Colorado civil rights activist and pioneering Denver radio broadcaster James “Dr. Daddio” Walker has died, his family confirmed.
The family announced Walker’s peaceful death “with hearts full of love and gratitude,” according to a statement published by the family on Tuesday.
“His life was profound, purposeful, and deeply impactful,” the family stated. “The legendary voice that carried us through sunshine, rain, and long afternoon drives home. He touched generations, shaped lives, and leaves behind a legacy of faith, strength, wisdom, and, of course, ‘Unity in the Community’.”
Walker, who worked for and eventually owned former R&B radio station KDKO, was a pillar of support and a constant cheerleader for Denver’s Black community, family friend Terri Gentry said.
Gentry is a historian at History Colorado and sits on the for Denver’s Black American West Museum and Heritage Center.
In April 1968, Walker met the owner of KDKO, a country radio station at the time, and convinced the then-owner to shift the station’s music to rhythm and blues, according to a . Walker moved up in the ranks at the station and, 20 years later, bought the station with 17 investors.
He moved the station from Englewood to Denver’s Five Points neighborhood in March 1989, according to the Rocky Mountain News article.
“I want to become a role model to our young Black adults on the basis that if there is something you want to do in life, you can do it,” he said to the paper at the time. “For me to own this station was not an easy task. But I knew it could be done. I knew that some way and somehow, I would get a chance to get this station.”
Walker, , is said to be the first owner of an urban radio station west of the Mississippi, according to his hall of fame entry.
Gentry’s father, a former Denver police officer who Gentry said helped launch the Crime Stoppers program, frequently visited Walker and would chat with the broadcaster on air about preventing crime in the community. So, Gentry said, she often found herself spending the day in the studio as a teenager, listening to Walker. He was “the coolest disc jockey on the radio,” she added.
“He was a community builder,” Gentry said. “It was more than just music. It was also everything that our community felt and the value that we had.”
Walker would dedicate swaths of airtime to celebrating Black history, delving into the R&B artists whose music he’d play on the station and uplifting opportunities for people in the community — from job offers to community programs.
“It was just a wonderful experience for us to learn so much,” Gentry said. “He wanted to make sure we knew so much about inventors and people who worked hard in different areas to change the world. … It made us feel like we could go out and accomplish anything.”
Even when Walker was off the air, Gentry and her father would often see the man at community events throughout the Denver area, she said. The broadcaster became such a large part of her life that she considered him an uncle.
She said it felt like he had connections to every possible organization in Denver, from the city government itself to local businesses and activist movements.
“My heart is heavy as I remember the life and legacy of James ‘Dr. Daddio’ Walker,” Arapahoe County Commissioner and former state Sen. . “Through his voice, his faith, and his unwavering commitment to community, he lifted so many of us. He didn’t just broadcast — he connected, encouraged, and inspired.”
Walker had been struggling with health issues in recent months and was unable to attend both her father’s 90th birthday party and a , Gentry said. Still, not one to be left out, Walker called Gentry while she was at the Kwanzaa event and had her put him on speaker phone so he could talk to the entire group.
“He was always looking out for the best experiences of the people around him, and that will stay with me forever,” she said. “It just lifted up the whole room.”
Finding out about Walker’s death was “heartbreaking,” and all she could do was cry, Gentry said.
“Thank you for being a guiding light, warrior and amazing guardian angel for our community,” Gentry said of Walker. “You’ve been a beacon of light for so many of us to help us with our path forward. Just an absolute blessing.”
