Cancer claims Country Countdown's Kingsley

Bob Kingsley died today, October 17, at his home in Weatherford, Texas, just one week after announcing he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and was temporarily stepping down from his syndicated country countdown program.  He was 80.  Kingsley worked at several stations in southern California before becoming the voice of Drake-Chenault's new "Great American Country" syndicated format in 1973. The following year, he became executive producer of "American Country Countdown." Kingsley succeeded Don Bowman as host in 1978. He exited in 2005 and launched "Bob Kingsley's Country Top 40." Before stepping down from the program, Kingsley struck a deal with the Country Music Association to have a succession of female singers serve as guest hosts through the December 1 broadcast. A celebration of his life will be held November 14 at the Country Music Hall Of Fame theater in Nashville.