I could tell the man had a heart and soul that's so rare in radio these days. If someone like myself who had such a brief history with Bill can feel this loss, I can only imagine what his family and close friends must be going through.
 
I never met Bill personally, but we corresponded from time to time, primarily about radio. Prayers and condolences to all the family and loved ones.
 
:'( So sad to have heard the news about Bill Burkett passing away last night. I had the chance to work with and for Bill for only one year but wow what a fun filled year it was. He brought me on board in November 2007 right after Thanksgiving four years ago from Crossville, TN. I had been doing a MusicRadio style format during the spring and summer of 2007 and I saw where Bill posted a job opening for a new sign on FM 106.3 in Sevierville to do Oldies and was looking for an upbeat personality to deliver the format on mornings. I answered the add on here by sending him an aircheck of my MusicRadio show. He loved it and right away wanted to meet me and talk. We hit it off that day. Aside from being away from my kids and loved ones I really enjoyed living near the Smokies. I will never forget it and thank Bill for believing in me and giving me the chance to work there. When Bill and Tammy took over mornings in August of 2008 I moved to afternoons on The Mountain but it was voice tracked and I took over for Bill on afternoons on Mix 105.5 live until being let go in November of 2008 due to the economy crash that started everything that we are still trying to rebound from. I was going out and doing remotes, voicing spots for the stations, I pushed for the van being logo'ed up and it did. I was so proud of The Mountain which was Bill's idea to name it that and he and I colaborated on adding the music until eventually he let me take over controll on the music. He realized from all of our bull shooting talks that I knew my Oldies so he let me handle the adds to bulk up the library.

There was no one he didn't know, he had been working radio since 1966 so he had a slew of stories! Told me so many of them. He and Cleveland Wheeler were tight and Jay Thomas he knew them from the Jacksonville, FL days at The Ape in 1971, 1972 time period I believe. We threw around some local names to eachother that we may have mutually known. I noticed RMarino posted on here and we talked about how we knew him, he told me that he had stopped by. Knoxbob on here had been mentioned, as I said he knew everyone whether it be on line or physically meeting.

I have a video of him showing me around in the old U-102 building that Dolly worked at in the early 60's, That building has since been torn down. I will really treasure the video now!

I really hope someone tries to organize a gathering memorial for all of the East TN folks who knew him. I would drive up to Sevierville or Kodak to be a part of that. Please keep me posted if it happens. I'm sure possibly East TN Radio Group would do something. I worked with many of them. Would be nice to pay respects to one of the kindest and nicest people I've ever been blessed to have known. RIP Bill and many prayers to his family.
 
Did not know Bill personally but I did like the way he programmed the MIXX. He even incorporated an 80's lunch every morning which is not done much anymore and I believe he lets Miss Mimi program it herself. Was not aware that he was sick with cancer. Havn't listened to the Mixx in a while. Thoughts are with his family and ETRG and his many fans.
 
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