R.I.P.: Jordan Walker, Former Chicago Personality

Jordan Walker

Denise Jordan Walker was an on-air personality at numerous Chicago radio stations, including WNUA-FM at the outset of its launch in the late 1980s as a “smooth jazz” station.

“She had an effervescent personality not only on the air, where she just sparkled, but also within the radio station, where she was just such a positive person and she was a delight to have around,” said John Gehron, who was WNUA’s general manager from 1989 until 1994. “I think the people at the station recognized that and certainly the listeners gravitated to her because of the way she sounded on the air and the way she connected with them.”

Jordan Walker later became a south suburban-based publicist who represented a variety of clients, including the late actor Bernie Mac.

Jordan Walker, 61, died of pulmonary hypertension triggered by an autoimmune disease Oct. 6 in a hospice center, said her daughter, Jenna Walker, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Jordan Walker worked early in her career in various on- and off-air capacities at WGCI-FM, WVON, WLNR, WJPC and the Shadow Traffic Network. In 1988, she was hired as an on-air personality during middays at WNUA, playing smooth jazz records. The station had just changed its format to smooth jazz the year before.