EPISODE SUMMARY: Rick Dees is an radio legend, entertainer, comedian. He shares how he created one of the most iconic countdowns in history and redefined what it means to connect with the audience in this hilarious career retrospective.
Dees will be among those honored this fall as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony on November 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.
On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Rick Dees about:
- His early misadventures in radio as a high school and college student in North Carolina
- The story behind creating Disco Duck, how it became a hit, and how it got him fired
- Getting tapped by Dick Clark to go on air in Los Angeles, and becoming a household name in LA and beyond
- The entertainers and unlikely sources that inspired him as a performer and storyteller
- Learning to invest after people tried to steal from him, and his financial advice
- Why he bought a farm in Kentucky
- Creating the Weekly Top 40 and how it became the longest continuously running countdown ever.
- Starring in a late night show opposite Johnny Carson
- His other ventures including his farm, his own app, cookbook, and launching Home Living which became the Cooking Channel
And More!
ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: Rick Dees is a radio legend, comedic genius and multi-talented entertainer, known for his captivating enthusiasm and quick-witted humor, which continue to leave an indelible mark on the entertainment world.
With an extraordinary career spanning decades, Dees has entertained and delighted millions across the globe, solidifying his place as one of the most influential and beloved figures in broadcasting history.
Best known for his internationally syndicated radio show, The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, Dees’ familiar voice and unforgettable characters are heard by more than 70 million listeners each weekend, spanning virtually every city in the United States, 125 countries, 27 massive ships at sea, and the Armed Forces Radio Network. His show even broke barriers by becoming the first English-speaking radio program to entertain listeners in Beijing, China, making history in the process.
Rick Dees rose to prominence when he took over the top-rated morning show on KIIS-FM Los Angeles in July 1981, turning it into the number one revenue-generating radio station in America and making him the hottest property in radio. His unprecedented success earned him Billboard’s Radio Personality of the Year Award an astonishing ten years in a row. Further cementing his legacy, Dees was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame and the National Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame and was honored with the prestigious Marconi Award.
Dees embraced the digital age with the same pioneering spirit that defined his radio career. His innovative music streaming platform, BYOChannel, offers users the ability to “build their own” personalized channels from a library of over 40 million tracks. He further extended his brand’s reach with the Rick Dees Hit Music app, delivering The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and Daily Dees directly to millions of Apple and Android devices worldwide.
In 2025, iHeartMedia launched two new iHeartRadio Original Streaming Stations in partnership with Rick Dees Entertainment — Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and Classic Rick Dees Top 40. The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 station features the current Weekly Top 40 program, while Classic Rick Dees Top 40 goes back in the archives to feature complete countdowns from the original shows that aired in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, many of which haven’t been heard in years.
ABOUT THE PODCAST: Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.
PEOPLE MENTIONED:
- Paul Allen
- Larry Allen
- Billy Graham
- Tom Miller
- Ralph Lambeth
- Glenn Powers
- Ken Lowe
- Sam & Dave
- Isaac Hayes
- Estelle Axton
- Robert Stigwood
- Al Corey
- Wolfman Jack
- Dick Clark
- Bill Murray
- Elmer Bernstein
- Jonathan Winters
- Johnny Carson
- Paul Drew
- Chuck Martin
- Lynn Anderson
- Don Benson
- Barbara Streisand
- Madonna
- Michael Jackson
- Wally Clark
- Roger Cleveland
- Charlie Tuna
- Robert W. Morgan
- Don Steele
- Bernie Carniel
- Sandy Gallin
- Dolly Parton
- Neil Diamond
- Barry Diller
- Michael Eisner
- Madeleine Pugh
- Lucille Ball
- Cary Grant
- Ava Gardner
- John Stewa
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