Nashville Radio: Billy Block Diagnosed With Cancer

Billy Block

Terrible news out of Nashville, as longtime radio host, event emcee, session drummer and tireless advocate for struggling country musicians Billy Block announced that he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic melanoma, according to nashvillscene.com.

Block, 58, went public with the diagnosis in a letter to friends and family written by his wife, Jill Block.

“Many of you already know that we have had some rough news this holiday,” she wrote. “My sweet husband, soulmate, father to my boys and very best friend has been diagnosed with stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma. After only a chest scan, his cancer is in his lymph nodes, spleen and liver. He is starting a clinical trial here in Nashville this month that is promising and gives us hope. ...

"Billy is not in any pain yet and the cancer was discovered when he went to his doctor for bronchitis a couple of weeks ago. If the treatment here is not getting the results we hope for, we have an open door at [University of Texas] MD Anderson to pursue more aggressive therapy.”

Jill Block goes on to write that, due to surgeries from previous bouts with melanoma, her husband is not eligible for disability insurance. The family has thus established the Billy Block Family Fund at Wells Fargo Bank, encouraging well-wishing family members, friends and fans to donate.

Block's friends are many. Keith Urban, Kacey Musgraves, Ashley Monroe, Miranda Lambert, Florida Georgia Line and The Avett Brothers are among the innumerable artists who made pre-fame appearances on The Billy Block Show. Like a junior Grand Ole Opry or mini Midnight Jamboree, the weekly stage and radio show has broadcast live, in myriad incarnations, from Nashville clubs including the Exit/In, 12th & Porter and Mercy Lounge over stations such as 103 WKDF and, most recently, The Big 98 WSIX, for nearly 18 years.

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