Dick Biondi

Dick Biondi
Biondi at WCFL, circa 1967
Born
Richard Orlando Biondi

(1932-09-13)September 13, 1932
Endicott, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 26, 2023(2023-06-26) (aged 90)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Career
Station(s)WINR
WCBA-AM
KVOB
KSYL
WHOT AM
WKBW AM
WEBR
WLS AM
KRLA
WCFL AM
WMAQ AM
WBZ
WSAI
WNMB
WBBM FM
WJMK FM
WLS FM

Richard Orlando Biondi[1] (September 13, 1932 – June 26, 2023) was an American Top 40 and oldies disc jockey. Calling himself The Wild I-tralian,[2] he was one of the original "screamers," known for his screaming delivery as well as wild antics on and off the air.[3][4] In a 1988 interview, Biondi said he had been fired 23 times, with both fits of temper and jokes gone wrong part of the tally.[4][5] Over many years and many frequencies, Dick's closing line was, "God bless, bye, bye, Duke. Thanks a million for dialing our way."[6]

Biondi gained national attention in the 1950s and 1960s as a disc jockey on leading AM radio stations in Buffalo, New York; Chicago, Illinois; and Los Angeles, California. Besides being among the first to play Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Gene Vincent, and other early rhythm and blues artists, he was also able to meet them. The early Rock and Roll era meant "record hops" where disc jockeys would make personal appearances at local schools and clubs; they often included appearances by the artists whose records were being played.[7] Biondi is credited as the first U.S. disc jockey to play the Beatles, on Chicago's WLS 890 AM in February 1963, with the song "Please Please Me".[8][9][10][11][12] Later, while working at KRLA (1110 AM) in Los Angeles, he introduced the Beatles and the Rolling Stones at their Hollywood Bowl concerts.[13][14]

From 1984, Biondi had been a mainstay on oldies stations in the city where he first earned his reputation, Chicago.[9] On May 2, 2010, Dick Biondi celebrated the 50th anniversary of his first Chicago broadcast.[15] WLS-AM and WLS-FM presented a 5-hour simulcast special from 7 p.m. to midnight, featuring memorable moments in his career and special celebrity guests, with Biondi as host.[16][17][18][19]

Biondi was an inductee of the Radio Hall of Fame (Chicago).[14]

  1. ^ Feder, Robert (2 July 2023). "Dick Biondi, Chicago's definitive voice of Top 40 radio, dies at 90". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  2. ^ Fisher, Marc, ed. (2007). Something in the air: radio, rock, and the revolution that shaped a generation. Random House. p. 400. ISBN 978-0-375-50907-0. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  3. ^ Browne, Ray Broadus; Browne, Pat, eds. (2001). The Guide to United States Popular Culture. Chicago: Popular Press. p. 93. ISBN 0-87972-821-3. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  4. ^ a b "Buffalo Broadcasters Hall of Fame-WKBW". Buffalo Broadcasters. Archived from the original on 27 July 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  5. ^ "Dick Biondi DJ" (PDF). 19 April 1988. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Popular DJ's show endings". Rock Radio Scrapbook. Retrieved 20 April 2010.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Interview was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Neal, Steve, ed. (1999). Rolling on the River: The Best of Steve Neal. Southern Illinois University Press. p. 152. ISBN 0-8093-2282-X. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  9. ^ a b Feder, Robert (2 November 2006). "DJ Dick Biondi is Back". Chicago Sun-Times (Rockabilly Hall of Fame Website). Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  10. ^ "Who played the first Beatles record in America?". Forgotten hits. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  11. ^ Miles, Barry, ed. (2009). The British Invasion: The Music, the Times, the Era. Sterling. p. 55. ISBN 978-1-4027-6976-4. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  12. ^ Shea, Stuart; Rodriquez, Robert, eds. (2007). Fab Four FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Beatles . and More!. Hal Leonard Corp. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-4234-2138-2. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  13. ^ Dick Biondi 50th Anniversary Show-Part 4 – May 2010 on YouTube
  14. ^ a b "Inductees: Dick Biondi". Radio Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 11 July 2007. Retrieved 29 September 2008.
  15. ^ audio file-Biondi recalls WLS-AM, April 2010 (Windows Media Player)
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference Part 1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Feder, Robert (21 April 2010). "Dick Biondi to Celebrate Golden Anniversary on WLS". Archived from the original on 24 April 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  18. ^ "Dick Biondi celebrating 50 years on Chicago radio". Forgotten Hits. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  19. ^ Dick Biondi 50th Anniversary Show-Part 6 – May 2010 on YouTube