Rock Radio Scrapbook

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Talent: DICK BIONDI
Station: WCFL Chicago (via the Mutual Radio Network)
Date: August 16, 1964
Time: 27:03

He was known as "The Screamer", "The Wild Italian", "The Big Mouth" and "The Supersonic Spaghetti Slurper". He was wild, loud, unconventional, fast-talking and possessed with enough energy to light up a small city. And while he caused his bosses to pull out their hair at times, the kids just loved him. He was Dick Biondi, one of Top 40 radio's most beloved and versatile talents and a true radio rebel.

Biondi got his start in 1951 at WCBA Cornell, N.Y., working a split shift. After a few other radio stops, he made it to the big time at the 50,000-watt WKBW in 1958. The shrieking, high-octane, rebellious Biondi was an instant hit and did much to cultivate his bad boy image. He invited listeners to throw rocks at his boss's car, fought with program directors and while ignoring formats and rules at his own whim.  And while that won him listeners, it cost him jobs. According to "The Pied Pipers of Rock 'n' Roll" by Wes Smith, by one count he was fired 22 times in 32 years.

In 1960, Biondi helped launch the WLS Top 40 format with a highly-rated 9 p.m.-midnight show that was heard in 40 states and in Canada. By 1963, it was on to another legendary station, KRLA Los Angeles. The following year Biondi went national with a show on the Mutual Broadcasting System. More than 125 stations carried the show, including the station he would work at from 1967 to 1973 - WCFL Chicago.

Biondi spent a decade at WNMB Myrtle Beach, S.C., beginning in 1973 before returning to Chicago in 1984 to launch the oldies format at WJMK-FM. He was on the air there for 21 years before WJMK dumped oldies in 2005. He continued as the nighttime jock at WJMK-FM's high-definition station (WJMK-FM HD-2), also carried on the Internet. He was released from that station in June, 2006 before resurfacing at WZZN Chicago "True Oldies 94.7" in November of that year.

Enjoy Dick Biondi on WCFL - via the Mutual Broadcasting System - here.

(The Don Shuttleworth Collection)

More 1964 airchecks here!

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