Dick Biondi (1932–2023), Chicago DJ who played the Beatles first
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2 min readDick Biondi was a legendary Chicago radio DJ who, in 1963, played the first Beatles song heard on U.S. radio.
- Died: June 26, 2023 (Who else died on June 26?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 90.
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Dick Biondi’s legacy
Biondi dreamed of being a sportscaster, and that was his first on-air assignment, working at New York’s WCBA beginning in 1950. He transitioned to playing music while working at KSYL in Alexandria, Louisiana. As rock and roll began to dominate the airwaves, Biondi began playing the hot new sound at radio stations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.
It was at Chicago’s WLS that Biondi became a rock and roll icon. He debuted there in 1960, reportedly playing Elvis Presley’s “Teddy Bear” as his first song on the AM station. Known as “The Screamer” for his high-energy patter, Biondi recorded the novelty song “On Top of a Pizza” while at WLS in 1961. And in February of 1963, he played the Beatles’ “Please Please Me,” debuting the band on U.S. radio.
Biondi left WLS in 1963, landing at KRLA in Los Angeles, but he would return to Chicago within a few years. He worked at WCFL and WMAQ, but his longest-running Chicago gig was at the oldies station WJMK, Magic FM. He played oldies there for two decades, from the station’s debut in 1984 until it changed formats in 2005. He later returned to WLS. Through it all, Biondi called himself “the Wild I-tralian,” keeping up his fast-paced patter as he played beloved songs. He was a member of the Radio Hall of Fame and was part of an exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Tributes to Dick Biondi
Full obituary: Chicago Sun-Times
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