Bill Mack’s son announced the death on social media on Friday morning. He said his father had health problems.
DALLAS – Updated with reaction from people who knew Bill Mack.
Country radio host Bill Mack died Friday morning of COVID-19 according to Post on Facebook shared by son. Mack was 88 years old.
His son stated that Bill Mack had health problems.
“He was a great father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and my mother’s husband. I am blessed to have not only a great father but also my best friend,” his son said in a tweet.
I am deeply sad to announce that my father passed away this morning due to COVID-19 with underlying diseases. He was a great father, grandfather, great grandfather, and my mother’s husband. I am blessed not only to have a great father but also my best friend. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Bub4Q2C02n
– Billy Mack (@BillyMackRadio) July 31, 2020
Mack, born in Shamrock, Texas, was also known in the country music industry as a singer and songwriter.
He wrote the song Drinking Champagne, released in 1968 and sung by compatriot George Strait.
According to the Texas Heritage Songwriters Association, Strait’s recording of the song Bill won a platinum album after selling a million copies.
Then in 1997, when Mack’s song Blue, which was mated by LeAnn Rimes, won a Grammy for being voted “Country Song of the Year” in 1996.
Hal Jay, a radio personality at WBAP, met Mack 2981. They worked together for more than a decade. Jay says he always remembers Mack’s booming voice.
“He would look at you and go, ‘My boy! My boy! My boy!'” Jay said.
Jay was one of the many who called Mack a legend.
“He made country music as it is today. He was part of it, “said Jay.
Mack was also a mentor to Jody Dean.
“If nobody else would give me a chance, Bill did,” he said.
Dean used to be an announcer at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth, where Mack went when the radio station hosted events there.
“One night he said to me,” Well my son, why don’t you come out and watch my radio show one evening? “Said Dean.
He would watch Mack’s show two to three hours a night. Dean called it magical.
“This guy personally knew so many people and gave them the start,” said Dean, “I’m one of the very many who can say I would never have made it if it wasn’t for Bill Mack.”
During his career, Mack was closely associated with truckers and millions of listeners through his radio broadcasts, which were recorded in Dallas-Fort Worth from 1969.
In 1999, he was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame and the Texas Country Music Disk Jockey Hall of Fame, according to THSA.
On Friday morning, several people and companies took to social media to pay tribute to Mack.
Sorry to hear about Bill Mack’s death. A legend in country music, he was a dear friend and frequent visitor to Billy Bob’s Texas. He will be missed very much. ❤️
– Billy Bobs Texas (@BillyBobsTexas) July 31, 2020
Deeply saddened by the death of longtime friend and former radio partner Bill Mack. A legend. In 1969, he founded the all-night show on @ WBAP247NEWS that eventually became Red Eye Radio. My love and prayers are with Cindy, Billy and my family. Rest in peace brother. #MidnightCowboy pic.twitter.com/PF611jbGvd
– Eric Harley (@ericharley) July 31, 2020
Here is the late great Bill Mack on the street named after him in his hometown of Shamrock, Texas. I met Bill Mack when I was working at WBAP & KSCS in Arlington in the late 1990s and 2000. I even got to fill in a Christmas morning at the Midnight Trucking Show. Bill is a legend. pic.twitter.com/uxSMZnKDcE
– Ben Bradshaw (@BBontheRadio) July 31, 2020
Bill Mack, @ WBAP247NEWS ‘heyday country music “Midnight Cowboy” has died of COVID-19, Billy Mack Smith posted on FB. https://t.co/t4v5z8zSeE pic.twitter.com/76XNbBrLou
– Bud Kennedy / #ReadLocal (@BudKennedy) July 31, 2020
