No one in the Los Angeles radio market in the mid-sixties will ever forget Dick Biondi when he had a shift on the popular AM station KRLA. He introduced several initial records by the Beatles in 1964-1965. He was a daily fixture to our ears in that era.
I just have to wonder in 2023 that his nickname, "The Wild I-Tralian," might not be allowed or even uttered today over the airwaves if it was misconstrued as not being politically correct by management or ownership.
--Harvey Kubernik
Sadly, I have to believe you’re right … even 'tho he bestowed that moniker on himself!
As I keep saying, the world has lost its sense of humor … and, as a result, just isn’t as fun a place anymore. (kk)
What a great jock, and a wonderful man. Loved that guy. A true original.
Scott Shannon
From Timmy …
https://pastdaily.com/2023/07/01/teenager-chicago-may-1963-dick-biondi/
Robert Feder, long-time media columnist here in Chicago, filed this report …
While shifting through the cut-out LP bins in Rose Records one day in the early '70s, I came across a sealed copy of Dick Biondi's classic "Teenagers" album. Snapping it up. I immediately marched down the street to the building which housed WCFL. To my surprise, there was no security in the lobby and I had no trouble taking an elevator up to the glassed-in on-air DJ studio. There was a fairly large lobby in front of it which was entirely unoccupied. Behind the glass, the ever-popular Mr. Biondi was enthusiastically hosting his show. He saw me enter the lobby and as I approached the glass, he happily grinned and waved. I then very slowly extracted the LP from the Rose Records bag and pressed it against the glass. Dick's eyes widened in delight and he shot me a "don't leave" wave. He then put on a long song -- I think it was "MacArthur Park" -- and, pen in hand, rushed into the lobby. We got to chat for several minutes, him treating me like a long lost friend (although we had never actually met before!) After I told him I was working at a downstate college radio station (WGLT), Dick grabbed the album and autographed it without my asking him to. He wrote, "I hope you have a long and successful career in radio." Little did either of us know at that point that we'd both be in radio more than four decades later -- both putting in some time at KRLA! Most recently, I have worked salutes to Dick and other legendary DJs (using clips from their "Cruisin'" LPs) into several episodes of the weekly two-hour HISTORY OF ROCK 'N' ROLL WITH WINK MARTINDALE radio series. The first was heard last December; another in April and a third is now in production. THE HISTORY OF ROCK 'N' ROLL WITH WINK MARTINDALE radio series is heard in Chicagoland every weekend over ME-TV-FM and on many other radio stations around the world.
Gary Theroux
"The History of Rock 'n' Roll"
Frannie found this "vintage" shot of Dick with daughter Paige.
(We're guessing this to be around 8th grade since she has her Frost Junior High School Cheerleading hoodie on - so probably a good thirteen years ago, I'd say)
This was at one of Dick's Annual Toy Drives. (kk)
Just three of the MANY pages we have devoted to Dick Biondi over the years ...
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2010/06/dick-biondi-way.html
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-sunday-comments-06-03-18-special.html
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2010/05/more-great-dick-biondi-news.html
And a link to the Dick Biondi Film Page as well ...
Please donate and help get this film out there for all to see!
Art Vuolo has put together this amazing tribute video to Dick Biondi ...
Please share it with all that might appreciate it! (Thanks, Art!) kk
This took many hours to pull together all four of the times I shot video of Dick in 1987, 1997, 2004 and 2007. Got them all and hope you enjoy this very special tribute. It includes a segment with Bob Hale (who booked the doomed plane that crashed in Clear Lake, IA). Bob Hale is now the ONLY original WLS personality still alive!
Art
