Posted on 06/17/2005 8:38:50 AM PDT by Mike Bates
It's good to hear radio legend Dick Biondi again--even if it's only over the phone.
Silenced with the rest of the WJMK-FM 104.3 crew when Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting pulled the plug on the station's longtime oldies format June 3 in favor of the new not-as-old oldies format known as Jack FM, Biondi is biding his time for now.
"The one thing I want to do is get back on the air and do my thing," he said Thursday.
It appears his wait is near an end, if only in a technical sense. Station management is targeting the end of next week for Biondi, Fred Winston and the rest of the station's deejays to return to the booth. Their broadcasts will be in broadband, available on the Internet at www.wjmk.com.
As for actually being on the air, this online return is pegged to the ambitious introduction of WJMK-HD2, a digital signal broadcast as a secondary channel to the station's Jack FM programming. Infinity is awaiting FCC approval.
While this all sounds good in theory--and audio quality is a big selling point for digital radio--the so-called HD Radio is available only to the thus-far negligible few listeners who have bought the still-pricey newfangled radios that pick up digital signals.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Jack FM is terrible. Did it to one of their L.A. stations (which was only a so-so station), but the programming is all over the map. There's no theme...just jumps around between various styles and is unlistenable.
God, I leave chicago for a few years and they silence Dick Biondi! He's been around for years and is one of the best radio broadcasters of all time. The old WCFL and WLS radio wars bring back fond memories.
Fred Winston, Larry Lukack, Bob Sirott and John Records Landecker. I miss the latter's morning show. I was listening to him on 9/11 when Brant Miller spoke of an airplane hitting the WTC. I then went out for a run along the lake and came back to a war.
Hope it works out for Dick. He is terrific.
How old is Dick Biondi? He was a DJ back in the early 60's when I was a teenager. He must be at least 70. Anyone know?
My daughter does part time weekend disc jockey work as a fun thing. Weeks ago they told her she cound no longer talk on air. The station went to this jack-sh** format. She quit
He started in radio in 1950, so he's easily a little over that.
I e-mailed them and informed them that I was removing 101.1 from all of my pre-sets. They never responded. Obviously, someone of my demographic (white, female, over 40) doesn't matter diddily squat to them.
Holy smokes, man! When did you leave Chicago? 1970? ;-)
You might want to include Steve Dahl in the Chicago Radio Pantheon, not to mention Wally Phillips. Of course, all of those guys have given way to the Mancows of the world. Sad indeed.
I loved listening to Biondi on KRLA in Los Angeles in the 60s - great times.
Years ago, when I was making sales calls in Illinois, I'd schedule my first visit so I'd be back in the car in time for Animal Stories.
He left Chicago in 1963, but then returned four years later. The guy is definitely a survivor.
I left in December of 2002.
Dahl! I wish I still had the recording I made of "Matza Man". "I'm the kosher disco-king and can eat more chicken liver than any man alive". That was a take off on Macho Man. Brutally funny.
Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey...
As for my post, I was just thinking of the very good old days and not more recent times with Wally, Steve, Roe and Gary, and, of course, the late Bob Collins. Was not intending to slight anyone -- least of all the "Tooth Fairy".
There were many other good ones and Chicago radio is still at the top of my list. Brilliant communicators and very funny.
Steve and Garry had Flo and Eddie as guests on a show in the early eighties, and I was laughing so hard that I actually had to pull my car over on the Kennedy to avoid an accident. "Matza Man" was great, as was "Ayatollah". Scumbag worm meat idiots, indeed!
For me, Chicago radio began to go downhill when Brandmeir and Matthews started up with the lowbrow schtick. Even so, between classic sportscasters like Harry, Brickhouse, and Piersall, and all the talkers, Chicago radio was absolutely brilliant.
Landecker, Biondi, LYLE DEAN with the news...
great listening, great times.
"Is he gonna be all right?"
"I don't think so, Little Tommy..."
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